Florida Gymnastics Scores Big In Win At Alabama

The Florida gymnastics team picked up its first SEC road win with a successful night against No. 14 Alabama on Friday. The No. 4 Gators proved they can score big on the road by outdoing the Tide 198.025-197.45.

Florida coach Jenny Rowland said she was extremely proud of her team’s well-rounded performance.

Starting Strong

The Gators hit the ground running, starting on the uneven bars. Senior Riley McCusker tied her season best with a 9.9 before Selena Harris-Miranda scored a 9.95, which won the event title. Despite only sticking one landing, four scores of 9.875 gave the Gators a 49.475 on the event.

Alabama tied its season high on vault. A 49.35 was made up of only two scores over 9.9, including a career-high 9.925 for freshman Kylee Kvamme.

The Tide Ties it Up

On the vault, Florida only had one stick from Leanne Wong, who scored a season-high 9.975. Victoria Nguyen was the only other Gator to score above a 9.9. A score of 49.4 opened the door for Alabama to tie the meet going into the third rotation.

https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1898186060691063266

Alabama put up a season-best 49.525 on bars by sticking each dismount. Freshman Paityn Walker scored a career-high 9.925 before her teammate Chloe LaCoursiere matched that score to lead the Tide on the apparatus.

Florida Pulls Ahead

Nguyen led off the Gators on floor with a 9.9 before Gabby Disidore scored 9.875 in her second time competing in the event for Florida. Freshman Taylor Clark also scored a 9.9. Wong and Harris-Miranda ended with a pair of 9.925s to score a 49.525 on the rotation.

Alabama, the No. 23 beam team in the country, continued its struggles on the event. After a fall, the Tide had to count a score of 9.575 toward their event score of 49.0. Not all hope was lost, as Lilly Hudson and Gabby Gladieux tied their season highs (9.9) to end the rotation.

Sophomore Skylar Draser received a season-high 9.9 to start off the beam rotation for the Gators. Nguyen completed the hat trick, scoring another 9.9 on the night. Wong and Harris-Miranda posted 9.95s before Alyssa Arana scored a 9.925, tying her career best. A score of 49.625 pushed Florida to the win.

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The Crimson Tide wrapped up their time at Coleman Coliseum for the regular season with a 49.575 on floor. Hudson ended her home-meet career with a 9.975 before Gladieux wrapped up the meet with a 9.95. This score was the largest one at home for Alabama this season.

Bright Spots in the All-Around

With her 20th career win in the all-around, Wong, the SEC Gymnast of the Week, now sits tied for sixth place all-time for Florida. Harris-Miranda tied for second with Hudson, scoring a 39.65 and beating Gladieux by less than a point.

Wong said Friday’s win gives the team confidence that they can score big on the road.

Ly Bui got her moment to shine on each event in the exhibition spot. This gave the young freshman the opportunity to perform in the all-around without the added pressure of scoring for the team. Her highest score came on bars, where she redeemed her last score and put up a 9.85. She scored a 39.275 in the competition.

Up Next

Florida will be back home next week for its final regular-season meet and senior night. The Gators face the No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats.

The Tide have a short turnaround, competing in a quad meet with California, Michigan State and North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

https://twitter.com/BamaGymnastics/status/1896734933801935107

Event Titles

Vault – Leanne Wong (9.975)

Bars – Selena Harris-Miranda (9.95)

Beam – Leanne Wong and Selena Harris-Miranda (9.95)

Floor – Lilly Hudson (9.975)

All-Around – Leanne Wong (39.725)