NCAA Pre-Season 2025-2026

[rlayt]

Can we chat about what we hope to see, how to watch, who to watch?

I haven’t seen much but I’ve been off of social media a lot. I wonder how Tiana looks at UCLA?

Can we talk now and here about how to watch college gymnastics? https://collegegymnews.com/2025/01/01/how-to-watch-college-gymnastics-in-2025/

 

[blake]

Way early, but I predict top 5 at the end of regular season to be LSU, UF, OU, UCLA, and Utah in some order. I don't think any other teams can match their scoring potentials barring upsets, but I think there's been an upset in every regionals since the new format started in 2019, so never say never. I think Bama, MSU, and Arkansas have strong potential to advance to nationals.

I would love to see Stanford make it to Nationals again. And then Cal is a completely different team this year, so I'm curious to see how they fare. I'll also be watching to see how Iowa does in their second season with Jen Llewellyn - they have a strong freshman class coming in.

 

[cuuf]

The host sites for regionals are LSU, Kentucky, Arizona State and Oregon State. So obviously LSU will go through, Kentucky I could see being a "surprise" as a result of them hosting. I dont see Arizona state or oregon state with the firepower to pull a surprise. So OU, LSU, Florida, Utah.

My stretch predictions: UCLA will have a dissapointing season, not a bad one mind you, just not where the general expectations are given last year. They lost A LOT of scoring from that senior class, and while the freshman are talented and they get perhaps a slightly distracted Chiles back, I just dont see it that many freshman scoring at that level to match the those top 4.

I also think Alabama is going to surprise and make evening SEC session.

 

[irichluck21]

Auburn is going to be a sleeper in the SEC.

It will be interesting to see who qualifies to regionals in those last few spots based on the new formula for NQS.

 

[RedBirdie]

Spencer has his annual rosters and depth charts up

NCAA Rosters and Depth Charts — 2026

Visit the post for more.

balancebeamsituation.com

 

[david]

The host sites for regionals are LSU, Kentucky, Arizona State and Oregon State. So obviously LSU will go through, Kentucky I could see being a "surprise" as a result of them hosting. I dont see Arizona state or oregon state with the firepower to pull a surprise. So OU, LSU, Florida, Utah.

My stretch predictions: UCLA will have a dissapointing season, not a bad one mind you, just not where the general expectations are given last year. They lost A LOT of scoring from that senior class, and while the freshman are talented and they get perhaps a slightly distracted Chiles back, I just dont see it that many freshman scoring at that level to match the those top 4.

I also think Alabama is going to surprise and make evening SEC session.

I agree that if UCLA ends up exclusively relying on their freshman to fill in the blanks from last year's graduates, they could struggle. I think they're going to need help from folks in other classes to fill some of those holes. What I've seen from preseason videos that's looking encouraging is improvements from Rosen (Y1.5 is back and looking good), Barros (looking strong and upgraded on bars, beam and floor), Alipio (adding bars - only seen the dismount but its a beautiful giant full connected to toe on front tuck half), and Hoffman (nice Y1.5). Also, if Fujisaka is healthy and back to where she was pre-injury, she could add to the slate of new routines across multiple events. Even if they just get her back on UB that would be a big boost to that lineup.

 

[irichluck21]

UCLA's freshman class is ridiculously talented and will fill in many holes.
Sullivan in the AA. Sumanasekera on VT/BB/FX, Matthews on UB/BB/FX, Eichman on UB.

I think they will be just fine, but definitely not top 2 like last year.
I think they will make Nationals and have an outside chance at Final Four.
Certainly in the same boat as Utah.

If I had to guess my top 4 it would be Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, and Michigan State.

 

[BB12]

I really like Bama's roster this year. I have them as the 4th team in the SEC evening session.

 

[Beamer]

I am still just gutted for Cal. Losing their fantastic head coaches is devastating.

On top of that, they lost top AAers Mya Lauzon, Maddie Williams, and Ella Cesario to graduation. Plus specialist Jordan Kane.

And they lost eMjae Frazier to Florida.

Lauzon and Frazier were Cal's best gymnasts. Williams and Cesario were their 3rd and 4th most important scoring contributors last year.

They have a relatively small freshman class and a small roster. Basically, they will be relying mostly on gymnasts who haven't competed much or at all in the past. Asking gymnasts who competed one event in the past to now compete three or four events.

On the bright side:

Hopefully fully healed from her injury, Ondine Achampong can be Cal's new star. I'm also really excited that Mya Lauzon was just hired as an Assistant Coach. Her energy, positivity, and ability to relax and have fun are all amazing. I think she has a lot of potential as a coach.

 

[Beamer]

I thought it would be helpful to see exactly who UCLA gained and lost.

From last year, UCLA lost:

Chae Campbell
Emma Malabuyo
Brooklyn Moors
Emily Lee
Frida Esparza
Paige Anastasi
Clara Wren

And this year they gained:

Tiana Sumanasekera
Ashley Sullivan
Nola Matthews
Jordis Eichman
Kai Mattei
Ava Callahan

I'd say those groups are roughly equivalent. But freshmen often have to grow into NCAA gymnastics while seniors are often at their best.

 

[irichluck21]

I agree but I think those elites (former?) in Sumanasekera, Sullivan, Matthews, and Eichman have the experience that with watered back difficulty will excel in NCAA.
I can even see Tiana having a usable bar routine without the elite COP.

