After University of Florida’s Bridget Sloan was named SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Week after only a week of action this season, it comes to no surprise that the Gators squad consists of the top freshmen gymnastics class in the nation. According to CollegeGymFans.com the elite four-member freshmen class is the nation’s top freshmen class for the 2013 year.
Bridgette Caquatto, Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto and Bridget Sloan all began training with the Gators in the fall while Morgan Frazier joined the Gators squad this spring.
Caquatto and Sloan both have tremendous experience as they both have represented the U.S. in international meets before. Sloan was the youngest member of the U.S.’s 2008 silver-medal Olympic team, showing her talent at an early age. In 2009, the freshman superstar won the 2009 World Championships’ all-around title.
Both Sloan and Caquatto were apart of the U.S.’s 2011 Pan American Games gold-medal team as Caquatto took home gold for the all-around and uneven bars. Sloan and Dancose-Giambattisto both competed at the 2010 World Championships as Dancose-Giambattisto was part of Canada’s team. Frazier competed at the Junior Olympic Level 10 Championships and was apart of the Orlando Metro club team.
The Gators are 1-1 for the 2013 season so far after winning their season opener but then losing on the road. In Florida’s first meet of the season and home opener, the No. 3 Gators defeated Ball State 196.575-190.55 in the O’Dome. Unfortunately when the Gators traveled to Baton Rouge, La. on Friday evening, they fell to No. 8 LSU Friday evening in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Gators face off next January 18th at 7 p.m. against SEC foe No. 21 Missouri in Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The meet will be streamed live through GatorVision.com and will be aired on Sun Sports January 27th at 10:30 a.m.
Gator Country reporter Elizabeth Rhodes can be reached at lizxxbeth@gators.ufl.edu.