For Florida senior eMjae Frazier, many connections in the small world of gymnastics were already in place, enabling her to feel comfortable transferring to Florida.
Skylar Draser was her club teammate at Parkettes. Kayla DiCello and former Gator Leanne Wong were her elite teammates, and the trio competed together at Worlds in 2021. Selena Harris-Miranda and Anya Pilgrim were some of her lifelong friends.
These connections, combined with the desire to earn another degree after graduating in three years from California, made committing to Florida easy for Frazier after spending time with the coaches and support staff on her official visit after last year’s nationals.
“It really just made me realize how much support everyone gets here. You really have a built-in family here, and it’s something I just couldn’t give up,” Frazier recalled.
Now four meets into her final season of eligibility, Frazier has become an impact player for the Gators on three events. She currently holds the second-highest average on beam only behind Harris-Miranda and is ranked in the top 20 nationally on that event. Her average on floor is third-highest on the team tied with Taylor Clark. Head coach Jenny Rowland noted that her consistency and confidence in training had the entire team confident in her abilities to contribute right away.
“I love that she’s so graceful and just has a fierceness about her that is intimidating, yet so soft and calm. She exudes confidence and joy, and I really, really love watching her go out there and compete every Friday night in a Gator leotard,” Rowland said.
For Frazier, being a part of the Gators team has been an unreal and unmatched experience. The depth on the team could be a pressure cooker for some, especially for someone like Frazier who was a consistent all-arounder in her first three years competing. However, Frazier said that the competition for lineup spots pushes everyone to be their best and builds trust in what her teammates are going to do on the floor.
“It pushes us all to be our best selves, but really [we’re] pushing each other to become better gymnasts. I know what [my teammates] are capable of, so a lot of the pressure comes off,” she explained.
Heading into the second month of the season, Frazier has enjoyed the challenge of competing in the SEC and credits everyone involved with Gator Nation for helping her grow as a gymnast during this year. She also knows that the season is just getting started and that Florida is in a really good spot, especially in the face of adversity.
“We’re in here working like crazy, [we have so] much trust in each other to go out there and rock our routines. This team is a national championship team, and I can’t wait to see how far we go from here because we’re going to keep building, and when we hit everything, it’s going to be amazing.”
For Rowland, taking in transfers for two consecutive seasons has proven to be a tactic that pays off in the long run as Harris-Miranda and Frazier help lead the Gators towards a return to nationals. “We are truly grateful that these young women trusted us to take them under [our] wings and provide an experience that [looks] a little different, and we’re grateful that both of our transfers are Gators,” said Rowland.
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Article by Savanna Wellman
