UCLA’s Selena Harris, the Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year, is already preparing for next season. She’s going to be keeping a watchful eye when she and teammate Chae Campbell head to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships to compete as individuals Thursday.
“I’m really excited to watch how other teams function,” the sophomore said. “Just watch how other teams compete so that next year we know what we’re doing and dealing with.”
Harris will be competing on balance beam and Campbell, a senior, will be in floor exercise as individuals in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bruins didn’t qualify as a team after finishing in third place in the NCAA Regional Second Round.
UCLA, which qualified as a team two years ago, wants the whole team there next season.
“We’ve talked a lot about just going there and really trying to watch,” Bruins coach Janelle McDonald said. “Watch what we’re seeing and be able to take back some things to help our team move forward and build upon what we’re doing here in our culture.”
Campbell will compete in the first session of the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and will rotate with Arkansas. Harris be in the second session at 6 p.m. and will compete in the first rotation with Pac-12 rival Utah.
Harris, who ranks 19th nationally on balance beam, said she’s excited to be alongside Utah because of the Red Rocks’ abilities in the event. The Utes finished the regular season ranked fourth nationally in the event.
Maile O’Keefe was the second-ranked individual in the event with a national qualifying score of 9.990. She scored four perfect 10s on beam this season and has a program-record 15 perfect scores throughout her career.
“They’re the beam team when I think of gymnastics,” Harris said. “It’s just gonna be so great to go with such a great beam lineup. And then I get to go because I know I’m just as good.”
Campbell, who is making her third appearance at the NCAA Championships, will have a UCLA connection with Arkansas. Razorbacks head coach Jordyn Wieber is a former UCLA assistant and Bruins legend Kyla Ross is an assistant on her staff.
Floor exercise has been a strength for Campbell during her UCLA career. She didn’t compete in the event in six consecutive meets this season due to injury but still managed to score a perfect 10 in her return against Clemson.
All eight UCLA floor exercise routines from Senior Day #journalist #reporter #sports #girlpower #ucla #gymnastics #collegegymnastics #dance #choreography #barbie #deltasigmatheta #blackpanther #vogue #metallica #gorillaz
♬ original sound – Haley Sawyer
“I think that this routine needs to be shown at Nationals,” Campbell said. “So I am so, so, so excited that I’m able to do my floor team one last time. We worked on little tweaks here and there to make it that perfect ‘natty’ routine.”
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Harris and Campbell have been training individually all week with their coaches, all of whom will be making the trip to Fort Worth. It’s been a much quieter atmosphere at practices without the entire team present, but teammates have appeared in the gym to show their support as Harris and Campbell attempt to set the tone for the future.
“My biggest thing is to do it for my team,” Harris said. “We’re doing the best we can with just two voices. We’re really hungry because our team didn’t make it as far as we planned. So this is our revenge – we’re gonna go get our lick back.”
NCAA Gymnastics Championships
When: Thursday, 1:30 p.m. (Chae Campbell) and 6 p.m. (Selena Harris)
Where: Dickies Arena, Forth Worth, Texas
TV: ESPN2