Welcome to postseason, Gator fans – it’s SEC Championship day!!
If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out our regular season recap and postseason preview discussing the different ways that Florida has prepared for what is always a grueling fight back to the national final. They’ve varied lineups a lot more, not just in order but in players, and made sure to experience both quad meets and podium environments at least once during regular season to give these athletes, especially the freshmen, the experience they need to be successful in the postseason environment.
Tonight is about the W, sure, but it’s also about gaining more of that valuable experience. While there are ways to recreate a lot of elements from the postseason experience, you can only do so much to simulate a high-pressure meet atmosphere, which is exactly what tonight will be. These freshmen should absolutely take tonight as a learning experience, regardless of the ultimate outcome.
We also discussed in our preview what to look for throughout tonight’s meet, but let’s do a quick little refresher, remembering that Florida will go to beam first:
BEAM:
- The ideal lineup here is probably Draser, Blakely, Lazzari, Pilgrim, Nguyen, Wong, but after her clutch performance last week, Arana may sneak in.
- Confident, cool, collected. Staying in the bubble. Stuck landings. All there is to it.
- One thing to keep an eye on after session one is connections between elements – judges were especially strict on them this afternoon, particularly in earlier rotations, so those with non-rebounding acro series like Blakely and Nguyen will want to be extra careful to demonstrate continued movement between elements.
FLOOR:
- Ideal lineup is still a bit of a mystery for me? I’m going to say Nguyen, Hurd, Ferris, Pilgrim, Wong, Blakely. If Richards is back ready, I’d maybe put her in for Hurd, but I don’t think they need to risk her today. They’d rather have her for nationals, in my opinion.
- High performance quality. Precision. Keeping the adrenaline under control so the podium doesn’t get the best of them.
- Judges didn’t seem too harsh on anything in particular on floor this afternoon, but landings would be what I’d pay attention to most overall. Keep the front foot down and in the same place, don’t let the podium get too bouncy, and make those lunges controlled. And definitely don’t go out of bounds!
VAULT
- The full lineup of 10.0 starts is the dream the Gators have been working toward for years. We should hope to see Draser, Lazzari, Wong, Pilgrim, Blakely, and Ferris, though I’m not sure exactly in what order.
- Landings, landings, landings. They’ve got to dial in those landings.
- Amplitude was also rewarded well in session one, and deducted at least semi-correctly as well. The Gators typically don’t lack in amplitude, but they need to be sure not to sacrifice it for a better landing, as it likely won’t pay off that way. Florida needs to capitalize on their vaults to pull ahead in the third.
BARS
- Ideal lineup here will be Blakely, Nguyen, Lazzari, Disidore, Pilgrim, Wong. But they need the vets to hit like vets.
- Six hits in a row. That’s all I’m asking. No uncharacteristic leg separations, no bobbles on top of the low bar, and please no issues with low bar pirouettes.
- With bars historically being the Gators’ worst event this season, if they’re not ahead going into the last rotation, the meet may already be over at that point, especially since LSU will go to floor.
Missouri is the leader in the clubhouse, so to speak, with a 197.275, but if I know SEC scoring, and judges in multi-session meets in general, all four teams tonight should have no problem breaking that mark.
It all starts at 8pm, but if you can’t watch tonight or have too many other meets you’re watching, keep refreshing this page and we’ll have every routine for you!
8:03pm: Broadcast has begun!
8:06pm: Davis, UK UB: piked Jaeger is nice, bail clean. DLO is stuck! Starting off strong.
KJ Johnson, LSU VT: Absolutely DRILLS her Yfull – that’s a strong start. Super straight body position, solid amplitude.
Draser, UF BB: Acro series to start is clean, maybe a little nervy. Switch to switch half, maybe a little shy of 180 there. Overdoes her full turn but saves it. Roundoff 1.5 stuck! Fought til the end, good for her.
Waligora, Bama FX: Front lay to front double full, a little big in the lunge coming out. Side aerial into the corner. 1.5 to front lay to finish – overall a clean routine.
Finnegan, VT: Y1.5, very clean in the air, just one step on the landing.
Rizo, UB: Good first handstand, blind change is clean. Jaeger is gorgeous. Bail is nice and straight, very aggressive. Last handstand is okay, maybe a little shy? DLO was wild, bounce back.
Blakely, BB: Front aerial to bhs, connection should be fine. Split leap to switch half to beat jump, adjusted like a pro, not a single bobble. Full turn is much cleaner. Gainer full is stuck! That’s what I’m talking about!
Burgess, FX: I missed what her first pass was but landing looked solid. Double back, a little short there. Dance series is clean, very precise. Clean twisting form on her final pass, well controlled. Another good one for Bama.
Drayton, VT: Y1.5, big bound forward, back foot slides with her.
