As we go into our final weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, the Bruins reminisce on a successful competition season. At the beginning of the spring quarter, thirty-five UCLA gymnasts traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to compete at NAIGC Nationals.
The team participated in three days of competition and competed routines across 14 events.
After a successful two days of preliminaries, the team awaited the news of who would advance to finals and show off their routines alongside the best of the other teams across the country.
In WAG, Isabel Folkers qualified for Xcel Platinum Vault and Floor, Jillian Ostaszewicz for Xcel Platinum Bars, Katy Hasser for Xcel Platinum All Around, Bars, and Beam, and Kirin Chacko for Level 8 Beam.
The team's omnithon star, Alexander Kotnik, qualified for WAG Level 9 All Around and placed 3rd.
Two graduating seniors left their mark on NAIGC: Joshua Lim and Jonathan Moore. Moore qualified for Level 9 vault. Lim qualified for Level 9 Beam placing 2nd place, as well as competing his self-choreographed, crowd-favorite Level 9 Floor routine and placing 2nd.
Freshman, Payton Rater qualified for Xcel Platinum All Around and placed 5th.
In the men's category, Joshua Lim qualified for Level 9 Floor, Ajeeth Iyer qualified for MAG NCAA Floor. Alexander Kotnik qualified for NCAA All Around, Pommel Horse, Vault, and High Bar. He placed fourth on NCAA Floor.
With ample success at finals, the Bruins got dressed up and made their way to the banquet where eight gymnasts received individual medals.
Alexander Kotnik proved his omnithon abilities, receiving a silver medal for High Flyers Double Mini Trampoline. He also took home the gold medal for Level 9/NCAA Modified Decathlon as well as WAG Level 9 Bars. Emily Boyle received 5th place for Intermediate Flyers Double Mini Trampoline. Then, as a duo, Kotnik and Boyle won the gold for Intermediate Flyers Synchronized Trampoline.
Many of the team's gymnasts dabble in both men's and women's events. Giovanni Zabala did not disappoint in this category, placing 1st on WAG Xcel Platinum Floor and 2nd on MAG Level 7 Floor.
Isabel Folkers took home the gold for New Flyers Trampoline as well as receiving 4th on Double Mini Trampoline.
Our graduating president, Joshua Lim, won 2nd place for MAG Level 9 Floor.
Newcomer, Makenna Damhorst, swept the competition. She took home two gold medals for WAG Level 9 All Around and WAG Level 9 Bars.
Freshman, Payton Rater, won 1st on WAG Xcel Platinum Vault.
Last but not least, Siena Hunt won 1st on WAG Level 8 Floor with a nearly perfect score of 9.95.
The performance from UCLA Club Gymnastics at Nationals was the best it has ever been. Several teams won national titles. Most notably, Women's Xcel Platinum took home the silver medal and WAG Level 9 and mixed teams took home the gold medal.
The Bruins ended the season not only with more medals, but with even more excitement for the 2025 competition season. As school comes to an end, the team is looking forward to some time to relax over the summer while continuing to work on upgrading skills in hopes of topping their Nationals performance next year. UCLA Club Gymnastics is so grateful to everyone who donated to the spark campaign and made their success possible. Although the season has come to an end, the best is yet to come for the Bruins in the upcoming school year.
