This post was updated Feb. 20 at 12:23 a.m.

Emily Lee is too good to lead off.

The senior has been UCLA gymnastics’ signature starter on multiple events, earning herself the nickname Emily “Lee-doff” Lee. But while she consistently gets the job done for the Bruins, it’s time for a change.

Moving Lee to anchor could be what the squad needs. While she is yet to log a perfect 10 in college, Lee consistently displays wobble-free routines that can anchor any other Division I lineup.

In college gymnastics, scores tend to rise as the rotation progresses. When Emma Malabuyo closes out UCLA’s beam lineup, it’s so the senior – who notched perfection on the event in 2022 – can maximize her score.

And yes, Malabuyo has made a name for herself on beam – but so has Lee.

Lee was a member of the same national team as junior Jordan Chiles and Malabuyo, but her resume as an elite gymnast is overlooked. She represented the United States at the highest level of gymnastics, winning the all-around at the Gymnix Invitational in 2020.

In 2021, she competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials alongside Simone Biles to vie for a ticket to the Tokyo Games. And despite sustaining an Achilles tear after competing a double twisting double tuck on floor during the second day of competition, Lee recorded two scores higher than a 13.500 on beam.

Her 13.866 mark on day one was the seventh-highest score on beam throughout the competition and was highlighted by a sky-high back layout – one of the most difficult acrobatic elements – on the apparatus.

Lee’s score outperformed the 13.000 mark of Malabuyo, who was ultimately named an alternate to the Olympic squad over Lee.

Lee was still in the Achilles recovery process through her first season in Westwood. She waited on the sidelines for the day she could make her mark.

But when her turn came, she was sure to make it count.

It only took Lee four weeks to start racking up scores in the 9.900 range. The then-sophomore ultimately posted eight scores of 9.900 or higher on the event through the season and contributed regularly to the vault and floor lineups throughout the year.

While she quickly learned to notch big scores for the Bruins as a sophomore, Lee is still far from reaching her full potential. She has posted a 9.900 or higher on 57% of her beam routines this year and only dipped below a 9.850 mark once.

She has never fallen on beam in her 37 career routines on the event. In fact, she’s hit every single one of her collegiate routines.

The leadoff spot is important. The gymnast who competes first sets the tone. A hit routine can alleviate pressure off the back half of the lineup.

And sure, Lee fits the bill as the lineup’s tone setter. But maybe the reason she’s never scored a perfect 10 is because she consistently competes first in Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA has multiple athletes it can rely on to hit.

But Lee would always give the Bruins a sure answer in the anchor spot.