ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF
The No. 4 Florida Gators gymnastics team kicked off its NCAA tournament action Friday with a win.
The Gators, hosts of the NCAA Gainesville Regional, competed against No. 13 Missouri, No. 20 Georgia and Iowa State in the 7 p.m. session of the tournament’s second round. Florida dominated its opponents, securing first with 197.925.
The Gators will now advance to the Gainesville Regional Final, along with the Missouri Tigers, who claimed second Friday with a 197.525. The Tigers held a .100 advantage over the third place Georgia Bulldogs, while the Iowa State Cyclones finished fourth with a 196.575.
ROUND TWO ✔️
Regional final happening on Sunday!#GoGators | #WeChomp pic.twitter.com/m0yaUTNQKg
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) April 6, 2024
Earlier that day, during the 1 p.m. sessionl, No. 5 Utah, No. 10 Michigan State, Towson and Maryland went to head-to-head to claim their spot in Sunday’s Regional Final. Utah and Michigan State ultimately came out on top. The Utes marked 197.825 to take first and the Spartans recorded a 197.475 to place second and advance.
Friday’s Meet
The Gators opened the competition on vault. The team started strong, as five Gators secured five consecutive vault marks of 9.9 or above. Freshman Skylar Draser kicked off the event with a 9.925, followed by senior Victoria Nguyen sharing a 9.95 with Maryland’s Emma Silberman to win the event. Freshmen Anya Pilgrim and Dance Ferris, along with junior Leanne Wong, all claimed their own 9.9s on vault.
https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1776392093050732963
Florida continued to take control of the meet, as the Gators led the second rotation. Pilgrim scored her collegiate best on the uneven bars, marking a 9.975. Pilgrim shared the win alongside Georgia freshman Lily Smith. Draser also turned in a collegiate-best, scoring a 9.85 in just her third appearance in the bar lineup.
Heading into the third rotation, the Gators held a 0.125 advantage over Georgia.
At the beam, Florida marked its second-highest total on the rotation in the season with a 49.575. Senior Ellie Lazzari led the Gators on beam, scoring her second-highest score of the season (9.950) and second overall in the rotation.
Draser kicked off the high-scoring event with a collegiate-best 9.900, followed by Pilgrim and Wong claiming 9.925.
To end the day, the Gators took the floor. Florida secured the event’s top total with a 49.475, as four Gators marked a 9.9 0r better in the rotation. Nguyen and Wong scored 9.925’s to lead the team, with Lazzari and Sloan Blakely putting up 9.9s of their own.
Rotation Score!
Meet Standings:
Florida | 197.925
Mizzou | 197.525
Georgia | 197.425
Iowa State | 196.575#GoGators | #WeChomp pic.twitter.com/EUKjakf3FR— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) April 6, 2024
The Gators had a season-high five gymnasts compete in the all-around in the meet. Wong claimed third overall (39.65), while Nguyen placed fourth (39.55). For her collegiate best of a 39.50, Draser earned herself sixth.
Florida head coach Jenny Rowland reflected on Friday’s meet.
Next Up
The Gators advance to the NCAA Gainesville Regional Final Sunday to take on Utah, Michigan State and Missouri. The meet is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Exactech Arena.