Pilgrim, BB: Candle mount to start, strong. Acro series is super clean, so is the full turn. Front aerial, a little arm wave. Switch leap to split leap, 180 positions are fine. Cartwheel gainer full, stuck! Holds the stick longer than she needs to just to claim it, good for her.
Rodriguez, UB: Tkachev is very clean to start. Bail a little floppy but hits handstand. DLO dismount, just drops it in, stuck like glue.
Schoenherr, VT: Y1.5, little hop backward, maybe didn’t hold her position long enough?
Hudson, FX: 2.5 to start, pretty clean. Double tuck, very bouncy on the landing there, she overcooked that a little.
8:15pm: Lazzari, BB: Falls on her acro series, oof, that triple element may need to come out. Dance sequence is good. Split 1/2 from side stand, very clean. Cartwheel to gainer full, can’t hold the stick – they’ll need to drop that for sure.
Procasky, UB: Releases seemed clean but I was too busy paying attention to Lazzari. Slid a little on her DLO dismount.
Sears, FX: This one is a treat. Gorgeous full in to start, such an open body position. Punch through to double tuck is also pretty well controlled. Beating her chest cheering as she comes off the podium, she’s so into this.
Kiya Johnson, VT: Yurchenko double full, looked like the smallest of adjustments on the landing.
Nguyen, BB: Onodi to bhs, that’s a great adjustment on her and Jenny’s part, so smart. Dance series is lovely, gorgeous split positions. 1.5 dismount, hop forward, and doesn’t hold very long.
Bunn, UB: Blind change is clean, Jaeger lovely. I missed the rest of this watching Nguyen, sorry.
Blanco, FX: Double pike to open, slides the front foot quite a bit. Double tuck second pass, pops it out into the lunge like she’s a little bit short. Front full front lay to close it out, super clean. Should be an excellent score for the Tide.
Bryant, VT: Handspring pike half – basically stuck. Wow. That may end up a 10.
Wong, BB: Switch to split leap, lovely 180 positions, gorgeous toe point. Bhs loso, very steady. Front aerial to beat jump, maybe a little hesitation but I don’t think she broke connection. Roundoff double full dismount is stuck! Holds it longer than she usually does too, good for her.
Worley, UB: Tkachev is gorgeous. Pak is lovely, maybe a little leg sep. Just a little hop on the dismount, she didn’t hold it at all.
Gladieux, FX: Full out, great body position, maybe a little big in the lunge. Front lay Rudi split jump, that’ll work for them.
AFTER ONE: LSU 49.475, BAMA 49.475, UF 49.425, UK 49.4
All four teams within less than a tenth. Whoo boy.
We’re getting a fluff piece on training elite and NCAA! Wong, Blanco, and Finnegan all are doing both, so all three of them and their coaches are talking about it. It’s definitely a challenge, but all three are doing incredible things for their countries.
8:34pm: Rotation 2!
Sears, Bama VT: Yfull is strong, has to swim for that landing a little bit but doesn’t move.
Nguyen, UF FX: Front double full to sissone, one of her good ones! Dance series is gorgeous, just lovely extension. Y turn is also excellent. 1.5 to front lay, well controlled coming out of it. Great start!
Rodriguez, UK BB: Triple series to start looks great. Dance series is solid. Stuck dismount!
Bunagan, VT: Y1.5, stuck cold! Wow!
Cowan, LSU UB: Release skills looked solid, good handstand on the bail. Absolutely stonefaced as she lands her DLO, does not move a muscle. And now she celebrates!
Brose, BB: Punch front, sizable wobble, arm swing. Front toss to bhs, connection was fine I think. Full turn is clean. Roundoff 1.5, step forward.
Ferris, FX: Full in, big slide back but keeps it in bounds somehow. That’ll be their drop score, or it’ll need to be if they’re going to stay in the hunt. Keeping calm as she goes into her final pass – 1.5 to front lay, much cleaner.
LaCoursiere, VT: Y1.5, big lunge forward.
Dunne, UB: Gorgeous handstand to open. Tkachev directly to pak, pretty clean. Good final handstand. DLO is very whippy, bounces back on the landing.
Bunn, BB: Triple series, suuuper steady, well done. Switch leap to split jump, both clean. Roundoff double full stuck!
Pilgrim, FX: 1.5 through to double back, glues that front foot down, does not move it. This Rihanna mix is still one of my favorites all season, so good and I love the nod to her heritage. Double pike, a little bouncy there but kept it small.
Hudson, VT: Y1.5, little hop forward. Amplitude is pretty good though.
Patterson, BB: Opens with the full turn, nice. Bhs loso, she’s completely off! Oh no! Switch to switch, gorgeous split positions as she remounts. Gainer pike off the end, looked like a small adjustment.
McClain, UB: Piked Tkachev directly to pak, some leg sep in the pak. Sticks her dismount cold!
