Florida Gymnastics Advances to NCAA Regional Final

No. 3 Florida gymnastics advanced to the NCAA Regional final Friday night after winning its second session of the Tuscaloosa Regional Second Round. With a score of 198.225, the Gators advanced to the regional final along with No. 14 seed Oregon State (197.05).

No. 6 California and No. 11 Alabama advanced to the regional final in the early session of the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Florida’s 198.225 is the Gators’ second-highest total this season and is the highest in NCAA Second Round action across the nation’s four regions.

The Gators competed in Coleman Coliseum on March 7, beating then-No. 14 and SEC rival Alabama. Earlier this week, Florida coach Jenny Rowland said she was glad her team had just competed in Tuscaloosa.

“This is our second time this season here in Coleman and getting ready to compete again on Sunday. Grateful that the Gators continue to dance into the Sweet 16,” Rowland said. “It really was a phenomenal performance this evening. And so chill, so calm. This team’s vibes just were so calm, cool and collected.”

How it Happened

The Gators led for the entire meet, but began on the floor as they did at the SEC Championship. Florida counted all five scores at 9.9 or above. Victoria Nguyen, Danie Ferris and Selena Harris-Miranda all posted 9.9s, while Leanne Wong pitched in with a 9.925.

Freshman Taylor Clark anchored the rotation, matching her career-best 9.95.

https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1908316241418211750

Florida carried its momentum to vault, Nguyen and Ferris repeating with 9.9s. Wong stuck her vault, earning a 9.95, before another stick and a 9.925 from Harris-Miranda.

The Gators then moved to bars, the event on which they posted an NCAA record-breaking 49.85 at the SEC Championship. Although the score wasn’t quite as high this time (49.575), Florida was still solid.

Wong was the highlight of the rotation, putting up a 9.95 after a stuck landing. One judge even gave her a 10.0. Harris-Miranda and Alyssa Arana followed with matching 9.925s.

Florida ended the night on balance beam. Wong posted her third 9.95 of the night after a stuck routine, followed by the same score from Harris-Miranda.

https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1908338630914900207

Oregon State

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey was the highlight for the Beavers. The senior posted three 9.95s and a perfect 10.0 on floor. This was the first 10.0 of the Tuscaloosa Regional and the 15th of Carey’s career.

https://twitter.com/BeaverGym/status/1908340146258260335

As a team, Oregon State had its best showing on floor. Before Carey’s perfect score, Sage Thompson and Kaitlin Garcia posted matching 9.9s, securing a second-place finish for the Beavers.

NC State

The Wolfpack found the most success on beam, with the high score of the rotation coming from Chloe Negrete (9.9). Unfortunately, Negrete under rotated her double pike on floor, resulting in an injury.

NC State was solid on vault and bars, but it wasn’t enough to take second place from Oregon State.

Clemson

After beating Rutgers in the NCAA Regional First Round on Thursday, also known as the play-in, the Tigers found themselves competing in the even session on Saturday.

Clemson started out on beam, posting a season high on the apparatus (49.325). The rotation was highlighted by a 9.9 from Sierra Church. With the program in just its second year, this is also the Tigers’ second highest beam score in program history.

https://twitter.com/ClemsonGym/status/1908316467843465555

The Tigers held second place after two rotations, but a rough showing on vault saw them drop to fourth heading into the final rotation. With Clemson’s highest score a 9.75, the Tigers posted a season low on vault.

Up Next

The Gators are back in action Sunday in the NCAA Regional Final against California, Alabama and Oregon State. The top two teams in Sunday’s competition advance to the NCAA Championships in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Regional Event Titles

Vault

• Leanne Wong, Florida (9.95)
• Jade Carey, Oregon State (9.95)

Bars

• Leanne Wong (9.95)
• Madelyn Williams, California (9.95)
• Jade Carey (9.95)

Beam

• Selena Harris-Miranda, Florida (9.95)
• Leanne Wong (9.95)
• Jade Carey (9.95)
• Mya Lauzon, California (9.95)

Floor: Jade Carey (10.0)

All-Around: Jade Carey (39.85)