Tonight’s meet is a Florida staple – Link to Pink, the team’s meet dedicated to honoring those impacted by breast cancer. The Gators will face the Arkansas Razorbacks, coached by Olympian power couple Jordyn Wieber and Chris Brooks, who are certainly on the rise but still aren’t likely to beat the Gators in the O-Dome.
The Gators will have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, too, after losing their last home meet to persistent SEC powerhouse Alabama. Last week’s win over Georgia certainly helps, but Florida hadn’t lost a home meet since 2019. They’ll be eager to restart that win streak and reassert themselves in the O-Dome, and they’ll also want to continue to rise in the rankings. The Gators are up this week to No. 6 in the nation from No. 8 the last two weeks – definitely an improvement, but still not where they’re used to being. Still, they’re one of the only teams in the country that has steadily increased their score each week, so looking at whether the score rises again tonight feels like the right measure of how well this “marathon, not a sprint” approach is working that head coach Jenny Rowland has taken this year.
For the last several weeks, we’ve looked at a checklist of how to gauge the team’s progress during each phase of the season. We’re in midseason now, so there is some more urgency to show strong scores, refine lineups, and hone in on details like landings and handstands. Let’s recap the specifics
- Better vault landings across the lineup
- Last week was definitely progress, but we need to see consistency, particularly from those with concerns like Ferris and Lazzari. I would also keep an eye on Blakely – we need to keep seeing good ones from her, no regression.
- Clean bars routines from the full lineup – no misses, no overarched handstands, no saves – and stuck landings
- Blakely’s had two misses so far this season, including last week at Georgia. Watch to see if she can find a better rhythm tonight or if she takes a break for a week. If she’s out and the six that compete tonight all hit, maybe those remain the bars squad for the foreseeable future?
- A lineup order that works on bars – each routine building from the last, with a strong leadoff score above 9.85
- This squad needs a strong start and should be earning 9.9+ for at least the back half of the lineup, if not the last 4. That’s one reason I think Blakely may not be the right leadoff if she’s having trouble; they need a strong, clean start.
- Nguyen breaking 9.9 on beam consistently
- A little hiccup for her on beam last week – I’m watching for a big bounce back routine tonight.
- More than just hits – strong, confident, “I own this beam” routines from the whole squad, but especially Wong
- Wong also had trouble last week, missing her foot on her mount. Watch her come back with a vengeance tonight – I don’t know that we’ve seen angry beam from her, but I almost feel like that’s warranted. I want to see the attack!
- A strong leadoff routine on floor from Brubach, followed by higher scores from each subsequent athlete
- Live scores indicate Brubach is back in the lineup tonight, so expect her to lead off. Hurd and Richards are also in, and I’d wager the other three will be Nguyen, Pilgrim, and Blakely, though not necessarily in that order. With clean routines and the right order, I think this is definitely a solid six that can build to a 9.95+ anchor score for Blakely or Richards.
- High-energy performances from the entire lineup, especially at away meets
- The energy in the O-Dome tonight should be unmatched – it always is on Link to Pink nights. Expect to see some of the best floor routines all season from this team.
- Ferris healthy and nailing whatever events she’s ready for
- Just want to see a normal, even-keeled vault from her. No big bound forward, no almost sitting it down, and certainly no almost missing the vault table on her block… she needs to find that Goldilocks moment.
It all starts tonight at 7:30pm on ESPN! We love to see gymnastics getting coverage on the main network. But if you’ve got other plans tonight, are watching another meet, or still don’t have access, we’ll have every routine broken down for you right here.
6:54pm: Hey Gator fans! A quick update – live stats are available here, and the order that athletes are listed there indicate that Nguyen will not vault tonight and Hurd will be doing floor only, likely keeping the same beam lineup from the last two weeks. From reports in the arena, most athletes who train floor are warming up now, so it’s possible these lineups are still in flux and will change before competition time.
7:11pm: I stand corrected! Lineups are out and Hurd is out of floor, as is Draser. Wong is also anchoring vault and floor now. She, Blakely, and Pilgrim will be in the all-around.
7:33pm: Rotation 1! We are getting started on vault, Arkansas on bars.
Draser, VT: Y1.5, wow! Just a little hop in place, little soft in the knees but better than past weeks. Not a whole lot of distance but not deductible I don’t think.
Swaney, Ark UB: First handstand a little shy, second is better. Tkachev is lovely. Pak is strong. Final handstand is solid. DLO, just a little shift back on the landing.
Lazzari, VT: Y1.5, another good one! Very clean in the air, just a little hop forward – more distance than Draser but larger hop on the landing.
