special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The nation’s top dual meet of the weekend closes regular-season action – No. 1 Florida gymnastics at No. 6 Alabama. Action begins at 8:30 p.m. ET at Coleman Coliseum<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__rolltide.com_sports_2016_6_10_facilities-2Dcoleman-2Dcoliseum-2Dhtml.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=9C-9WGPyhdTeoyQhK5Jt86SpaBQUmHcn1Lv7gVuRl9U&s=a2PGtAYN4s4tGwuPsQbTpsCS8b1l91Xq4Cnrdb7baeQ&e=>.
This is the 59th consecutive meeting between these two league rivals that both bring a top-10 ranking.
Florida clinched at least a share of the 2021 SEC title with its win last Friday. A home team win Friday gives the Tide a share of its first SEC regular-season title. Entering the final Friday of SEC regular-season action, all other league teams have at least two losses. Florida seeks to become the fourth SEC regular-season champion with an undefeated record (2017, 2018: LSU; 2020: UF).
How to Follow the Gators:
The Florida-UA dual closes a SEC Network Alternate Channel Friday Night Heights double-header. Olympic medalists Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke call the action.
On the go Friday? Follow the action on SEC Network<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D037d03c8-2De943-2D4b82-2Daabd-2Db4bc734865d5&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=9C-9WGPyhdTeoyQhK5Jt86SpaBQUmHcn1Lv7gVuRl9U&s=jo0VIcc6dPDhQc0mHDJHWDO-J56ptHzbcizO_AX5j38&e=>.
In the Gators’ Last Meet:
Florida used the nation’s top total of 2021 last Friday to claim at least a share of the 2021 SEC regular season title. The 198.275 – 197.025 win over then No. 18 Auburn gives Florida five of the nation’s top 12 totals of 2021.
A big total is fueled by big scores. A pair of 10.0s by Trinity Thomas and a duo of near perfect 9.975s by freshman Ellie Lazzari and junior Leah Clapper were among those big scores. Thomas joins Alex McMurtry (2018 vs Oklahoma) as the only Gators with a pair of 10.0s in a single meet. She received her first 10.0 on bars (second of career) and then closed meet with her second consecutive floor 10.0 (third of career). Her winning all-around of 39.75 is her fourth among the nation’s top seven totals of 2021.
The near-perfect balance beam marks of Lazzari and Clapper won the event title. The mark was a follow-up to Clapper’s 10.0 the week prior and set Lazzari’s collegiate best. The Gators posted its school beam record of 49.70. Junior Savannah Schoenherr equaled her collegiate best of 9.95 to claim her second vault title of the season.
SEC Awards for the Gators:
After their performances last Friday, Lazzari and Thomas claimed SEC weekly honors<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.secsports.com_article_30990273_gymnasts-2Dweek&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=9C-9WGPyhdTeoyQhK5Jt86SpaBQUmHcn1Lv7gVuRl9U&s=2XLQtVsS-IJ8SFUwb-E6fTmZ2GaWia-56CxOoLsyDxI&e=>. Lazzari is the SEC Freshman of the Week.
Thomas collects her fourth SEC Gymnast of the Week of 2021 and extends her all-time league high total to 15.
About the Alabama Crimson Tide:
No. 6 Alabama has scored its top three team totals in its last three meets – 197.725 (versus LSU), 197.325 (at Arkansas) and 197.00 (at Georgia). Friday’s meet will include two gymnasts with the nation’s No. 1 (Thomas, 39.90) and No. 3 (Alabama sophomore Luisa Blanco, 39.825) all-around totals of 2021.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 1 in the eighth Road to Nationals standing