Hurd, FX: DLO, oh no it’s a crunchy one. She’s okay, moves on fine, but that could not have felt good. Really bringing it in the choreography section here. Front lay front full, they were exhausted by the end, legs just gassed after the DLO. That’s rough, Ferris’s 9.75 is going to need to count.
8:45pm: Blanco, VT: Y1.5, little hop forward.
Schoenherr, UB: Jaeger is sky high, fantastic. Hits a great handstand in her bail. Double front half out, little adjustment, but otherwise a great routine.
Worley, BB: Front aerial bhs loso, a great triple series. Stuck her dismount absolutely stone cold, stared down both sets of judges before she moved! Love that.
Blakely, FX: Front through to double tuck, that’s much better. Dance series is gorgeous. 1.5 to front full, brings it around fine. That’s a good reset for the Gators, they just need one more.
Gladieux, VT: Yfull, maybe stuck but not great amplitude?
Magnelli, BB: Triple series, very patient with it. Switch to split 1/4, lovely extension. Gainer pike off the end, stuck cold!
Bryant, UB: Jaeger is huge. Bail hits handstand well. Good final handstand. Blind change is clean. Double front half out, step forward.
Wong, FX: Double wolf turn to open, well controlled. DLO, it’s a good one, well controlled, though some leg sep. Dance series is gorgeous. Whip half to front full, super well controlled. They needed that.
AFTER TWO: LSU 98.925, UK 98.925, BAMA 98.775, UF 98.575
The Gators are not in a great place right now, if we’re being honest. If LSU and Kentucky also end up with errors like Bama and Florida have had, then it’ll be a different story, but that’s probably the only way that Florida is getting back into this.
9:01pm: Rotation 3, let’s see what happens…
Draser, UF VT: Y1.5, STUCK COLD YES MA’AM!
LaCoursiere, Bama UB: Maloney to pak, very clean. van Leeuwen, some leg sep? Full in, stuck!
Ballard, LSU BB: Bhs loso, very patient with that, could have bobbled but didn’t. Switch to switch half, prety clean. Front toss, little lean but covers well. Roundoff 1.5, thought she was going to stick but ended up taking a step.
Rodriguez, UK FX: Strong opening pass. Double tuck – very close to OOB but kept it in I think. Combo pass into a straddle jump to finish out – clean!
Nguyen, VT: Y1.5, another stick! Holy crap! Some knee bend, but absolutely nails the landing.
Hudson nails bars for Bama, had to swim for the landing but stuck it.
Schoenherr, BB: She’s in this lineup?? Wow. Acro series is clean. Full turn. Beat to split 3/4, does not hit 180. Roundoff double full, little hop in place.
Wilson, FX: Front double full, fantastic. Punch front through to double tuck, well controlled. Another great one for the Cats.
Blakely, VT: Y1.5, too focused on the landing, had to take a step back to steady herself.
Adams, UB: Maloney to pak, sooo clean. Had to repeat her cast on low bar to try to make it over the right way. Stuck her dismount, but what’s done is done.
McClain, BB: Switch to switch half, gorgeous oversplit. Acro series is so clean. Side aerial, fantastic. Sticks her dismount!
Magnelli, FX: Opening pass had something funky, I’m still not 100% sure what? Double pike, very short but a two-foot stick? I’m not sure what the judges are going to do with that.
Pilgrim, VT: Y1.5, just a little hop in place. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Waligora, UB: Jaeger is gorgeous. Bail clean. DLO, little bounce on the dismount it looked like.
McClain with a 10.0!
Kiya Johnson, BB: Acro series, a little lean as she finishes. Switch to split, 180 positions look lovely. Front toss, so solid. Roundoff double full, maybe a little adjustment.
Ferris, VT: Y1.5, two big hops, that’s not what they needed.
Davis, FX: Double pike to open, solid. 1.5 to front lay, just lays it in, well controlled. Double tuck to close is also excellent – that should be great for the Cats.
Bryant, BB: Front aerial to bhs, connection is fine. Punch front, very steady. Jump sequence, positions are clean. Sticks her double full!
9:15pm: Machado, UB: Pak is lovely, van Leeuwen just glued together. Full pirouette to double tuck, had to take a hop on the landing.
Wong, VT: Yhalf on pike half off – maybe her best this season! Just a little teeny slide, well done.
Brose, FX: Double pike to open, really well controlled. Leap series is nice and precise. Combination pass is excellent. Front double full to finish – E pass at the end, absolutely unheard of.
Finnegan, BB: Big arm wave as she lands her triple series. Switch leap to split jump, gorgeous 180 positions. Front aerial, looked like another small check there maybe? Looked like a small adjustment on the landing too.
Blanco, UB: Maloney to pak, pretty clean. van Leeuwen is also lovely, legs glued together. Little slide on her dismount as she drops it in – that’s not fooling anybody anymore.