Pratt, UB: Tkachev, caught cleanly. Pak is fine. DLO, another shift back. Another good routine, nothing stellar yet from the Gymbacks.
Blakely, VT: Y1.5, opened too early and had to take a big step back and across the line. Better controlled than some of her past misses, but not what she was looking for.
Drotar, UB: Maloney to bail, clean handstand position there. DLO, big bounce back. Handstand replays look nice and vertical too.
Pilgrim, VT: Y1.5, straight as a rod, just a little hop forward on the landing. Great amplitude from her as well. That should be a much better score.
Scalzo, UB: Good blind change. Jaeger to overshoot, fine this week – had a major error there last week. Final handstand was a little shy, DLO to bounce back – she’ll take that.
Ferris, VT: Y1.5, STICKS IT! That’s the Goldilocks moment I’ve been waiting for! Slow mo replay shows straight legs just glued together, she was so patient with that landing – that should be a HUGE score for her.
Park, UB: Great opening handstand work. Tkachev is lovely. Pak is strong. Shy on the last handstand a little, DLO pings off a little early? Has to take a step forward.
9.95 for Ferris!!!
Wong, VT: Her first anchor moment this season on vault. Yhalf-on, pike half off – one of her better ones, just a small slide back, looked like she barely touched the table on her block but still had a gorgeous vault.
Jones, UB: Good blind change, piked Jaeger is gorgeous. Overarches her handstand! Has to hop down and rechalk. Oof. Remounts, great handstand, pak is lovely. Last handstand a little shy, DLO, just a step back to steady herself.
AFTER ONE: UF 49.475, ARK 49.175
Other than Blakely, that was a rotation associate head coach Adrian Burde has to be THRILLED with. Two weeks in a row going 49.4+ feels like exactly where this team wants to be.
7:52pm: Reports from the arena say bars warmup was rough, hopefully they got it all out now.
Weaver, Ark VT: Yfull, sticks it! Pretty straight in the air too.
Blakely, UB: Opening handstand is okay. Maloney to pak is clean this week, maybe a little far on the pak but figured it out fine. Final handstand a little shy? Double front, just a little step back – that’s a great start.
Park, VT: Yfull, very straight in the air, little bounce on the landing, lots more distance than Weaver.
Nguyen, UB: Great opening handstand, Maloney and she overshot it, hands ping off of it, wow. Repeats the skill, gets it this time, back to pak, clean. DLO dismount, just a little step back. Good recovery, but that is not what they needed. Veteran mistakes on bars are now a pattern, and they’ve got to stop.
Smith, VT: Biiiig Yfull, slide back on the landing but really clean in the air and great amplitude.
Disidore, UB: Good opening handstand. Maloney to pak, pretty clean, maybe a little leg sep. van Leeuwen is great! Little shy on the last handstand. DLO, just a little slide back. Good reset! She’s really become a rock for this team, good for her. Slow-mo replay also shows the last handstand was fine, we’ll see if judges agree.
Price, VT: Yfull, another one with huge distance, though not as much height as Smith. Bounce back on the landing.
Pilgrim, UB: Solid opening handstand, Maloney to pak is clean. Full in dismount, slings it out a little far but sticks it! That should be a great score after Disidore’s 9.9.
Klein, VT: Y1.5, great distance, just a lunge forward on the landing. Some knees in the air maybe?
Lazzari, UB: Great opening handstand! Ray is lovely, great amplitude. Pak has a little bit of a leg separation. Full in dismount is stuck! Stunning, absolutely stunning. Should be another excellent score after that 9.95 for Pilgrim.
Williams, VT: Y1.5, soooo clean, very small hop on the landing. So straight in the air.
Wong, UB: Gorgeous opening handstand. Maloney to pak, both just float so well. van Leeuwen is excellent. DLO is stuck like glue – that might be another 10 AND IT IS!!! The Gators’ first 10.0 of the season!
AFTER TWO: UF 99.075, ARK 98.2
This team is on 198 pace! The veteran mistakes on bars are concerning, but this team is dialing it in on the whole, and that’s what we want to see for sure.
8:11pm: Rotation 3!
Draser, BB: Back handspring to layout-stepout (bhs loso) series, very steady. Switch leap to switch half, maybe a little short of 180 on the second? A little check on her turn. Roundoff 1.5, stuck! That should be a good leadoff score.
Klein, Ark FX: Punch layout stepout to double tuck to open? That’s kinda fun! Double pike, also a clean landing. Choreo is a little low energy, I want more from this music that’s so triumphant.
Blakely, BB: Front aerial to bhs, she was off from landing the front aerial but still pulled it out somehow, just a little lean after the handspring. Split leap to switch half, another small hesitation but split positions are gorgeous. Switch leap to gainer full off the side, little adjustment with one foot.
