With last week’s win to vanquish LSU, the Gators have already won at least a share of the regular season SEC title – and wasted no time raising a new banner in the O-Dome to celebrate.
But today’s meet will determine if Florida wins the title outright or if it will be a three-way tie with Kentucky and LSU. If Florida wins, the title is solely theirs, but if Kentucky wins, all three teams will have a 5-2 record in the SEC, thus the tie.
If you haven’t been watching meets other than Florida’s so far this season, this may come as a surprise, but Kentucky is a legitimate challenger against the Gators. The Cats certainly had their troubles – starting their season with just a 196.775 and having a bit of a situation on vault last week in a loss against Arkansas – but they’ve also had one of their best seasons to date, highlighted by three perfect 10.0s for star all-arounder Raena Worley and another for vaulter Makenzie Wilson. They’ve been especially strong at home, reaching a whopping 197.95 against Georgia in their home opener and a 197.775 just two weeks ago against BYU. Will Rupp Arena’s energy for the Wildcats be too much for the Gators to overcome?
The Gators have steadily improved week after week, making them the only team in the country to continually increased their score each week of the 2024 season. However, last week against LSU, they crossed a major milestone – that elusive 198 mark – with a 198.15 to clinch the win. That’s a high mark to beat, especially at an away meet. But even if they can’t improve on that 198.15, the Gators still have a strong chance to come away with the win, as well as an excellent away score to add to their National Qualifying Score, or NQS, which is how national rankings are calculated at this point in the season.
If you’ve been following along this season, you know who the major players are to watch – Leanne Wong, who completed her Gym Slam last week with a perfect 10.0 against LSU; Ellie Lazzari, whose comeback from injury is looking stronger than ever; Sloane Blakely, who looks more and more consistent as the weeks go by; Anya Pilgrim, the cool-headed freshman phenom; and Victoria Nguyen, whose comfort level on vault could just be the key to unlocking a next-level vault rotation for this team.
Let’s take a look at our midseason checklist, and now that it’s March, we’ll add some late-season items to it to continue gauging the Gators’ progress toward a national championship:
- Better vault landings across the lineup
- Everyone went 9.9+ last week except Draser, and landings are overall looking pretty good. Would love to see another rotation like that today – harder to do at an away meet, but that will demonstrate that this squad is getting consistent.
- Dialing it in on bars – not just hits, but clean details and stuck dismounts such that scores build and the team earns at least three 9.9+ scores
- Another six for six rotation last week felt good; hopefully all the yips are out and the illnesses are gone for the vets who had been having trouble. This is the week to really start paying attention to those finer details – they can’t be content with just hitting six for six anymore, it’s March.
- A full rotation of confident, consistent beam work that Florida is known for
- With Nguyen’s beam hitting 9.9 three times now this season, culminating in last week’s career high 9.95, we know almost the whole lineup is capable of going 9.9+ on the regular, with maybe the exception of leadoff Draser. It’s time to see the whole lineup get onboard at the same time, especially since they’ve been the top six for several weeks now. At an away meet would be even better, proving they can hit under any circumstance.
- A strong leadoff routine on floor, followed by higher scores from each subsequent athlete, and replacing Richards’ 9.9+ potential with an equally strong and clean routine
- Making Nguyen the leadoff seems to be working like a charm, with her setting the bar at a whopping 9.925 last week and 9.9 the week before that. If Bluffstone can keep cleaning, it seems likely last week’s lineup is the ideal six. Unfortunately, Payton Richards suffered a major injury last week that we still don’t know the extent of, so today’s big question will be who steps into her lineup spot and can they perform at her level? (We’d also love to know how long she’ll be out, but it may still be too early to tell.)
It all starts at 2pm on ESPN2, but if you can’t make it, don’t have access, or have another meet to watch, we’ll have all the action right here play-by-play.
Live stats will also be available here – no word yet on lineups, but I’ll be watching closely as things move along.
2:02pm: Broadcast is live! Rupp Arena is LIT – we love a fanbase that turns out for an electric meet.
Rodriguez, UK VT: Yfull, pretty clean in the air if a little flat, little adjustment on the landing.
Blakely, UB: Strong first handstand. Pretty big leg sep on Maloney, some on the pak as well. Last handstand looked good, blind change a little late maybe? Double front, step forward. A hit, but not as clean as she’s capable of.
Rizo, VT: Yfull, better amplitude but some pike on the landing. Little hop back.
