From Coral Springs to Gainesville: Jayla Booker Emerges as a Star at The University of Florida
January 29, 2026 • By Matt Rothman
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Jayla Booker. {Courtesy}[/caption]
The University of Florida has found a star — and she hails from Coral Springs.
Jayla Booker, a College Gym News 4-Star recruit who attended Coral Glades, shined throughout the 2025 season with dominant performances at the state, regional, and invitational levels.
Her breakout year was highlighted by sweeping all titles at the 2025 Florida State Level 10 Championships on March 21. She followed that performance with an impressive showing at the 2025 Region 8 Championships, where she captured the floor exercise title, finished runner-up on balance beam, and placed third on vault and in the all-around.
Booker’s dominance extended into the invitational circuit. She claimed the all-around title at the 2025 Sand Dollar Invitational and delivered a remarkable performance at the 2025 Tim Rand Invitational, winning four event titles — all-around, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise — while finishing second on vault. At the 2025 Presidential Classic, Booker set personal bests with a 9.95 on floor exercise and a 39.15 in the all-around.
A consistent high-level competitor, Booker qualified for the Women’s Development Program Level 10 Championships in both 2023 and 2024. She has trained for 12 years at American Twisters under the guidance of coaches Christy Ramirez and Gary Anderson.
Her journey, however, has not been without adversity. At just 14 years old, Booker was diagnosed with epilepsy following a series of seizures. Despite the challenge, she persevered and continued to excel at the highest levels of the sport. After initially committing to Rutgers University, Booker ultimately signed with the University of Florida — a move that has already paid dividends.
Booker has impressed in her first four collegiate meets, helping lead Florida to a 4–0 start with victories over the University of North Carolina, Temple University, and West Virginia. She capped the stretch with a standout floor routine, earning a 9.990. The Gators then defeated fourth-ranked Alabama, a win that propelled Florida to the No. 1 ranking in the nation before beating Auburn University on Friday.
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