 

[cuuf]

I thought it would be helpful to see exactly who UCLA gained and lost.

From last year, UCLA lost:

Chae Campbell
Emma Malabuyo
Brooklyn Moors
Emily Lee
Frida Esparza
Paige Anastasi
Clara Wren

And this year they gained:

Tiana Sumanasekera
Ashley Sullivan
Nola Matthews
Jordis Eichman
Kai Mattei
Ava Callahan

I'd say those groups are roughly equivalent. But freshmen often have to grow into NCAA gymnastics while seniors are often at their best.

Exactly, but taken further, it wasnt until that group hit upper class (except maybe Chae)that they made significant contributions (for a variety of reasons) and really they had their best performance senior year. So while the future looks great, I think some (not all) just assume its going to be a plug and play type year, which would be an exception and a marvelous coaching job by the team.

 

[Amber]

Watching meet the Bruins now, bars have become really booooooring, no variety at all… not only from UCLA but throughout the country.. pak or half over, van Leeuwen, double lay or full in/out. i saw one real flight element from Sullivan…

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

Like, I’m glad Tiana and Josc can have competitive NCAA bars routines, but that’s really laying bare how inadequate the NCAA UB code is.

I will never understand UCLA’s strategy of trying to put up perfect FTYs in a vault lineup. If it worked, other teams would do it but once again UCLA thinks vault is an afterthought. If they actually want to win another championship they need 6 10.0 vaults in January like every other top team and right now there are 4.

 

[david]

Like, I’m glad Tiana and Josc can have competitive NCAA bars routines, but that’s really laying bare how inadequate the NCAA UB code is.

I will never understand UCLA’s strategy of trying to put up perfect FTYs in a vault lineup. If it worked, other teams would do it but once again UCLA thinks vault is an afterthought. If they actually want to win another championship they need 6 10.0 vaults in January like every other top team and right now there are 4.

UCLA has ten potential 10.0 vaults this season.

Hoffman, Callahan, and McGowan are all recovering from lower leg injuries and its unlikely they'll be ready for vault in January but they're all in contention to step in as the season progresses.

Tiana is coming back from an ankle injury and they're starting with an easier vault. She certainly has the talent to upgrade to a 10.0 vault later in the season.

Matthews mostly did a Y-full in elite. She was inconsistent with her Y1.5 this past year and is training a new vault. Its her weakest event and I think she's the one that's least likely to get a consistent 10.0 vault this season.

Mika is ready with her Y1.5 and Jordan is also ready with her half on vaults, they just didn't show them in MTB. Between the 2 of them, Rosen, Jenkins, and Sullivan, they'll likely start the season with five 10.0 vaults.

UCLA has more options than they've ever had to get to six 10.0 vaults this season. They have another three 10.0 vaults coming next season and they'll only be losing one. Seems like they're being thoughtful/intentional about building a deeper lineup.

Also, other top teams have relied on Y-fulls in recent years. KJ Johnson for LSU and Gilstrap for Utah come to mind. We've also seen all 10.0 lineups struggle when it mattered most because of how much harder it is to land 10.0 vaults (see Oklahoma 2024 and Florida 2025 in the national semi-finals) so I don't think its inherently a bad strategy to use some easier vaults.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

UCLA has ten potential 10.0 vaults this season.

Hoffman, Callahan, and McGowan are all recovering from lower leg injuries and its unlikely they'll be ready for vault in January but they're all in contention to step in as the season progresses.

Tiana is coming back from an ankle injury and they're starting with an easier vault. She certainly has the talent to upgrade to a 10.0 vault later in the season.

Matthews mostly did a Y-full in elite. She was inconsistent with her Y1.5 this past year and is training a new vault. Its her weakest event and I think she's the one that's least likely to get a consistent 10.0 vault this season.

Mika is ready with her Y1.5 and Jordan is also ready with her half on vaults, they just didn't show them in MTB. Between the 2 of them, Rosen, Jenkins, and Sullivan, they'll likely start the season with five 10.0 vaults.

UCLA has more options than they've ever had to get to six 10.0 vaults this season. They have another three 10.0 vaults coming next season and they'll only be losing one. Seems like they're being thoughtful/intentional about building a deeper lineup.

Also, other top teams have relied on Y-fulls in recent years. KJ Johnson for LSU and Gilstrap for Utah come to mind. We've also seen all 10.0 lineups struggle when it mattered most because of how much harder it is to land 10.0 vaults (see Oklahoma 2024 and Florida 2025 in the national semi-finals) so I don't think its inherently a bad strategy to use some easier vaults.

The story of UCLA’s vault lineup for as far back as I remember is always “they are going to have enough 10.0 vaults soon.” And then almost all of them never materialize and others degrade as the season goes on.

Relying on broken elites for vault is not working.

 

[david]

I agree and that's been frustrating. I've also been skeptical of UCLA's past claims largely because of who they were relying on to deliver those 10.0 vaults - often athletes that had done 10.0 vaults at some point but it wasn't a real strength or a small number of athletes to get to the 6. The number of high quality vaulters and the total group is growing, which is how any program actually gets to 6 legit 10.0 vaults. We'll see what materializes.

 

[rlayt]

Gymdogs:

 

[rlayt]

Nola Matthews! That’s a new look!

 

[Indy]

I’m assuming that UCLA’s Leo’s got lost in the mail so that’s why they borrowed swim suits from the diving team to wear.

Cool choreo for Nola though.