Park, FX: Full in to open! That’s nice, though it doesn’t rise as much as I’d like to see, she goes back a lot more than up as she rotates. Double pike as her second pass, front foot slides quite a bit. Dance pass is clean, though maybe her first element is shy of 180 on the split? 1.5 to front layout to close – a three-pass routine is rare in top teams these days!
Pilgrim, BB: Candle mount looks good this week, apparently there might have been a hiccup with it we didn’t see on the broadcast last week? Acro series is very steady. Little hesitation on her full turn, but covers well. Front aerial is lovely. Switch leap to split leap, absolutely gorgeous extension. Bhs gainer full off the side is stuck!
Jones, FX: Front double full, landed cleanly. Dance series is lovely, well extended. Combination pass is solid, she has really nice twisting form. Rudi to close, another three-pass routine!\
Lazzari, BB: Bhs loso loso, arm swing to keep her balance but doesn’t bring her feet up. Switch leap to split jump, absolutely incredible. Front aerial, dead on. Full turn is textbook. Roundoff gainer full, little weird moment on her dismount, she was short somehow?? Stutter step on the landing.
Smith, FX: Punch layout stepout to double tuck, very well controlled, good power. Switch side to Popa, really nice straddle positions in the air. Double pike to close, a big lean back but works hard not to move that front foot. This should be their first 9.9, just based on judging generally this season.
Nguyen, BB: Need a big routine here from her after just a 9.775 from Lazzari. Her mount is so gorgeous, with this angle roll. Onodi to bhs, gorgeous, well connected and very steady. Full turn is clean. Switch leap to split jump, was a little bit off on the first element but moved through that somehow and corrected midair like an absolute pro. Bhs 1.5 twist is STUCK COLD! Good for her!
Williams, FX: Half in half out to open, HUGE air, solid on the landing. 1.5 to front lay, very clean. Really selling the choreography throughout these sections. Double tuck to finish, great amplitude, clean landing too. Smith was only 9.85 – THIS should be their first 9.9 for sure.
Wong, BB: Just a straddle mount this week – interesting that she took out her springboard mount. Switch leap to split leap, fantastic 180 positions and incredible extension. Bhs loso, so steady. Front aerial to beat jump, perfect. Roundoff double twist, it’s a college stick, which is now a more concrete deduction.
Price, FX: DLO to open, that’s gorgeous! Landed with such control. INCREDIBLE height on her dance series, huuuge oversplit on every element, giving the judges no chance to doubt her. Really selling her performance to both the camera and the crowd. Punch front full to layout and immediately finds the camera for her ending pose. I’m obsessed! What a way to close it out for Arkansas.
AFTER THREE: UF 148.525, ARK 147.625
A career high for Nguyen on beam! Price also set a high mark to beat on floor with a whopping 9.95 for that showstopper anchor routine. We’ll see how the Gators stack up here shortly, but I’ve got a good feeling – they’ve got good momentum tonight.
8:40pm: Rotation 4, let’s finish strong!
Gamiao, Ark BB: Standing loso loso, that’s fun! Side somi, pretty clean. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck – that’s a great start for the Gymbacks.
Brubach, FX: She’s back! Front layout to Rudi to open, well controlled, pretty clean. A little tight on her first dance element? I’m not sure it reached 180. Really selling this choreo section. Double tuck to finish, followed by the double Gator chomp. Slow mo shows she really did not move that front foot. That should be a great start for this floor squad.
Jones, BB: Front aerial to bhs bhs and she’s off! She has had kind of a rough night, that’s tough. Split jump to ring stag, those were nice. Punch front full is stuck, but they’ll want to drop that score for sure.
Social media says they’ve changed the Florida floor lineup tonight – looks like Hurd is back in later!
Nguyen, UB: Peszek just shared that she’s been sick recently, so maybe that explain the misses recently. Front double full, somehow pulled out that sissone connection – she missed her punch on the handspring but still made it happen somehow? Dance series is absolutely gorgeous, kinda falls out of the double Y turn this week though, that’s unusual. 1.5 to front lay, that’s better. She fought through that, but it will not be as good as Brubach’s 9.9.
Williams, BB: Bhs loso, looked a little off kilter but locked her arms down and did not move a muscle. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, flexed feet but clean 180 positions. Front toss is nice. Full turn, clean. Roundoff 1.5, little hop forward.
Hurd, FX: Punch layout to Rudi, little bouncy on the landing but didn’t go out or anything. Switch ring to switch half, caught her foot a little on the floor but still hit her 180 positions fine. The artistry and musicality through this section are just incredible, wow. Double pike was solid! A little low chest but not underrotated this week.
