Special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gator gymnastics opens home action this Friday. No. 1 Florida welcomes No. 7 Georgia for the 154th meeting between these two long-time Southeastern Conference rivals.
Action begins at 6:45 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-georgia-3/> crowd.
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=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=2chQb9pMXYUFob5RbjgAmNNCoiDjXlFWzOXKam3tnU0&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=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=oeNSBqqD9oqOKINRefrVkt_CDT4nnjtWUJNelFdEsWM&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=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=v1dauDxY02J8R9LfOtwLUM22ZWQW271VL4T8IN7M8GA&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=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=-FowJKcNWKg4myf4E-XSUl1GW-4SbjWeyVHJd-AIxjQ&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-3D76dd7ff6-2D7a8b-2D4fb6-2D85ac-2D566296209dc5&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=eJp7pRncqS5d50gf35Hd44SPM52S844YDcp7McENEHA&e= > + – action called by a pair of U.S. Olympians – Alicia Sacramone Quinn and John Roethlisberger
* Live scores<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D324893&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=Ry4YV0GGY2bAxn2Yl_h68UlZ7LdqSK2_7qhFoo21nD4&e= >
* Friday’s meet airs tape-delayed on ESPN2 on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
The Gators’ Last Meet:
There were six meets in 2021s opening weekend and Florida’s winning total of 197.50 at No. 14 Auburn not only is the Gators’ all-time high to start a season, but also leads the nation.
Trinity Thomas claimed at least a share of four event titles, including upping the Gators’ all-time best season opening all-around total to 39.75. That total leads the nation through the opening weekend. She raised her vault collegiate best to 9.975 and won floor at 9.95. Thomas shared the balance beam crown at 9.95 with freshman Ellie Lazzari. That mark give Lazzari the all-time high for a Gator making her collegiate beam debut.
Junior Leah Clapper, making her collegiate debut in the uneven bars lineup, tied with Thomas for second at 9.875. Five UF returners set or equaled six collegiate bests in the 2021 opener.
SEC Gymnast of the Week Honors for Trinity Thomas:
The Gator duo of juniors Nya Reed and Trinity Thomas claimed SEC Weekly honors after their performances in the 2021 opener<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2021_1_12_gymnastics-2Dpair-2Dof-2Dgator-2Dgymnasts-2Dclaim-2Dsec-2Dweekly-2Dhonors.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=Fyvckz-w52ReiSWVm-H91WHBrx0C3_LX1JPBALzt6Kk&e= >.
Reed shares the SEC Specialist of the Week honor after equaling her collegiate vault best (9.90) and sharing second on floor (9.925).
Thomas’ four event titles at Auburn gives her the 12th SEC Gymnast of the Week honor of her career.
About the Georgia GymDogs:
No. 7 Georgia opened the season with a 196.15-194.25 home win over Missouri. With three gymnasts in both the senior and freshmen classes, the bulk of the GymDog team is juniors and sophomores so UGA will look to their experience to lead the team in 2021. Freshman Victoria Nguyen turned in UGA’s high score of the meet, winning bars with the nation’s leading mark at 9.95. She took the all-around win (39.40). Junior Mikayla Magee took vault title at 9.925 and senior Marissa Oakley posted UGA’s third 9.9 or better mark for the meet to take second on bars at 9.90.
The GymDogs were 3-4 overall and 2-4 SEC before the pandemic ended the 2020 season.
Florida 2020 Senior Class:
The pandemic prevented the celebration of Florida’s 2020 senior class as the March 13 Senior Night competition versus Texas Woman’s University was canceled.
Friday, Gator gymnastics celebrates those four seniors post meet.
Sierra Alexander / Maegan Chant
Rachel Gowey / Amelia Hundley
2020 Senior Class Notes
* Advanced to NCAA Super Six team final in 2017 (4th) and 2018 (3rd)
* Won 2019 and 2020 Southeastern Conference regular-season trophies
* Earned seven All-America honors
* Each of Florida’s four 2020 seniors are WCGA Scholastic All-Americans
* Competed 331 routines as part of Gator lineup, which was 27 percent of Florida’s routines during their four-year careers.
* Two posted perfect scores – Gowey (beam, 10.0 – 3-7-20) and Alexander (vault, 9.95 – 2-21-20, 3-7-20)
Friday is Gator Gymnastics Alumna Night. Gators from the past will join virtually to cheer the current team.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 1 in the Week 1 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=7DZF2iaLkJn9pSjTRlMpqg3FQt35UZimr3XmT2lN5Xg&s=V1VNDx5KnAKC558Jb_El4RsHHs4wi7ua1Yoz6Dp4SmU&e= >.
Georgia – The GymDogs are No. 7.
This is the 60th time that one team in this series brings a No. 1 ranking (Georgia 42 times; Florida 18).