Special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gator gymnastics welcomes another top U.S. gymnast – Sloane Blakely – for the 2022 season, Gator head coach Jenny Rowland<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.gatorzone.com_gymnastics_staff_rowland&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=5zgO1ODyxT2VgWx7w2PfSevc24LfLogeAUSSS9A4WpM&e= > announced today.
Blakely joins a pair of signees from last November – Morgan Hurd and Riley McCusker – who deferred their UF enrollment as they pursue a spot on the 2021 U.S. Olympic team. McCusker looks to enroll in the fall of 2021 while Hurd plans to join the team for the 2022 season as she aspires to compete at the 2021 World Championships, set for October 2021 in Copenhagen.
About Sloane Blakely:
Blakely competed as an elite, advancing to the U.S. Championships and GK U.S. Classic in 2018 and 2019. She won uneven bars and was vault runner-up at the 2019 American Classic. In her last elite competition, Blakely took fourth on beam and fifth on vault at the 2020 WOGA Classic International Elite competition<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.meetscoresonline.com_Results_25073&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=0zE2bCc-wNXbDGO-raH3Mp6oD5y1R4bLALClI59fT38&e= >. A part of the U.S. gold-medal team at the 2019 Gymnix International competition, she took second on beam and third in all-around.
Sloane Blakely Said:
“I chose the University of Florida because of the welcoming atmosphere on campus and the full-filled spirit of the gymnastics team. I look forward to competing in the O’Dome with my future teammates.” – Sloane Blakely
Jenny Rowland Said:
“We are so thankful Sloane made the decision to become a Florida Gator! Not only is she a super, talented young lady, but her passion and love for the Gators is unwavering. She has heart of gold and a spirit that lifts up and supports all those around her. Her competitive experience, poise and grace will help her make an immediate impact as a Gator all-arounder. Gator Nation is extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to watch Sloane make her mark with Florida!” – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
Meet the New Gator:
Sloane Blakely – Frisco, Texas
IG: sloaneblakely
* Competed at 2019 and 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships [2019 floor<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_2PnALCxtFRo&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=lSV3mYHPr2_jiYlq2vqxIuImYfPE0AtJKQCM2_cujOg&e= >, beam<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_-2DlFkDOnqrPk&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=-3FIlLRt4VUvMS-9_ZpoB0w3hp0uzJw5jrYXnuS_oNk&e= >] [2018 beam<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_6MJxpdBeFpM&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=ubtFWDAfd-oLoriOGNCmRhG8JJEgJSwTyIWqPjJKZb0&e= >, floor<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_rAjN-2DdJ7eYw&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=T-M-mZlVnEMHxBYoD5ScnASQnGWsa918ZcEfN382LtE&e= >
* 2019 American Classic beam champion – second in vault and fifth on floor<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__usagym.org_PDFs_Results_2019_w-5F19amclassic-5Fsr.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=nO7GX_TjJBmQYYbuPQplZfbP2-MKre63abDbICQurcI&e= >
* Member of U.S. winning team at 2019 Gymnix International in Montreal, Canada. Third in all-around and second in both beam and floor<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sportzsoft.com_meet_meetWeb.dll_MeetResults-3FSessionId-3D37933571884370-26gotoTab-3DD&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=ZyXtIaXocibM5dR5un7az1UD2erimS6u9CQUS819Gnk&e= >.
* Fourth on beam<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_TnSklCGfHvQ&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=BJd-7qsfr5sAYYJfnJGRYSihdcv_YKOQOgvPEvqe8CY&e= > and seventh in all-around at 2018 GK U.S. Classic
* Sixth in all-around and beam at 2018 American Classic
* Trains at WOGA and coached by Tatyana Shadenko
* Graduates from Wakeland High School in spring 2021
More additions for 2022 season announced Nov. 13, 2019<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2019_11_13_two-2Dus-2Dgymnastics-2Dstandouts-2Dsign-2Dwith-2Dgators.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=QjVvDudUagtTsuc5mDOl34xAX15RbyZhLuwrVBjgYFU&e= >:
Morgan Hurd – Middletown, Del.
Twitter: @morgihurd
* 2017 World Championships’ all-around champion; silver on balance beam
* Silver medalist on uneven bars at 2019 U.S. Championships<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_XNDQ35a1YAY&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=UTogCbikHa1wdruiTsSZ82GRyL-WyuloelposQtwj14&s=tno22mBjymz1411dbmqK3n0P4ImN_XPmfKIcRMcx9PQ&e= >
* All-around champion at 2019 Tokyo World Cup in Tokyo, Japan
* Part of U.S.’s gold medal team at 2019 Pan American Games
* Gold medalist with 2018 U.S. World Championships team; also claimed floor exercise silver and all-around bronze
* Silver in all-around and uneven bars at 2018 U.S. Championships; bronze in floor competition
* 2018 American Cup champion
* Member of 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 U.S. Senior National Team; part of 2016-17 U.S. Junior National Team
* Member of First State Gymnastics in Newark, Del., and coached by Slava Glazounov
Riley McCusker – Brielle, N.J.
Twitter: @mccusker_riley
* Gold medalist with 2018 U.S. World Championships team
* Team and uneven bars gold medalist at 2019 Pan American Games; also claimed silver in all-around and balance beam bronze
* 2019 Birmingham World Cup all-around silver medalist
* 2018 U.S. uneven bars silver medalist; bronze for all-around and balance beam
* 2017 U.S. uneven bars champion; silver for beam and bronze in all-around competition
* Gold for all-around, balance beam and U.S. team at 2017 Jesolo Trophy in Jesolo, Italy; uneven bars silver medalist
* Member of 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 U.S. Senior National Team; part of 2016-17 U.S. Junior National Team
* Trains at Arizona Sunrays and coached by Brian Carey and Pam Evans
Gators In 2020:
Florida claimed its second-consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season title in 2020. The Gators ranked No. 2 nationally and compiled a 10-0 record before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season just prior to the last weekend of regular-season action.