Weaver, BB: Bhs loso, super steady to start things off. Split jump to ring stag, heels were not on the beam but did not bobble, what a pro. Side aerial is clean. Full turn, maybe a little arm swing but might’ve been choreo? She’s covering well. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck! Very floaty.
Pilgrim, FX: Punch front through to double tuck, absolutely textbook, almost like she was air cushioned. Split positions are so elegant, well extended and perfectly at 180. Chin stand, that’s fun. Double pike, fought to hold onto it, heel came up but her foot didn’t move. Fighting for every tenth now is great practice for later!
Linton, BB: Double wolf, big bobble but somehow stays on the beam?? Bhs loso, picks her foot up from momentum but puts it right back down. Dance series is gorgeous, great 180 there. Roundoff 1.5, little adjustment on the landing it looks like.
Blakely, FX: Punch front through to double tuck, big slide back on that first pass. Gorgeous dance series, major oversplits, love that. 1.5 to front full, much better control on that one. Really giving it to this crowd at the end, we love to see it!
Park, BB: Full turn to start, gets it out of the way. Bhs loso loso, and she falls! Arkansas will have to count a fall, that’s rough. Switch leap to split jump, those are nice and clean. Side aerial to 1.5 dismount, crossover step on the landing.
Wong, FX: Double wolf turn to start, clean. DLO???? Where did that come from?? That is not the opening pass I expected her to run with this season but I’m here for it. Burde’s School of Double Layouts strikes again, I guess, and I am never mad at that! Whip half to front full – a little short somehow, but saves it, dances out of it quite gracefully. I do wonder if Pilgrim will sneak the AA title from her, but regardless, the Gators showed out tonight.
FINAL: UF 197.85, ARK 196.05
Wong takes bars and AA at 10.0 and 39.725, respectively. Ferris won vault with her massive 9.95, and Nguyen won beam with her career high 9.925! Frankie Price of Arkansas hung onto the floor title with her stellar 9.95 routine to round out the awards.
A HUGE night for the Gators – this was the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for. As the commentators said, several questions definitely answered tonight, although some do remain. Nguyen and Blakely’s missteps are definitely concerning at this point, especially considering that there’s a pattern now, but the good news is that this team always has each other’s backs and steps up when there’s a gap.
Let’s take a look at our checklist to see how tonight made a difference in the overall season picture:
- Better vault landings across the lineup
- Save Blakely, this was easily the best vault week the Gators have had in a long time. If they can keep doing this, vault will be their best event this season in no time. I need to see one more week before I call this done – once is luck, two is a coincidence, three times is skill.
- Clean bars routines from the full lineup – no misses, no overarched handstands, no saves – and stuck landings
- Blakely was mostly back to normal tonight, but Nguyen had a miss – if she’s feeling ill, it might be best to pull her out? Just for a week or two until the yips are gone.
- A lineup order that works on bars – each routine building from the last, with a strong leadoff score above 9.85
- I do think this lineup order is actually working. Blakely says she performs better in the leadoff spot, and Disidore is great at resetting when there’s an issue in the first half so that the second half can really soar score-wise.
- Nguyen breaking 9.9 on beam consistently
- She gave it to us tonight!! Her career high tonight with a 9.925 was huge – so great to see from her. This is her second time breaking 9.9 – like I said, I want to see it once more before we call this checked off, especially since both times have been at home so far.
- More than just hits – strong, confident, “I own this beam” routines from the whole squad, but especially Wong
- Wong changing her mount is lower risk with the same reward, so I think that was a smart adjustment on her part. Her angry beam tonight definitely paid off – she absolutely delivered. Draser also looked more in command tonight, which I asked for last week. I’m going to call this one done!
- A strong leadoff routine on floor from Brubach, followed by higher scores from each subsequent athlete
- Rowland is definitely playing with this lineup, but it can wait til March to solidify into the right six for postseason. Brubach is really delivering in the leadoff role though – I think that’s her sweet spot for sure. Nguyen being ill and missing her punch on her first pass didn’t help, but hopefully that won’t be a long-term issue.
- High-energy performances from the entire lineup, especially at away meets
- The energy in the O-Dome tonight was as high as I expected, but not just due to the crowd – the team built on the momentum they gained throughout the night and really sold their routines, especially Brubach, Hurd, and Blakely. We need to see that continue next week at the Mizzou to the Lou meet.
- Ferris healthy and nailing whatever events she’s ready for
- She absolutely had her Goldilocks moment tonight! I’m calling this one done and folding it into general need for consistency on vault.
Thanks for joining us tonight! See you again next week for the Mizzou to the Lou quad at 7pm.
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