UCLA's Gold Team Edges Blue, 8-7
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA Gymnastics team previewed the season with a spirited Blue vs. Gold head-to-head competition in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom, with the gold team edging the blue team, 8-7, thanks to two victories apiece from Margzetta Frazier, Norah Flatley and Alexis Jeffrey.
With celebrity judges Ariana Berlin, Qwuantrezz Knight and Jen Schroeder selecting the winners in head-to-head battle, the blue team took the early lead in the first rotation after winning two of three rounds on vault. Pauline Tratz and Emma Malabuyo hit strong Yurchenko layout full vaults to win their rounds for the blue team, while Frazier got gold on the board with her own stuck Yurchenko layout full, which she finished with a flourish.
With FLAIR. @IAmMargzetta sticks her vault to get a point for the gold team!
📺: @Pac12Network
📲: https://t.co/TT6cgUHX7q pic.twitter.com/1zuMt7VDD9— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) December 18, 2021
A clean sweep on uneven bars in rotation two put gold in the lead to stay. Jeffrey, Sara Taubman, Flatley and Frazier were selected as the winners of their respective rounds, putting the gold team ahead, 5-2.
Blue cut the lead to two in the third rotation, thanks to victories by Ana Padurariu in the leadoff, Samantha Sakti, and Jordan Chiles, who stuck a double pike dismount. Jeffrey and Flatley earned wins for gold to set up the final showdown on floor exercise.
STICK! @norah_flatley wins the point for gold in the final round on beam. Gold leads Blue, 7-5.
📺: @Pac12Network
📲: https://t.co/TT6cgUHX7q pic.twitter.com/vm1SHlhrU8— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) December 18, 2021
Needing to sweep the three rounds on floor exercise to win, the blue team won round one on the strength of Frida Esparza's Latin-themed routine to close to within one, but Sara Ulias's La La Land-inspired number sealed the victory for the gold team. Malabuyo won the final round against Flatley to provide the final score.
Flatley, Frazier, Jeffrey and Malabuyo tied for most individual victories with two.
UCLA will officially open its season on Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Collegiate Challenge in Anaheim. Tickets are on sale now at www.cacollegiatechallenge.com. The Bruins' home opener will take place on Jan. 30 against Arizona. Season tickets for UCLA's home meets are on sale now at uclabruins.com/tickets.