LOS ANGELES — Margzetta Frazier wore a pink leopard-print leotard inspired by her New Jersey roots. Emma Malabuyo was dressed in 1920s flapper fringe and glitter. Selena Harris’ leotard was inspired by Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl performance outfit. Nya Reed was dressed in white and gold to honor her sorority.
Six gymnasts donned custom-made leotards that they helped create on Friday night at UCLA gymnastics’ Meet the Bruins event. It was an exciting touch to preface the start of the season, but also a signature move for the UCLA program.
“For me, UCLA has always been that team that has been different,” said Nya Reed, a graduate transfer from the University of Florida. “I want people to see that we’re not just gymnasts. There’s other things that make us special. So it’s a way that we can be able to show our personality, not just through our floor routines.”
Meet the Bruins was a non-scoring meet that allowed gymnasts to practice their routines in an arena setting. UCLA’s team was separated into four main lineups for each event, then another four lineups for exhibition routines.
Jordan Chiles was even in attendance, even though she won’t be competing for UCLA this season as she prepares for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“All I can say is that she’s a true Bruin,” senior Frida Esparza said of Chiles, who won NCAA titles last year in uneven bars and floor. “The ties, the connection that she made with the team and like still wanting to come back and experience this with us, even though she’s not like competing or anything, that’s just amazing.”
Reed, a six-time All-American with the Gators, made her Bruin debut on vault and also showed off her floor routine as one of the gymnasts in the main lineup Friday night.
“I remember when I had first came for a visit, I walked in and I was like, this is huge,” Reed said. “I was so excited to be able to come and compete here. And so today, the energy was amazing and I fed off my…
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