Janelle McDonald is about halfway through her first season as the UCLA gymnastics head coach. She’s become a Bruin easily, but this weekend she’ll get back to her Golden Bear roots as the team heads to Cal for a 2 p.m. dual meet Saturday.
The event could also have implications in the national rankings. Both schools are ranked in the top 10 nationally. No. 6 UCLA’s 197.425 average score is just a smidge ahead of No. 7 Cal’s 197.317.
McDonald served as an assistant coach at Cal for four seasons, where she helped see the Golden Bears to their first Pac-12 regular-season title in 2022 and first individual championship in uneven bars in 2021. She said she’ll embrace old connections and maybe her old coffee shop, but the mindset is new.
“When I was working there, I always went to Peet’s,” she said. “I think it might be the first Peet’s that ever opened. But it’s a business trip, so we’re going up there and we have a job to do and supporting the team is my No. 1 priority.”
The meet will also bring together sisters Margzetta Frazier and eMjae Frazier, who is a freshman with the Golden Bears (9-0-1 overall, 3-0-1 in Pac-12).
Margzetta is a fifth-year senior, and the extra year of eligibility gave her the opportunity to compete against eMjae. The older Frazier sister likened it to NFL brothers Jason and Travis Kelce being on opposing teams in last Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“Of course, I’m going to hug my sister, talk to her and give her some glitter, some lip gloss,” Margzetta Frazier said. “Some body sprays. Check her out, approve it and I’m going to be stalking her the whole competition watching for sure. But at the end of the day, we both mean business.”
Margzetta is still producing results for the Bruins (5-4-1, 2-1-1), despite the wear and tear from nearly a lifetime of gymnastics. She scored a 9.90 on uneven bars and a 9.950 on floor exercise in last week’s win over Arizona State.
She also brings knowledge and experience as one…
Read the full article here