Worley, FX: Full in to open, just textbook. Fabulous. Switch ring to switch side, so precise. Really giving it to the crowd in this choreo section. Front full front lay, only takes a step out of it because it’s in her choreo, she basically two-foot stuck that. Moonwalking it out, now she’s having fun. Double tuck, just lays it into the lunge. She’s crying, aw! What a fabulous routine.
AFTER THREE: UK 148.425, LSU 148.4, BAMA 148.2, UF 147.85
Barring disaster for all three other years, Florida is out of this. That doesn’t mean they won’t fight to the end, but tonight will have to be more about the lessons than the trophy.
9:31pm: Last one!
Procasky, UK VT: Yfull, little adjustment on the landing it looked like.
Blakely, UF UB: Maloney to pak, one of her better ones. Double front, just a little foot movement I think.
Hudson, Bama BB: Front aerial to bhs, very nice. Consecutive switch leaps, maybe shy of 180 on the second? Roundoff 1.5 is stuck, a great start.
McClain, LSU FX: DLO to open is really strong! Nice and precise on her dance series, great split positions as always. 1.5 to front full, very clean to finish out. That’s a great start for LSU, especially from someone not typically in their lineup.
Rizo, VT: Yfull, it’s clean but another slide back.
Nguyen, UB: Maloney to pak, some leg sep in the pak. Great closing handstand. DLO is stuck!
Waligora, BB: Bhs loso, lean to the side and an arm swing. Split to tuck jump full, that’s fun. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck!
Drayton, FX: DLO, a little deep knee bend on the landing but otherwise controlled fine. Punch front through to double tuck, little stutter step forward, came up a little short. Finishes strong with choreo though.
Patterson, VT: Handspring pike half, STUCK COLD. Lifts her head so slowly, feeling vindicated after her fall on beam.
Lazzari, UB: Tkachev is fine. Pak, some leg sep, but okay on the low bar this week. Full in, little bounce in place.
Burgess, BB: Full turn, clean. Bhs loso, dead on. Leap series is lovely, gorgeous split positions. Sticks the dismount!
KJ Johnson, FX: Full in to open is absolutely fantastic, love the open body position. Nails her combo pass as well. Dance series is clean, gets nice and high. Double back to close – that’ll be a great score for the Tigers.
Magnelli, VT: Handspring pike half, has to swim for it but doesn’t move those feet!
Disidore, UB: Maloney to pak, legs pasted together, gorgeous. van Leeuwen is excellent, really floats it. DLO, little hop back.
Gladieux, BB: Bhs back pike, nice and solid. Front aerial to beat jump, well connected. Roundoff double full, little shuffle.
Finnegan, FX: Double arabian – not sure if she went OOB but I think she did?? Dance sequence is super sharp. 2.5 to punch front, much better on that one. Slow-mo looks like it’s on the line, but if the flag went up, the flag went up.
Worley, VT: Y1.5, step forward.
Adams, BB: Front aerial, nice. Bhs loso, super steady. Switch to split, gorgeous extension. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck!
Pilgrim, UB: Maloney to pak, very clean. Full in is stuck! Holds it extra long just to make sure. Making the most of this last rotation.
9:45pm: Bryant, FX: Double front is stuck cold, two feet into the mat like she was on flypaper. Combo pass to close was also excellent. That might be a 10.
Wilson, VT: Handspring pike half – thought she was going to stick, but moved her foot at the last second. That’s the meet for them, I think. Second is great for the Cats though, wow.
Wong, UB: Maloney to pak, gorgeous. van Leeuwen is great. Sticks her DLO! Should be a great score.
Blanco, BB: Triple series, so steady. Gorgeous needle scale. Leap sequence is excellent. Stuck dismount!
Kiya Johnson, FX: Full in, well controlled. Combo pass is excellent. Dance series is very precise. Double back to close – yeah, that’ll do it. They deserved it tonight.
FINAL: LSU 198.075, BAMA 197.75, UK 197.6, UF 197.3
Florida just ekes out above Mizzou’s 197.275 from the first session, but they’ll walk away with more podium experience and several lessons learned after tonight. The biggest one will probably be that everyone needs to take a chill pill and stay in their bubble more, because once the pressure was off and the Gators were out of it, they had a fantastic bars rotation with a 49.45.
Life goes on – regionals will be April 5th, followed by the final on the 7th, in Gainesville. If you haven’t gotten tickets yet, I highly recommend you go now because they will sell out! And it’s an electric atmosphere, if you have an opportunity you won’t want to miss it.
I may or may not cover that meet in person – I still have some personal things up in the air, but even if I’m not there live, I’ll be liveblogging from home as per usual, so we’ll see you back here on Friday 4/5 for Regionals. Thanks for joining me!
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