Special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lots going on for top-ranked Florida gymnastics’ regular-season home finale Friday versus No. 18 Auburn. Action begins at 8:15 p.m. ET in front of physically distanced sold-out Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-kentucky-link-to-pink/> crowd. Gates open at 7:30 p.m.
It is Senior Night and the Gators celebrate the careers of seniors Alyssa Baumann, Jazmyn Foberg and Megan Skaggs following competition. It is also Alumnae Night, with past Gator gymnasts joining the meet via Zoom.
This year’s home finale also has Southeastern Conference title implications.
The Gators are undefeated in SEC action (5-0). Alabama is the only remaining team with a single league loss.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__a.espncdn.com_sec_media_2021_SEC-2520Gymnastics-2520Weekly-2520Release.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=5nQ72GhUUdUL7EdFytlnpTFGG5lafB8yP96k3UTAcss&e= > A win Friday guarantees Florida at least a share of its third consecutive SEC regular-season title as the team would have one remaining league meet (March 6 at Alabama).
Safety Focus:
The safety and health for our student-athletes, staff and guests is our highest priority. In consultation with UF Health officials and while following COVID-19 safety protocols established by the SEC Medical Guidance Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following is in place for the 2021 Gator gymnastics home campaign:
* Limited physically-distanced capacity in Exactech Arena (approximately 2,200)
* Tickets sold in sets of 2 or 4 to allow for proper physical distancing.
* Masks & physical distancing required for all in attendance. UF Campus Health Requirements<https://coronavirus.ufl.edu/forward-students-families/forward-students-families-health-safety/>
* Tickets sold on a single meet basis. Season-ticket sales resume when full capacity returns
* All tickets will be handled Friday, through the Florida Gators Mobile<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2019_7_31_mobile-2Dapp.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=UndOLN4ne-0ufyDmkYr25Jmvqga79btIcYvIbt2vhCo&e= > app or FloridaGators.com/my account<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__am.ticketmaster.com_gators_-23_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=sS9WzUU56HXOUifW1fLoNBjsrXiPwkeWkvhX_CeZ_4Q&e= >.
Meet Guide<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Fgameday-5Fgymnastics-5F.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=MlJ7GL_tnHS6vDShnfZmfK47nTZO7rXkSJxv5CpCD7E&e= > (info on arena entrance, policies and more)
Parking / Directions<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Ffacilities-5Fparking-5Fgymnastics-5F.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=uZ4658XgpEdJlzDKrFKP_iGZMLQxUIdJgboq5ZNm5Do&e= >
Can’t use your tickets Friday? Here’s how to get your tickets to other fans.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2020_9_3_mobile-2Dticketing.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=m6K-MDwk1WoSHEzStwGG-8POpDDUMMYwox5gZSBiSok&e= >
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
* SEC Network<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D5cc436f2-2D79af-2D43b6-2Db44f-2Dbbfd853e6187&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=M-YyulnUvVkhckAqLq_-XwzbDd0B-EdPZIRMza5PKlY&e= > – action called by Olympic medalists Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson-Clarke
* Live scores<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_broadcast_-3Fid-3D324896&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=m53ikmYFLqSEhBeCJAQVlcTK7PpA1dBZLZeNa7f2szc&e= >
Senior Night:
Where did the time go? Gator gymnastics celebrates the careers of three seniors Friday.
Alyssa Baumann
Jazmyn Foberg
Megan Skaggs
This class:
* Advanced to NCAA Super Six team final in 2018 (3rd)
* Won 2019 and 2020 Southeastern Conference regular-season trophies
* Earned six All-America honors
* Two SEC balance beam titles (Baumann – 2018; Baumann and Skaggs – 2019)
* Each of Florida’s three seniors are WCGA Scholastic All-Americans every season of their collegiate careers
* Competed 194 routines as part of Gator lineup, which is 20 percent of Florida’s routines since 2018 season.
The Gators’ Last Meet:
Four Gators – Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Nya Reed, Savannah Schoenherr and Trinity Thomas plus Head Coach Jenny Rowland – were sidelined for the Feb. 19 home dual versus No. 15 Kentucky due to COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. The remaining Gators used this as an opportunity to showcase the team’s talent depth, posting the nation’s third-highest total of the weekend in the 197.50 – 196.875 win.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2021_2_19_gymnastics-2Dno-2D1-2Dgator-2Dgymnasts-2Dwin-2Dover-2Dno-2D15-2Dkentucky.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=jSnPw3JjnO85VYLIZYa_RVWoaO_bs1PsWXsCBjA5hVU&e= >
The Gators filled the eight lineup spots with some impressive results. Junior Leah Clapper put a 10.0 exclamation point on Florida’s national leading and school record balance beam total (49.675). She’s the second in the nation this season with a beam 10.0 and makes Florida the nation’s only program with two gymnast (Thomas – floor) with perfect marks in 2021. Alyssa Baumann posted the top total for a Gator making her all-around debut (39.65) to win the event title. She also made her collegiate debut on bars (her first competitive bars routine since the 2016 P&G Championships), tying for the event title at 9.925 with fellow senior Megan Skaggs. Her season best and winning mark of 9.95 on floor clinched the all-around win. Freshman Ellie Lazzari claimed her first vault title (9.875). Five Gators turned in 10 collegiate bests Friday.
About the Auburn Tigers:
No. 18 Auburn is coming a 197.05 – 196.15 home win over No. 12 Georgia – the Tigers first win of 2021. Last Friday’s total is just off AU’s season best of 197.075 set Feb. 5 versus LSU. AU’s Cassie Steven won the UGA-AU dual all-around with Auburn’s season-best total of 39.45.
Auburn’s Derrian Gobourne is the reigning SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.secsports.com_article_30950756_gymnasts-2Dweek&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=ES7eP9_uB2rMUDB2PZs5knjAkUw2On4MqVkZhwmsryM&e= > after scoring a 9.925 or better in the three events competed. She won vault with a season high 9.925 and used same mark to take a share of the floor win. A career-best 9.95 in the uneven bars anchor position claimed the event title.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 1 in the Week 6 Road to Nationals rankings<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__roadtonationals.com_results_standings_season_2021_1_0_5&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=RP7X-Mc81l267-hV-pLsJpKk1KebSlxTYcGhGKT9kYI&s=15g-hEjWJ61Z-ots4uoYy9MSB0h3mL_3Znm5IjbJBx4&e= >.
Auburn- The Tigers are No. 18.