Nguyen, UB: Great opening handstand. Maloney to pak, just some leg separation on the pak. Pirouette half on low bar is gorgeous, very patient with it. Final handstand maybe a hair short? DLO is stuck!
Patterson, VT: Handspring pike half, great height! Would’ve liked to see maybe a little more distance? Hangs onto the stick though, wow!
Disidore, UB: Gorgeous opening handstand. Maloney to pak, legs very clean. van Leeuwen is lovely too! DLO, a little adjustment on the landing, just slung it out too far, but another step up above Nguyen’s – this team is turning up the heat.
Magnelli, VT: Handspring pike half, doesn’t get quite the pop she’s capable of, but certainly clean in the air. Hop back on the landing.
Lazzari, UB: Gorgeous opening handstand. Tkachev is solid. Pak has some leg separation. Great final handstand as well, wow. Full in dismount, knee buckled under her and stumbled forward on the dismount.
2:10pm: Worley, VT: This is a big one, y’all. Y1.5, great dynamics, just one big step forward. Overcooked it a little.
Pilgrim, UB: Looks like a long wait for her while they figure out what to do with Lazzari’s score. Okay, here we go. Opening handstand maybe a little shy? Maloney to pak, legs just pasted together, gorgeous. Great final handstand. Slings her dismount out but is patient with it, does not move a muscle! What a pro.
Wilson, VT: Handspring pike half, looks like she twists off axis weirdly? In slow mo it looks less weird somehow. Sticks her landing! Another perfect 10.0 for her – that will likely give Kentucky the lead to start things off here.
Wong, UB: Maloney to pak, some leg sep on the pak. van Leeuwen is excellent. Handstand work has been nice and clean. DLO is stuck cold! Doing her job to make sure any lead Kentucky has is small.
We are still waiting on Wong’s score on the live stats… okay, here we go –
AFTER ONE: UK 49.5, UF 49.425
Bars is statistically the Gators’ weakest event this season, in a shift from past years – it’s the only event of the four where the top five athletes’ season highs are not all 9.9 or higher. With a strong vault rotation, the Gators can absolutely turn this around, especially since bars is also a weaker event for Kentucky.
2:23pm: Rotation 2!
Draser, VT: Y1.5, some knees in the air – fantastic landing! Just a little shift to the side.
Davis, UB: Blind change is clean, Jaeger gets good height. Bail is clean. Short on this final handstand. DLO, just a little step back on the landing.
Blakely, VT: Y1.5, one of her good ones! Cleaner in the air than Draser, but a bigger hop forward.
Rizo, UB: Strong first handstand, blind change is clean. Jaeger gets great turnover. Bail to handstand is a little piked. Clean final handstand. DLO starfishes a little to start with but she reels it back in – sticks it.
Nguyen, VT: Y1.5, bent arms on her block and she can’t fix it, sits it down. Talking to Hurd as they walk back to the team huddle, talking through what went wrong and trying to get her back in a better headspace.
Rodriguez, UB: Tkachev is strong to start. Bail handstand cleaner than her predecessors. Clean final handstand, DLO is dead on, sticks it cold like she couldn’t move if she wanted to.
Pilgrim, VT: Y1.5, just a little bit of knees as she came down to land, but gorgeous in the air. Great dynamics, but a sizeable hop on the landing.
Procasky, UB: Good opening handstand. Maloney is clean, pak has a biiiig leg separation. Great final handstand. DLO dismount is stuck! Sticks are getting contagious over there, Florida could use some of that juju now.
2:30pm: Ferris, VT: Y1.5, HUGE height and distance, very clean in the air, just a little hop together on the landing.
Bunn, UB: Opening handstand work is good. Jaeger maybe a little off axis but covers well. Bail is clean. Final handstand is really nice. DLO is stuck…? She did not hold that finish position, took a step back – not sure if judges will take it.
Wong, VT: Yhalf-on pike half off, little slide back, but great distance, a little flat for her.
Worley, UB: Great opening handstand work. Tkachev is gorgeous, flies high. Pak is very clean, maybe the cleanest all night. Last handstand is excellent too. Full in is stuck and she WINKS at the camera – she knows she’s got it.
AFTER TWO: UK 98.95, UF 98.925
Just a quarter of a tenth separating these two teams at the half! Told y’all this one would be tight.
Looks like Brubach will be back in floor, likely as leadoff, and everyone else maybe shifting one slot back to adjust for Richards’s absence. Richards did travel with the team and is in a boot, but no scooter and no crutches, so that’s a good sign – likely not ACL or Achilles in that case. Maybe there’s a chance she’s able to return for postseason?
