Pac-12 Gymnastics Week 8 Recap: Cal earns program record, McCallum’s 10 leads Utah to 198

In an exciting week of Pac-12 gymnastics, Cal is the main storyline after a record-breaking 198.400 performance on the road. Utah also broke through for their first 198 of the season.

Read on for more from each of the four dual meets.

#3 Cal @ #9 UCLA

Final score: Cal: 198.400 – UCLA: 197.775

Battle of the Bears. Battle of California. Sisters Margzetta and eMjae Frazier facing off. Justin Howell and Liz Crandall-Howell going up against former assistant coach Janelle McDonald. There were plenty of storylines heading into this meet, yet coming out of this meet, Cal’s record-setting day stands out.

Cal

“I told the girls afterwards I had goose bumps for 24 routines,” coach Justin Howell told reporters after the meet.

The Bears made history on Sunday, recording a program team record 198.400 while on the road at Pauley Pavilion. On a record-setting day, Cal recorded their second-highest bars (49.650), beam (49.725), and floor (49.675) totals in program history.

Their incredible floor score included three 9.925s from Jordan Kane, Kyen Mayhew, and Mya Lauzon. Kane in particular is an underrated piece of this floor lineup. She has now scored a 9.9 or better in each of her last three meets.

Of course, the ultimate highlight of floor was eMjae Frazier posting a perfect 10 on the event, her first floor ten of the season. eMjae’s 10 on floor led to her breaking her own record for the Cal program all-around record again, this time hitting a 39.825.

eMjae put up the best total score of her career in front of her family, who was in town to watch her take on her sister and celebrate Margzetta’s birthday.

“I haven’t seen my whole family and everyone since Christmas,” Frazier said. “To be able to come out here and just show up for them and especially on Margzetta’s birthday, it’s such a good feeling because I know she’s here supporting me and I’m supporting her.”

After floor, the Bears capped off the meet with an astounding beam rotation. Before anchor Gabby Perea took the beam, the Bears had already guaranteed a 198 and a score north of 49.600 on the event. Maddie Williams, eMjae, and Lauzon were stunning on beam. Williams was flawless in her 9.950 routine, eMjae put up a near-perfect 9.975, and Lauzon got the 10. Lauzon stuck her double twist dismount to secure her first ten of the season and the Bears’ record-breaking performance.

It was also the first time in program history that two Cal gymnasts recorded a 10 in the same meet.

What a meet for Cal.

Another test for Cal awaits on Saturday, March 2, when Utah comes to town at 5 p.m. ET.

UCLA

The Bruins were simply outmatched by Cal on Sunday. Even though UCLA did themselves no favors on vault, it would have been hard to see them defeating Cal on what was a special day in program history for the Bears.

Of course, UCLA put themselves in a hole early with their 49.125 vault rotation. After Emily Lee’s opening 9.9, UCLA was unable to dial in their landings. This was particularly noticeable with Chae Campbell. Known for her practically flawless full-twisting Yurchenko, Campbell was unusually short and off to the side on her landing, resulting in a 9.75.

However, Campbell made up for it on her two weaker events: bars and beam. Normally best on vault and floor, Campbell instead put up career highs on bars (9.95) and beam (9.925) as UCLA hit a season-high 49.575 on bars.

These are the kinds of wins McDonald saw. Sure, UCLA didn’t win, but considering their start on vault and the team missing key gymnasts, they did well overall.

“It’s never fun to lose, but today I feel like there were so many wins we can take away from today,” McDonald said.

This was especially evident on beam. With Emma Malabuyo on the World Cup circuit and Ciena Alipio out, Campbell and Frida Esparza filled in. Alipio was seen on crutches at the meet. McDonald told reporters that they need to get more information, but that she sustained a non-athletic injury outside of the gym.

UCLA will travel to Stanford on Friday, March 1 to face the Cardinal at 8 p.m. ET.

Stanford @ #4 Utah

Final score: Utah: 198.075 – Stanford: 196.625

Utah hosted Stanford for their Red Rocks Eras Tour meet. The Red Rocks celebrated their Taylor Swift meet with friendship bracelets and Utah alumni to show off the different eras of Utah gymnastics.

Stanford

The Cardinal earned a season-high road score at Utah. The biggest relief of the meet was seeing Chloe Widner return to the floor and beam lineups after only competing on bars for the past couple meets due to an ankle injury.

Widner came back to those two events in epic fashion, scoring a commanding career-high 9.975 on beam alongside a 9.925 on floor. In her five-year NCAA career, Widner has yet to score a ten. However, if she can continue putting in some of her best bars and beam routines, she should get the chance to go out with one before all is said and done.

Another highlight for the Cardinal was Brenna Neault bringing in a 9.925 on bars. Neault has been a consistent all-around performer for a Stanford team that has not always had six gymnasts in every lineup this season. Stanford has another emerging star in Sienna Robinson, who earned a career-high 9.9 on beam.

Stanford returns home to host UCLA this Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

Utah

The Red Rocks hit their first 198 of the season while hosting Stanford. Camie Winger set the tone for the night on vault, sticking her full-twisting Yurchenko for a 9.95 (a perfect score for that skill) and winning the event title. Utah finished with a 49.400 on vault.

