UCLA Club Gymnastics opened its fall 2025 season with standout performances across both the women's and men's teams, earning podium finishes on nearly every event. With several members competing for the first time, or the first time in a long time, the meet highlighted the team's rising strength and competitive energy.
Sophomore Ben Harte set the tone early with a first-place finish on MAG Advanced Floor Exercise. He continued his momentum on the women's side, taking first places in WAG Level 9 Floor, with his signature Euphoria-themed routine, and Level 9 Beam performance. Senior Evan Leach, returning to competition after a long concussion recovery, delivered a strong overall performance with first-place finishes on MAG Pommel Horse, Rings, and Parallel Bars. He also captured first place on XCEL Platinum Beam and Uneven Bars, finishing as the MAG Beginner all-around champion. "This meet reminded me how much I love competing!" Leach said. "It was great to travel with the team for our first meet since last year's nationals, and I enjoyed putting routines together again."
The MAG team carried the momentum forward. One of the most memorable moments of the meet came from Brooklyn Baker, who won MAG Beginner Rings in her first-ever gymnastics competition! Junior Juliana Gagliardi added another title for the men's side with a first-place finish on MAG Vault. Leach and Alessandra Swiryn Di Cosmo secured all-around gold podium finishes at the beginner levels with Gagliardi and Baker placing second and third respectively also within the beginner category. In the New Flyers division, senior Sophia Welsh earned first place, with Leach taking second in a strong field.
In addition to the major event titles, the Bruins secured several more podium finishes across the MAG divisions. In MAG Beginner Floor Exercise, Swiryn Di Cosmo earned second place while Gagliardi took first with a powerful routine. Sophomore Imani Castillo Yee continued the team's streak with a first-place finish in MAG Intermediate Floor, marking her second event title of the weekend. The high bar events brought more success for the team, with Leach claiming first place and Swiryn Di Cosmo securing another podium finish. On MAG Beginner Pommel Horse, Swiryn Di Cosmo also added another win to her lineup.
On the women's side, UCLA continued to collect titles. In XCEL Platinum Vault, sophomore Isabella Dexter and junior Payton Rater earned first and second place respectively. Additionally, Gagliardi also picked up a strong first place win in WAG Level 9 Vault, delivering a clean landing from a powerful tsukahara. In XCEL Diamond Vault, junior Swiryn Di Cosmo and senior Kirin Chacko tied for second place, while freshman Aniya Kalyani powered to first place with a standout performance. She continued her success across all four events, ultimately winning the XCEL Diamond all-around title. Katy Hasser and Chacko finished second and third all-around, securing a full Bruin sweep of the podium.
Beam featured several of the highlight routines of the day. Sophomore Simone Anderson stunned judges with a beautiful 9.9, one of the highest scores of the entire invitational. Strong Beam routines from Rater, Gagliardi, Leach, and Harte earned each of them first-place titles in their respective divisions. The team's podium sweep across the competition in the Balance Beam also included incredible performances from Megan Palmer, Kalyani, Hasser and Dexter across their divisions. Harte also noted the significance of the team's dynamic with new members: "It was a great way for new members to experience competing on the club team for the first time and to be further integrated into the club culture. I was especially happy with the turnout for new members and their enthusiasm."
Bars and Floor Exercise added to UCLA's medal count. Swiryn Di Cosmo, Kalyani, and Castillo Yee each secured podium placements in XCEL Diamond Bars. On Floor, Hasser delivered a clean, artistic routine to secure the XCEL Diamond title, while junior Gagliardi impressed with a dynamic performance that earned her the Level 9 gold. Castillo Yee reflected on the positive start to the season, saying, "It was good to get out and do a meet that was early on in the season and it was super fun to be with the team."
A few Bruins took on the demanding challenge of competing all-around. It was incredible to note that Swiryn Di Cosmo completed ten total events across MAG and WAG divisions, including trampoline, showcasing her remarkable versatility.
Adding to the energy of the meet, alumni Aaron Doyle and Alex Kotnik returned to support the team. By the end of the invitational, UCLA had earned victories across nearly every event and level, combining first-time competitor breakthroughs with near-perfect routines and all-around excellence. From Anderson's 9.9 gold-winning beam routine to Baker's debut win and Kalyani's all-around strength, the Bruins left the competition with not only medals, but a weekend full of defining moments that reflected the team's talent, resilience, and spirit.
Article by Siena Hunt