2:43pm: Rotation 3!
Rodriguez, UK BB: Triple acro series, really lovely. Side somi, steady. Stuck dismount! I must’ve missed when she did her dance series.
Brubach, FX: Layout to Rudi, biiiig step back and hand goes up, she’s out of bounds. Double tuck, much better controlled there.
Brose, BB: Big punch front, little adjustment there. Front aerial to bhs, another adjustment but I think the connection is clean. Switch leap to beat jump, much cleaner. Roundoff 1.5, just a little step back to steady herself.
Nguyen, FX: Front double full to sissone, good connection this week, cleaner twisting than in some past weeks. Really showcasing her flexibility and extension through this choreography section. Dance series is very clean, gorgeous split positions. Y turn is textbook. 1.5 to front lay to close it out, well controlled. Should be much better than Brubach’s 9.75.
Bunn, BB: Triple series – somehow only uses like half of the beam? Wow. Very steady. Switch to split, clean 180 positions. Roundoff double full, just a little wiggle on the landing, not sure if that’ll count as a stick or not.
Hurd, FX: DLO! It’s a good one! Love seeing her get the call this week. Dance series is gorgeous, perfect positions and lovely extension on those split elements. Has worked on her musicality – hits these drama moments perfectly in her choreography, doesn’t anticipate them like she has in past routines. Front lay to front full – their best of the season!
Patterson, BB: Love her finish on beam, her choreography and arm work is really aggressive, which I like a lot. Acro series, little lean but adjusts well. Front aerial to split jump, lovely 180 position there. Switch leap to switch leap, her foot caught and she falls! Ooh, that’ll open the door a little for Florida. Gets back up, gainer pike off the end, and a step forward on the dismount.
Pilgrim, FX: 1.5 through to double back, that’s a change, well controlled. Looks like they’ve changed her dance series as well? Only two elements in connection this week, I guess the 1.5 instead of a punch front makes up that bonus. Double pike to close, great control there, almost effortless. A strong routine for her as well!
The changes must’ve been the right thing to do – IT’S A PERFECT 10!!!
Worley, BB: Dance elements are so clean, gorgeous 180 position. Front aerial to bhs loso, super steady. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck!
Blakely, FX: Punch front through to double back, rotates almost in place in the air, drops it in with solid control. Really showing off this section. Switch leap to switch ring half, not sure that ring position gets full credit? 1.5 to front full, very floaty and clean, landed well. Should be another great score! Mmm slow mo shows some slide on the first pass. We’ll see what she ends up with.
Magnelli, BB: Bhs loso loso, locks it down, does not shift at all. Switch to straddle 1/4, gorgeous oversplit positions. Front aerial, looked a little short but stood it up fine, showed no sign of issues. Full turn is clean. Gainer pike off the end is stuck! That will be a huge score for Kentucky.
Wong, FX: Floaty DLO to open, I’m so glad they changed to this pass for her. Very precise in shapes and rotation for her dance series. Whip half front full, basically stuck! Another fabulous routine for her!
AFTER THREE: UF 148.65, UK 148.35
Not sure why Hurd isn’t showing up in live scores but I believe the scores are correct. A whopping 49.725 on floor for the Gators is massive, but I’m not sure how realistic. The adjustments made this week are clearly key though – Hurd and Pilgrim getting rewarded after making their changes is no coincidence.
3:14pm: Last rotation!
Draser, BB: Bhs loso, lean but keeps it small. Switch to switch half, definitely does not make 180 on that second split. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck! Fine, is capable of better.
Rodriguez, FX: Front double full, maybe not fully rotated? Maybe a little shy on her second split in her dance series, not much amplitude on either element at all. Double tuck, well controlled. 1.5 to front half to straddle jump, again not a lot of amplitude but overall fine?
Blakely, BB: Front aerial to bhs is nice and steady. Split leap to switch half, 180 positions are clean, would like to see the back leg a little higher. Switch leap to gainer full off the side – stuck! Shows off that stick, good for her.
Wilson, FX: 1.5 to front lay to open, clean twisting form and great control. Dance series… wolf jump full didn’t look fully rotated but they will probably give it to her. Double tuck to close it out, little front foot slide.
Pilgrim, BB: Candle mount, clean. Bhs loso, very easy and patient, takes her time. Beat to front aerial, steady. Switch to split leap, 180 positions are clean, lovely toe point. Bhs gainer full off the side is stuck! What an absolute rock.