Utah advanced to bars, where Makenna Smith continues to shine in the leadoff spot. She hits her handstands and sticks her dismount so consistently, so it’s no surprise to see her earn a career-high 9.975. Ella Zirbes also hit one of her best bars sets yet. Though Zirbes has had some troubles getting through her whole routine, she put it all together Friday for a career-high 9.925.

Maybe most impressive is how well Utah did despite missing one of their most consistent gymnasts in Amelie Morgan. With Morgan heading back to England to compete for a shot at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Utah had to count a 9.775 on beam. However, upperclassmen Grace McCallum, Abby Paulson, and Maile O’Keefe all stepped up with 9.975s to notch a 49.525.

Floor is really where the Red Rocks took off. Utah put in a season-high 49.700, led by a 10 from McCallum – her first career 10 on floor. Paulson naturally was in her element for the Swift-themed meet. Paulson, who lights up with an extra wide smile as the Swift music picks up during the middle of her routine, secured a 9.925 on the event.

Utah heads on the road for one of the toughest tests of their regular season when they face the Cal Bears on Saturday, March 2 at 5 p.m. ET.

Washington @ #20 Arizona State

Final score: Arizona State: 196.825 – Washington: 196.500

Washington

The Huskies tied their highest score of the season with a 196.500. This was a strong road score for Washington.

In a tight all-around battle between ASU’s Jada Mangahas and Washington’s Skylar Killough-Wilhelm, Killough-Wilhelm won the title with a 39.475, highlighted by a 9.925 on beam that also tied for that event title. The Huskies put up their second-best beam score of the season with a 49.325. Taylor Russon also shined on beam, putting in a 9.9 thanks to her poise.

The Huskies had a solid performance on bars with a 49.250. Lilly Tubbs showed up with a routine to remember, sticking her double layout for a career-high 9.950.

Washington has a doubleheader meet weekend, facing Boise State, Minnesota, and UC Davis on the road on Friday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET, before returning home to welcome Arizona on Sunday, March 3 at 4 p.m. ET.

Arizona State

The Sun Devils earned a home win, marking their third straight win over a Pac-12 opponent. The Sun Devils have separated themselves from some Pac-12 opponents they’ve defeated through vault. While many of the lower-ranking Pac-12 teams lack 10.0 start value vaults, the Sun Devils have a strong mix. This allowed them to earn a 49.325 on the event against Washington. It also doesn’t hurt for Arizona State that on one of their 9.95 start value vaults, Jada Mangahas nailed the stick for a 9.875. Mangahas shared the vault title with teammates Gracie Reeves and Alex Theodorou, who also earned 9.875s.

Where the Sun Devils still need to improve is floor, which has been their most inconsistent event of the season. Arizona State had to count both a 9.775 and 9.675, resulting in the lowest event total of the day, a 49.050. The highlight of floor came from Halle Gregoire, who notched a career-high 9.9 for the event title.

On beam, Sarah Clark tied Skylar Killough-Wilhelm for the event title with a 9.925.

Arizona State is back on the road this week to face Oregon State on Friday, March 1 at 10 p.m. ET.

#17 Oregon State @ #19 Arizona

Final score: Oregon State: 197.075 – Arizona: 196.850

The Wildcats hosted Oregon State for their Cats vs. Cancer meet Sunday. With a pink breast cancer ribbon adorning the Wildcats’ leotards, Arizona used this meet to support the fight against cancer.

Oregon State

Oregon State walks away from this meet with a solid 197 road score. However, they will also know there are some places they could have done better.

The Beavers got off to a hot start on bars with a 49.525, returning to the early-season strength they showed on the event. The final three gymnasts put in big scores on bars for the Beavers. Jennifer McMillan and Sage Thompson each put in a 9.925, and Jade Carey scored a 9.975.

Oregon State then went to vault, where they recorded a 49.200. Sophia Esposito continues to be a magnet on vault with her full-twisting Yurchenko. She stuck her FTY again, scoring a 9.9 and winning the event title.

After vault, the Beavers opened the door for Arizona to get back in the meet on floor. The Beavers had to count Ariana Young’s out-of-bounds 9.675 due to a fall from Thompson, lowering their lead over the Wildcats. Lucky for them, the Beavers’ strong start on bars was enough for them to keep the lead.

Next up, Oregon State returns home to host Arizona State on Friday, March 1 at 10 p.m. ET.

Arizona

The Wildcats fell behind early in the meet due to a lackluster vault rotation (48.875), as the Beavers put in a tremendous bars rotation. Their vault lineup was missing Malia Hargrove, as the fifth-year senior was out of the meet.

After a 49.250 on bars, the Wildcats gained ground on the Beavers with their beam rotation. Arizona put up a season-high 49.425. Abigayle Martin earned a career-high 9.9 while Elena Deets tied her career high in the anchor spot with a 9.925. The Wildcats also got a boost from Emma Strom, who earned a 9.875 in her beam debut.

The Wildcats would close out the meet on floor with a strong 49.300, but it was not enough for them to catch up to Oregon State.

Still, there were some good highlights from this meet. Freshman Tirzah Wise made her season debut on vault and bars and tied for the Wildcats’ top bars score with a 9.875. Martin also completed her second all-around for Arizona (39.275) and continues to progress in her NCAA gymnastics career.

Arizona heads on the road this weekend to face Washington on Sunday, March 3 at 4 p.m. ET.