Michigan State Gymnastics Pushes No. 5 UCLA to the Limit in Electric Breslin Center Showdown
EAST LANSING - Michigan State gymnastics didn’t just host a meet on Sunday - they put on a show. In just their second-ever competition at the Breslin Center, the No. 21-ranked Spartans delivered a season-best performance in front of a record-setting home crowd of 9,887 fans.
And while the scoreboard ultimately favored No. 5 UCLA, 197.425 to 196.900, MSU made it clear: they’re not just here to compete - they’re here to contend.
Facing a powerhouse Bruins squad led by Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles, the Spartans rose to the occasion with poise, power, and precision. Head coach Mike Rowe couldn’t have been prouder of his team’s effort.
“It was better than we were in weeks past,” Rowe said post-meet. “We’ve got to clean up the bars, take care of some of the little details, but I’m extremely proud of what they did today.”
That attention to detail - the difference between a win and a near-miss - was evident across the board. MSU matched UCLA stride for stride on vault, with both teams posting a 49.300.
Senior Sage Kellerman set the tone with a 9.925, backed by sophomore Cady Duplissis (9.900) and co-captain Olivia Zsarmani (9.875). It was a rotation that showed the Spartans’ depth and their ability to go toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s elite.
But the uneven bars proved to be the separator. UCLA flexed its muscle with a 49.350, while MSU came in just under the 49 mark at 48.975. Kellerman (9.875) and Zsarmani (9.850) led the way for the Spartans, but Chiles stole the spotlight with a 9.950, and teammate Sydney Barros added a 9.900 to give the Bruins a slight edge.
Beam was another tight battle, with UCLA edging MSU 49.325 to 49.275. Still, the Spartans showed grit.
Senior Nikki Smith delivered a strong 9.925, while MaKayla Tucker posted a season-high 9.875. Freshman Lily Cosman, anchoring the rotation, rose to the moment with her own season-best 9.900 - a performance that showed both promise and poise from the newcomer.
Heading into the final rotation, the meet was still very much in the balance. On floor, MSU brought the energy.
Tucker and Smith both notched 9.925s, with Tucker tying her career high in the process. But once again, Chiles reminded everyone why she’s one of the sport’s brightest stars, closing out the meet with a perfect 10.000 that sealed the win for the Bruins.
“We're catching up,” Rowe said. “UCLA has a long history - national contenders, national championships.
They're a great addition to the Big Ten. It just makes it now where everyone has to raise their bar, and that's what we are trying to do.”
And raise the bar they have. MSU may sit at 1-4 on the season, but the record doesn’t tell the whole story.
Their schedule has been a gauntlet. They opened the year at the Sprout Farmers Market Collegiate Quad, finishing third behind No.
14 Michigan and No. 20 California - and ahead of then-No.
9 Kentucky. A tough road loss to Iowa followed, and now this narrow defeat to a top-five opponent.
What’s clear is that the Spartans are building something - not just in the gym, but in the stands, too. The electric atmosphere at the Breslin was more than just a backdrop; it was fuel. As Rowe noted, “The more amped they are, the better they score.”
Next up, MSU heads to Ann Arbor for another shot at rival Michigan on February 1. And if Sunday was any indication, the Spartans are ready to keep pushing - and closing the gap - against the nation’s best.