Special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The two remaining unbeaten gymnastics teams in Southeastern Conference action meet Friday in the Bluegrass State. No. 2 Florida gymnastics travels to face No. 12 Kentucky this Friday. Florida visits the Memorial Coliseum<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ukathletics.com_sports_2015_7_31_-5F131461810178489307.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=q-ByDnzCpUHA49f5466QelUnhp1mZDJIJou00vxSV9c&s=fRDDawsWquvnDT9-h9NdB47HxLair3TAMd9X_PgegKs&e= > for a 7 p.m. ET meet.
The Wildcats have won their last five home meets (dating back to 2019) and is 7-0 in home action in that span.
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
* SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch-3Fid-3D031617f2-2D4746-2D463d-2D8053-2D4f7883427385&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=q-ByDnzCpUHA49f5466QelUnhp1mZDJIJou00vxSV9c&s=dbmVraexzowcmFGu8tkBd4qXKVC5Ab1BnDuMiq612F0&e= >
* Live scores<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sidearmstats.com_ukentucky_gymnastics_uk-5Fgymstats.html&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=q-ByDnzCpUHA49f5466QelUnhp1mZDJIJou00vxSV9c&s=SZ4dHg6eKr7WzYZayFStRQt69EYeJ96wBXjAtYeXeB4&e= >
The Gators Last Meet:
Florida used the nation’s top total of 2020 for a 198.375 – 197.775 win over No. 8 LSU. That total stands No. 3 all-time for the Gator program.
A big score is fueled by big scores and both teams provided plenty for the sold out Exactech Arena crowd of 9,332. Gator sophomore Trinity Thomas’ 10.0 on uneven bars was her first perfect mark of her collegiate career. LSU freshman Kiya Johnson also earned a 10.0 collegiate 10.0 for her beam win. Florida trailed LSU by 0.025 after the opening rotation, but posted team totals of 49.65 or better on bars, beam and floor to claim the win. Florida is the third program in collegiate history to post event totals of 49.65 or better on three events. The 49.675 equals Florida’s beam record set in 2018.
Thomas nearly perfect floor mark of 9.975 shared the event title with Johnson. That pair also posted big all-around totals, with Thomas taking the win at 39.775 – the nation’s No. 3 total of 2020. Johnson was second at 39.725. Three other Gators had near perfection with marks of 9.975 – Alyssa Baumann (beam), Rachel Gowey (beam) and Savannah Schoenherr (bars). Collegiate-bests were set or match 13 times by the Gators, including freshman Payton Richards’ 39.50 all-around total. That is the third-highest by a Gator making their collegiate all-around debut. Sophomore Sydney Johnson-Scharpf’s 9.925 is the highest ever for a Gator making her collegiate beam debut.
SEC Gymnast of the Week Honors for Trinity Thomas:
After posting the nation’s top all-around of the week (39.775) and earning her first collegiate 10.0, Gator sophomore Trinity Thomas is the SEC Gymnast of the Week<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2020_1_28_gymnastics-2Dtrinity-2Dthomas-2Dis-2Dsec-2Dgymnast-2Dof-2Dthe-2Dweek.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=q-ByDnzCpUHA49f5466QelUnhp1mZDJIJou00vxSV9c&s=FFY9VepLRZgSIGk2uH8tPXZwlVKboioIkUO7wcO8-HQ&e= >.
It is her second honor the season and fifth of her career.
About Kentucky:
Kentucky is 5-1 in 2020 and undefeated in league action after wins versus Missouri (196.525-195.50), Arkansas (196.750-196.650) and at the Kentucky quad (196.375). The Wildcats only loss came at the season opener at then No. 5 Utah (195.35-196.425).
Senior Mollie Korth set Kentucky’s season-high all-around of 39.625 to claim wins versus Missouri and at Arkansas. She claimed the Week 1 SEC Gymnast of the Week award.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 2 in the Road to Nationals<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__roadtonationals.com_results_standings_season_2020_4_0_5&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=q-ByDnzCpUHA49f5466QelUnhp1mZDJIJou00vxSV9c&s=wQJ7WTbs9KE6AMLywpXYdEmAkvlbZBNwFcGE8qXzXvY&e= > standings.
Kentucky – The Wildcats are No. 12 in the Road to Nationals rankings.