Magnelli, FX: Rudi to loso to open, very floaty, great control. Gorgeous oversplit straddles in her switch side to Popa, can’t argue with those leaps. Double pike – gets the two-foot stick! Wow! That’ll be a major score for Kentucky.
Lazzari, BB: Bhs loso loso, little lean but brings it back. Switch to split, a little tight, she’s feeling nerves today for some reason. Gorgeous extension on that split half – she’s doing that instead of her front aerial now, interesting. Sticks her cartwheel to gainer full! Should still be a good score.
Davis, FX: Double pike to start, some front foot slide there. Great straddle positions in her dance series. 1.5 to front lay, very floaty, great control. Double back to finish, better control than the first pass there. A solid routine for the senior as she tries to hold back tears while she walks off the floor – it is Kentucky’s senior night, so lots of emotions in the arena tonight.
Nguyen, BB: Onodi to bhs is super clean and well connected today, good. Switch to split, gorgeous toe point, great split. Bhs 1.5 twist, little step back on the dismount – still should be a good score.
3:30pm: Brose, FX: Double pike to open, very clean in the air, does not move the front foot. Really performing the heck out of this choreo section. Leaps are well rotated, good positions in the air. Front full to front lay, super clean twisting form, well controlled. Front double full to finish! That’s a fabulous routine.
Wong, BB: Switch to split leap, lovely extension. Bhs loso, so solid, dead straight. Front aerial to beat, patient with it. Roundoff double full is stuck!! Will that be a perfect score??
Worley, FX: Her final routine in Rupp. Full in to open, very precise, landing well controlled. Switch ring to switch side, gorgeous split positions. 1.5 to front lay, absolutely textbook. Moonwalking it out for her home crowd one last time. Double back, two-foot stick! That could be another perfect score for her – I think either way Kentucky will break 198 though!
FINAL: UF 198.225, UK 198.1
Not only did Florida take the regular season crown, but they AGAIN improved on their score for last week!
But also, what a night for Kentucky – breaking 198 for the first time… maybe ever??? I’m trying to confirm but what a meet if that’s true. Worley also earned her fourth perfect 10.0 of the season on floor, and Wilson her second on vault.
Event winners: Wong AA 39.775, Wilson VT 10.0, Wong UB and BB 9.975 on both, and Worley and Pilgrim tie on FX at 10.0.
Let’s take a look back at our checklist to see how the Gators are approaching late season:
- Better vault landings across the lineup
- A good, not great rotation this week – Nguyen sitting down is regrettable, but the rest of the lineup did their jobs. I think with a few more reps she’ll be there, but time will tell. Luckily she has a few more meets before they get into postseason to get comfortable with it.
- Dialing it in on bars – not just hits, but clean details and stuck dismounts such that scores build and the team earns at least three 9.9+ scores
- Lazzari having a dismount issue today was not on my bingo card, but she looked like she was battling something tonight, be it nerves or illness or something going on behind the scenes. I’m hoping it’s a one-off and she’ll be back next week, because the rest of the bars lineup is really starting to clean up, and they did come away with three 9.9+ scores!
- A full rotation of confident, consistent beam work that Florida is known for
- A few hiccups on beam, some leans on series and some short splits which is unusual for this team, but overall a rotation of hits. Still not sure where Nguyen is getting dinged like she is, because she’s only scored 9.9+ at home. Might be something for Rowland to investigate and modify if necessary.
- A strong leadoff routine on floor, followed by higher scores from each subsequent athlete, and replacing Richards’ 9.9+ potential with an equally strong and clean routine
- Bluffstone out, Brubach and Hurd in… and clearly it worked. A 49.725 is a HUGE rotation score, highlighted by the 10.0 from Pilgrim and 9.95s for Wong and Hurd. If Hurd can keep scoring at that level, I can’t imagine they come out of that lineup. If Richards is better in time for post, I would guess that Brubach comes back out in favor of her, but we’ll have to see. I think Brubach’s OOB tonight was just due to lack of reps – she’s been out of the lineup for several weeks. If she’s in again next week, we’ll want to see a cleaner routine.
Overall, I call this an excellent start to the late season, with some crucial things to watch for in the coming out-of-conference meets.
I hope to have coverage Saturday night for the Nebraska quad, but I don’t have BTN+, so I can’t make any promises. Be sure to follow @chomptalk and @mycluttereddesk on Twitter, and we’ll be sure to update y’all on whether or not there will be a liveblog!
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