LSU Gymnastics Opponent Breakdown : UCLA Bruins

In order for the LSU Tigers to win their second straight national championship, the squad will need to outperform many formidable competitors. One opponent to watch is the UCLA Bruins. Last year, the Bruins underachieved in the postseason and failed to qualify for the finals in Fort Worth. It’s safe to say UCLA will be looking for redemption next week when they travel to Texas.

The Bruins should be considered a legitimate contender for the overall title. Last week, the team scored 197.625 to advance from the Salt Lake City regional. They are especially dangerous in the floor exercise rotation where three competitors, Brooklyn Moors, Chae Campbell and Mika Webster-Longin, all scored a 9.900 or better. Keep in mind, Bruins superstar Jordan Chiles scored a 9.825 after uncharacteristically struggling on a landing. You can count on the former Olympian to bounce back from this mishap in the finals.

Senior Emily Lee and freshman Riley Jenkins are both capable of putting up big scores on the vault. The Bruins also have strong specialists on balance beam and uneven bars including Ciena Alipio, Frida Esparza and Emma Malabuyo, who can be counted on to lead the team in crunch time.