Florida Gators women's gymnastics explained

Florida Gators women's gymnastics
Founded:1973
University:University of Florida
Conference:SEC
Location:Gainesville, Florida
Coach:Jenny Rowland
Tenure:7th
Arena:Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center
Capacity:9,251[1]
Knownas:Florida Gators
National Champion:1982 (AIAW), 2013, 2014, 2015
Fouronthefloor:2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Supersix:1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ncaa Regionals:1981 (AIAW), 1982 (AIAW)
1984, 1985, 1987, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ncaa Tourneys:1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Champion:1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022

The Florida Gators women's gymnastics team represents the University of Florida in the sport of gymnastics. The team competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators host their home matches in the O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and are currently led by head coach Jenny Rowland. The Gators women's gymnastics program has won nine SEC championships, and four national championships: the 1982 AIAW national tournament and the 2013, 2014, and 2015 NCAA championships.

History

The University of Florida first fielded a women's varsity gymnastics team in the fall of 1973. Gymnastics was one of the first women's sports added at the University of Florida and achieved early success by winning the 1982 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) championship (the AIAW was the governing body for women's college sports from 1971 to 1982). Since the NCAA assumed sponsorship for women's sports championships in 1982, Florida has advanced to the NCAA championships (top twelve) every year but one. The Gators have advanced to the "Super Six" finals of the NCAA championships nineteen times. Florida has finished twice as runner-up (1998 and 2012)[2] [3] and won NCAA championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015.[4]

Ernestine Weaver was the head coach of the Gators gymnastics program from 1980 to 1992 and was responsible for much of the team's early success in AIAW, NCAA, and SEC competition. Under Weaver, the Gators won five SEC championships, the AIAW national championship in 1982, and appeared in thirteen consecutive NCAA championships; Gators gymnasts won five AIAW and NCAA individual national championships. Judi Markell succeeded Weaver as head coach in 1993 and her teams qualified for nine NCAA championships in ten seasons, including three Super Six appearances and a second-place finish in 1998; Markell's Gators won three individual national championships.

The Gators were coached by Rhonda Faehn from 2003-2015; they won four SEC championships and appeared in the NCAA championships every year, including ten Super Six appearances, a national runner-up performance in 2012, and three straight national championships from 2013-2015. The 2014 NCAA championship team scored the highest total ever at an NCAA championship with a 198.175.[3] Faehn's Gators won nine individual national championships. Marissa King won the vault title in 2011, Kytra Hunter won the all-around and vault title in 2012 and the all-around and floor titles in 2015, Alaina Johnson won the uneven bars title in 2013, and Bridget Sloan won the all-around and balance beam titles in 2013 and the uneven bars title in 2014.

After Faehn's resignation following the 2015 national championship, Florida hired Auburn assistant Jenny Rowland to be the new head coach. In Jenny's first year as head coach she led the Gators to their 10th SEC title and fourth in seven years.

Individual national champions

Twelve Florida Gators gymnasts have won a total of thirty-one individual national college championships, including Ann Woods (1982 AIAW all-around, floor exercise, uneven bars), Lynn McDonnell (1982 AIAW balance beam), Maria Anz (1984 NCAA floor exercise), Susan Hines (1997 NCAA vault; 1998 NCAA vault), Betsy Hamm (1998 NCAA balance beam), Marissa King (2011 NCAA vault), Kytra Hunter (2012 NCAA all-around and vault title, 2015 all-around and floor title), Alaina Johnson (2013 NCAA Bars), Bridget Sloan (2013 NCAA all-around, beam; 2014 NCAA Bars; 2016 NCAA All-Around, Bars, and Beam), Alex McMurtry (2017 NCAA all-around and bars; 2018 NCAA vault), Alicia Boren (2019 NCAA Floor), and Trinity Thomas (2022 NCAA all-around, floor exercise, and uneven bars).

Roster

2024 Roster
NameHeightYearHometownClub
Alyssa Arana 5-2 FR Miami, FL Leyva Gymnastics Academy
5-1 JR Frisco, TX WOGA
Kaylee Bluffstone 5-1 FR Lutz, FL LaFleur's Tampa
Lori Brubach 5-4 SO Apopka, FL RAD Gymnastics
Chloi Clark 5-2 SR Denver, CO CGI
Skylar Draser 5-6 FR South Huntington, NY Parkettes
Bri Edwards 5-0 JR Navarre, FL Gulf Coast Gymnastics
Danie Ferris 5-5 FR Palm Coast, FL Florida Elite
4-9 SO Middletown, DE First State Gymnastics
Ellie Lazzari 5-0 SR Wheaton, IL Legacy Elite
Michala Magee 5-4 SR Orlando, FL Orlando Metro
5-2 JR Bradenton, FL Arizona Sunrays
Victoria Nguyen 5-2 SR Houston, TX Everest Gymnastics
Anya Pilgrim 5-5 FR Germantown, MD Hill's Gymnastics
Payton Richards 5-1 GS Mokena, IL Aerials Gymnastics Club
5-1 JR Overland Park, KS GAGE

Future recruits

Below are gymnasts who have committed to Florida.

2024–25 Commits

All-American selections

All-American selections through the 2012 season.[7]

Second-team All-American honors are designated with an asterisk (*). H. Boyd McWhorter Award winners (top SEC female scholar-athletes) are designated with a caret (^).

Regular Season All-American Awards

The National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NAGCS) started awarding All-American honors for a gymnast's regular season performance. The top 8 gymnasts in each event and the all-around receive first team honors and gymnasts ranked 9 to 16 receive second team honors.

The score is based on the National Qualifying Score (NQS) in the RoadtoNationals.com rankings.

