Bruins find inspiration in Black Excellence meet
UCLA gymnastics is riding a wave of momentum, not just because it secured its highest team score of the season one week ago, but also because its upcoming meet against Oregon State has special meaning.
The Bruins (4-1) are hosting a Black Excellence meet Saturday in support of the fight against racial injustice.
“Even if we did win the Utah meet, we still wouldn’t be satisfied with our performance, and I think that that is something amazing about the team I’m on,” junior Margzetta Frazier said. “We’re just even more fired up on hitting those handstands and sticking those landings, and that’s all we’ve been doing in the gym, because we are finally at that point of confidence that we have been waiting for.”
Frazier is one of four Black gymnasts on the team — along with senior Nia Dennis, freshman Chae Campbell and junior Sekai Wright — three of whom compete in all-around competition. UCLA debuted its specially designed Black Excellence leotards earlier this week with the group modeling them on social media.
The black leotards are trimmed in gold, with gold lines swirling up the body and down the arms. A raised black fist adorns
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UCLA (4-1) VS. OREGON STATE (2-3) When: 11 a.m. today Where: Pauley Pavilion TV: Pac-12 Networks
the bicep.
“I feel so powerful that all of us are going to be wearing black and we’re all wearing the same leo,” said Dennis, whose floor routine also pays tribute to Black Excellence. “I feel a strong sense of unity and I honestly feel unstoppable.”
Dennis has finished at the top of the pack in floor on multiple occasions this season, but Campbell won the event in last week’s meet against Utah with a season-high 9.95 mark and also took home the allaround title.
Wright has consistently improved her floor score as well, despite being limited by elbow pain.
Norah Flatley is also battling injury and will not compete against Oregon State (2-3) due to her ankle.
Last week’s meet against Utah marked the end of an intense schedule that included three meets in 10 days. Coach Chris Waller said the team encountered some fatigue from the schedule as well as from emotions surrounding the Black Excellence meet, but recovered to have a solid week in the gym.
“They are in a groove. They pushed through really well yesterday and we got a lot better this week,” Waller said. “I just feel like we keep getting better, and I can’t say enough about how they got themselves to pull together.”