UCLA Advances to Super Six

Photo is courtesy of UCLA

UCLA finished in third place with a score of 196.700 in the second session of the NCAA semifinals to advance to the NCAA Super Six for the 19th time in meet history. Additionally, Bruin senior Danusia Francis won a share of the NCAA balance beam title, scoring 9.95 to tie with Florida’s Bridget Sloan. The championship was UCLA’s eighth on balance beam and second consecutive. It also increased UCLA’s overall NCAA Individual Championship total to 34, second only to Georgia, who has 42.

Also advancing to the Super Six in semifinal two were Oklahoma (197.7875) and Alabama
(197.3875). The Top 3 finishers in semifinal one were Florida (197.475), LSU (197.3375) and Georgia (196.725). The Super Six Team Finals will take place Saturday, Apr. 16 at 8pm CT/6pm PT and will be televised live on ESPNU.

UCLA was strong in the first two rotations, recording a 49.2375 on uneven bars in rotation one and 49.3625 on balance beam in rotation two.

Sophina DeJesus led the charge on uneven bars with a 9.875. JaNay Honest, on her first ever NCAA routine, scored 9.8625. Francis set a great tone in the leadoff position with a 9.85, and Katelyn Ohashi made a strong return to the bars lineup, competing on the event for the first time in nearly three months and scoring 9.825. Christine Peng-Peng Lee also scored 9.825, and Sonya Meraz added a 9.7625.

The Bruins shined on balance beam, with all six gymnasts scoring 9.8375 or higher. Leadoff performer Mikaela Gerber started the team out with a 9.8375, and Meraz followed up with a 9.8625. Nicki Shapiro scored 9.8375 in her NCAA debut, and Ohashi added a 9.85. DeJesus wrapped up her night with a 9.8625, and Francis closed the set with a magical 9.95 that included a perfect 10 from one of the six judges.

The Bruins held the lead after two rotations with a two-event total of 98.6 but were surpassed in rotation three by Oklahoma, who totaled 98.850, and Alabama, who totaled 98.6125. UCLA still maintained a 0.2125 lead over fourth-place Utah and a 0.5875 lead over fifth-place Nebraska.

UCLA moved to floor exercise in rotation four and suffered from a few landing issues. Ohashi went out of bounds and scored 9.7125. Hallie Mossett, competing on floor for the first time since Jan. 15, had a short landing on her last pass and scored 9.7875. Francis scored 9.825, and Honest added a 9.8 before Angi Cipra and Sadiqua Bynum closed with 9.825 and 9.875, respectively , giving UCLA a team total of 49.1125, moving them back into first place as Oklahoma and Alabama sat on byes. Utah dropped out of contention with three scores under 9.5, and neither Nebraska (48.7875 on bars) nor California (48.9375 on vault) gained ground on the Bruins.

Finishing up the competition in rotation five on vault, UCLA totaled 48.975 to secure the Bruins’ spot in the Super Six. The Bruins were led by Napualani Hall’s 9.8625, Honest’s 9.8375, and Bynum’s 9.8.