YearNameFirst TeamSecond Team
2024[8] Leanne WongUBAA, BB
Anya Pilgrim AA, V
2023[9] Kayla DiCelloAA, UB, BB
Trinity ThomasAA, UB, FXV, BB
Leanne WongAA, UBBB
2022[10] Nya ReedFXV
Megan SkaggsAA
Trinity ThomasV, UB, BB, FX
Leanne WongUBAA, BB, FX
2021[11] Trinity ThomasAA, BB, FX, VUB
Alyssa BaumannBB, FX
Megan SkaggsAA, UB
Ellie LazarriBB
Nya ReedFX
Savannah SchoenherrV
Leah ClapperBB
2020[12] Trinity ThomasAA, UB, BB, FXV
Rachel GoweyBB
Savannah SchoenherrUB
Alyssa BaumannFXBB
2019[13] Trinity ThomasAA, UB, FXBB
Alyssa BaumannBB
Alicia BorenAA, FX
Megan SkaggsUB
2018[14] Alyssa BaumannBB
Alicia BorenAA, BB, FX
Rachel GoweyBB
Alex McMurtryV, UB, BB
Rachel SlocumV
2017[15] Kennedy BakerFX
Alicia BorenAA, V, FX
Amelia HundleyUBAA
Alex McMurtryV, UBBB
Rachel SlocumV
2016[16] Kennedy BakerAA, V, FX
Alicia BorenAA, V
Bridgette CaquattoUB
Alex McMurtryV, UB, BB
Bridget SloanAA, UB, BB, FXV
2015[17] Kennedy BakerFX
Claire BoyceBB
Bridgette CaquattoUBFX
Kytra HunterAA, V, FX
Alex McMurtryVUB
Bridget SloanUB
2014[18] Mackenzie CaquattoUB, BB
Kytra HunterAA, V, FX
Alaina JohnsonAAUB
Bridget SloanAA, V, UB, BB, FX
2013Mackenzie CaquattoUB, BB
Ashanée DickersonVAA
Kytra HunterAA, V, FXUB
Marissa KingFX
Bridget SloanAA, UB, BBV

Team Records

Top Team Total

RankScoreMeetYear
1 AUBURN REGIONALS 198.775198.425Minnesota2013
2198.4NCAA Regional 2013
3198.275Auburn2021
4198.25Arkansas2022
5198.15LSU2022
5198.15LSU2021
7198.1Oklahoma2022
7198.Alabama2013
9198.0SEC Championships2013
10197.95NCAA Regionals2021

Top Vault Total

RankScoreMeetYear
149.625Auburn2013
249.600NCAA Regional2013
349.575Auburn2012
349.575NCAA Prelims2012
549.550NCAA Regional2012
549.550Kentucky2013
549.550LSU2013
549.550Auburn2O21
549.550LSU2021
549.550Arkansas2022
549.550LSU2022

Top Uneven Bars Total

RankScoreMeetYear
149.725Kentucky2019
149.725Arkansas2022
349.700Kentucky2007
449.675Minnesota2013
449.675URH, GWU & UW2003
449.675NCAA Regionals2021
749.625Arkansas, Bridgeport & Maryland2012
749.625LSU2008
949.6Michigan State2007
949.6Missouri2013
949.6NCAA Regional2013
949.6Missouri2021
949.6Oklahoma2022

Top Balance Beam Total

RankScoreMeetYear
149.70Auburn2021
149.70Arkansas2022
349.675Kentucky2021
449.650LSU2021
549.625NCAA Regionals2021
549.625Missouri2022
749.6Minnesota2013
849.6Auburn2021
949.575NCAA Regional2010
949.575Boise State2007

Top Floor Total

RankScoreMeetYear
149.8LSU2022
249.725Super Six2013
349.7Minnesota2013
449.650Alabama2013
449.650NCAA Regional2013
449.650Oklahoma2022
749.625Auburn2021
749.625SEC Championships2013
749.625LSU2012
1049.600Utah2012
1049.600Utah2008
1049.600Alabama2011

Past Olympians

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rent the Center – Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
  2. Pat Dooley, " Top 25 Gator teams: #24 1998 Gymnastics," Gainesville Sun (June 1, 2009). Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  3. Laura Owens, " UF gymnastics finishes second at NCAAs," The Gainesville Sun (April 21, 2012). Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  4. "National Champions: Gators Claim Program's First NCAA Gymnastics Title," GatorZone.com (April 20, 2013). Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  5. Web site: Gymnastics Coaches . 2024-03-23 . Florida Gators . en.
  6. 1442585397356228608. InsideGym. September 27, 2021. Gator Watch! Skye Blakely has committed to the University of Florida.
  7. Florida Gymnastics 2012 Media Supplement, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 55–56 (2012). Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  8. Web site: Two Gator gymnasts earn WCGA Regular-Season All-America honors . 2024-04-10 . Florida Gators . en.
  9. https://floridagators.com/news/2023/3/23/ThreeEarnAllAmerica.aspx
  10. Web site: Four Gators earn WCGA Regular-Season All-America honors . 2022-04-01 . Florida Gators . en.
  11. Web site: Seven Gators earn WCGA Regular-Season All-America honors . 2021-04-03 . Florida Gators . en.
  12. Web site: Four Gators Earn WCGA All-America honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.
  13. Web site: Four Gators Earn NACGC/W Regular-Season All-America honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.
  14. Web site: Gator gymnasts earn NACGC/W Regular-Season All-America honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.
  15. Web site: Five Gator earn NACGC Regular-Season All-America honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.
  16. Web site: Five Gators Earn 14 NACGC All-America Honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.
  17. Web site: Six Gator gymnasts earn NACGC/W Regular-Season All-America honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.
  18. Web site: Four Gators earn NACGC All-America regular-season honors . 2021-02-24 . Florida Gators . en.