Of California’s five team values—commitment, adaptability, humility, inclusivity, and joy—one has been more prominent than the rest throughout the 2024 season. It has been the catalyst to the Golden Bears’ best season ever. It has them threatening for an NCAA title this week. And it’s something that the team exudes in more ways than one.
“Anchoring in joy is the thing that gets it done,” co-head coach Liz Crandall-Howell said. “If they’re having fun and you’re seeing the looseness and freedom in what they’re doing, they’re going to do great.”
With every team being different, Crandall-Howell learned from this group that joy would be the key to getting the pieces of this puzzle to come together. Looking at results alone, mission accomplished. California had its best regular season in program history, earning the Pac-12 regular season title after an undefeated conference slate and lofting its program-best score to 198.550; and it’s primed to surpass its highest-ever finish of seventh (2016, 2021, 2023).
But it’s by simply observing the Golden Bears that one can best see the joy gymnastics brings them.
In the Cal practice gym before regionals, the environment is focused but lighthearted. Athletes work through complexes and assignments in small groups and solo, with coaches spotting and critiquing when necessary. With a carefully curated playlist on blast, nobody in the building is immune from rapping a few lines of the latest Nicki Minaj hit or bopping along to some throwback Justin Bieber in between sets. This is after kicking off practice by surprising co-head coach Justin Howell with an official rally towel adorned with a navy heart and his DJ name on the back.
Moments like these are crucial in fostering an atmosphere where a team can thrive on loving the sport. “They work really hard every day and are physically prepared to do great gymnastics. They need joy to allow it to happen,” Crandall-Howell said.
It should be no surprise that California’s two most prominent gymnasts—Mya Lauzon and eMjae Frazier—are champions of bringing joy to the situation regardless of whether it’s practice or a meet. The duo have been pushing one another and feeding off each other for years after being assigned training mates thanks to sharing a bars setting. Since then, they have both traded off numerous accolades and school records. As it stands, Frazier holds the program’s highest all-around total at 39.825 while Lauzon’s four perfect 10s are the most in school history.
“They push each other in the gym, but they also know how to keep it light when they need to keep it light,” Howell said.
The relationship between the dynamic duo is one the gymnasts relish, too, as they don’t let their love of gymnastics get muddled by the competitiveness and the pressure—a tricky balance, as those are two essential components of sports. The pair competes head-to-head often as they go back-to-back in three of Cal’s lineups, but instead of seeing fierceness and fire fueling one to build upon the other’s score, instead there’s excitement and passion for their performances. No stern looks or cold shoulders; it’s all hugs and screaming.
“We feed off each other, and we love going back and forth,” Frazier said. “It’s not a competition, it’s more of a ‘Oh my gosh, I wanted you to get that score so you could have gotten higher than what I got!’”
To the rest of the Golden Bears, seeing your teammates dominate gymnastics with such elation is the best example one can set. This may be the secret weapon that has lifted California to new heights this season.
“Their belief in being able to compete with anyone is infectious to the rest of the team,” Howell said.
The unique skills many of the Golden Bears compete are another vessel for their joy to shine just by watching them. Without the willingness to train their rare skills to be perfect, we wouldn’t get to see Gabby Perea’s dismount beam with a side somi to tucked one and a half, Lauzon’s back-breaking beam mount, or Frazier’s Yurchenko double full. Competing skills they enjoy allow them to compete freely, and now perform them in contention for national championships.
A year ago, nationals didn’t go as planned for California, as it was in position for a trip to the team final before uncharacteristic bars mistakes cut its season one session short. It’s easy for humans to dwell on hard times like these, but in developing a sense of joy amongst the 2024 squad, there was no room for that in preparing for another title run.
“We learned some valuable lessons from it. We were really proud that after those mistakes that they still finished really strong,” Howell said. “But we put that to bed last year in Texas, and this is a new year.”
Entering as team final favorites, the Golden Bears have been dialing in on making every moment the same ahead of this weekend’s title sessions. No matter the situation—a conference dual, a podium quad, or a championship final—bringing the same gymnastics and joy that is felt every day in the gym.
“We’ve been working really hard on making every moment the same. That one is not more than another,” Frazier said. “That’s a really big part of our team. We treasure every opportunity we have, and I think that’s how we’re going to go through nationals.”
In leaning into one of its core values, California has put together a season to remember, one where the team atmosphere and environment flourished, enabling the gymnastics to dominate. Regardless of where the Golden Bears end amongst the top eight in the final standings, we, as viewers, win, as we’ve gotten the privilege to experience the joys of gymnastics by watching them compete.
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Article by Brandis Heffner
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