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Today’s the day, Gator fans! The 2025 season has arrived! If you missed it this morning, make sure you check out my season preview for a primer on what to expect and what to look for this season.

It will be a doozy of an opening meet tonight, with Florida facing one of their regional final opponents from last season in Michigan State, as well as coaching connection Nebraska and lesser-known Northern Illinois. No better way to jump back into gymnastics season than a quad meet, am I right?

Be on the lookout tonight for newcomers Selena Harris-Miranda, Ly Bui, Taylor Clark, and potentially Skye Blakely, who wasn’t expected this soon due to her Achilles tear during Olympic Trials this summer. Early lineups seem to say she’s ready to compete on bars, which would be fantastic news for this Gator team.

Lineups also show Riley McCusker back on bars, which we should all be excited for, and Danie Ferris on vault, despite the fact that she did not compete the event at Hype Night.

As the home team, the Gators will start on vault. Live scoring can be found here on Virtius, and the meet itself is being broadcast on SEC+ tonight.

7:07pm: Rotation 1, here we go!

Kraus, NIU UB: A fall on her bail almost immediately, that’s tough. Double tuck dismount, big step forward.

Pilgrim, UF VT: Y1.5, some knees in the air, little hop forward.

Beautfait, MSU FX: Front double full to start, kinda bouncy but well twisted. Dance series is well connected, ring position a little undersplit. 1.5 to front lay, had to whip that around, slipped her feet but stayed upright.

Jenkes, Neb BB: Front toss, clean. Switch to straddle 1/2, clean. Little hop on her dismount – a good start.

Wong, VT: Podkopayeva – Yurchenko half on, pike half off – one of the cleanest she’s done in ages! Great height, solid positions in the area, small adjustment on the landing.

Ross, UB: Only saw the dismount, but they logged a hit.

Zsarmani, MSU FX: We missed the opening tumbling pass, but it seems she hit it fine. Bringing the energy with this choreo, loving it. 1.5 to front full, great control as she comes out of it.

Kraus, BB: Acro series is clean. Hitchkick to switch leap to beat jump, gorgeous. Stuck gainer full dismount!

Bui, VT: We missed it altogether. We missed her Gator debut??? I’m angry. She earned a 9.775.

White, UB: Gienger, some leg sep but overall okay. Bail is good. Double lay dismount looked stuck from here, although kinda whippy.

Simpton, BB: Split to sheep, actually an okay sheep jump? Stuck gainer full!

7:15pm: Blakely Sr., VT: Y1.5, single large step forward. Working on dialing that back, I’m sure.

Sikon, BB: Switch to switch half, great split positions, but a sizable wobble. Full turn is clean. Bhs tucked 1.5, little step back.

Ferris, VT: Y1.5 STUCK that. Let’s go.

Kalefe, FX: Flubbed the landings on both passes, YIKES. That floor is too slippery. Missed her dance element there too, looked like she just couldn’t get off the floor to jump.

Spence, BB: Acro series is clean. Dance series is nice – little adjustment on the dismount.

Someone for NIU just sat her dismount. Think it was Anderson.

Harris-Miranda, VT: Y1.5, little stutter step back. Not her best, but a hit. She’ll get better.

McClelland, BB: Double wolf turn, gorgeous. Bhs loso, locked down. Chest stand cartwheel, nice. Straddle to beat to stag jump series, all clean and confident. Bhs tucked 1.5, small step – great performance.

Lazzari, VT exhibition: Y1.5, a little angled to one side, single large step forward.

Finally getting Harkness on FX: Full in to open, gorgeous. Really hitting her moments in the music nicely. Dance series is nice and precise. Front tuck through to double tuck, little bit of an ankle cruncher but keeps it on her feet.

King hit bars for NIU – they needed that in the lineup, but unfortunately it was na exhibition!

Hall also just had a strong exhibition routine for Nebraska on beam. Could easily slot into early lineup.

7:30pm: Stephen, FX: Front through to Rudi, great amplitude, clean form. A little tight in her split position in her dance series, but good power and rotation. Loso into some floor choreo, that’s kinda fun. Front double full as her SECOND pass, wow. Gorgeous.

Smith, FX: BIG full in to start, refuses to move her feet, incredible. Really killing this choreo, Gators cheering for her in the background. Lost her balance a little as she landed her dance series, oopsie. Front through to double tuck, well controlled once again. Should be an excellent score!

Lebster, FX exh: Rudi to open, good twisting form, good control. Bhs loso just randomly in the middle of the floor, interesting. Kind of a classic rock routine here, makes me miss Amelia Hundley. Combo pass to finish – a little stutter step there at the end, other teams need to make sure they are chalking their feet well.

AFTER ONE: UF 49.2, NEB 49.15, MSU 48.9, NIU 46.925

7:45pm: Rotation 2 time!

Hsu, MSU VT: Yfull, pretty clean, small adjustment.

Blakely Sr., UF UB: Maloney to bail, clean. Double front STUCK yes! Great way to start things off.

Ross, NIU BB: Clean so far. Stuck dismount! They needed that to turn this around.

Simpton, Neb FX: Clean first pass, well controlled on the landing. Ring positions in her dance series are… questionable. Finished strong, though.

Duplissis, VT: Y1.5, sat it. Ouch.

Pilgrim, UB: Maloney to pak, clean. van Leeuwen is excellent. Good last handstand. Full in dismount STUCK.

Rourke, FX: Double pike, little step OOB it looks like. Triple dance series, good amplitude from what I could tell from this angle. front through to double tuck, well controlled to finish.

Zsarmani just hit her vault, didn’t see what it was. And another hit for NIU on beam, from what we saw, from Sallee.

McCusker, UB: Chow to pak, goooorgeous swing. van Leeuwen is also excellent. Oh nooo, knees down on her dismount. That still needs fixing, apparently.

Smith, VT: Y1.5, hop forward and off to one side.

Jencks, FX: First pass is solid. A little off axis on some of her wolf dance elements, but rotation was fine. Double tuck to close, really strong.

O’Shea, BB: Only saw the dismount, small step. Commentators say she narrowly avoided a fall apparently!

Stephen, VT: Y1.5, biiig amplitude, large step forward.

Blakely Jr., UB: So excited for her! Great opening handstand. Ricna to pak, wow. Very nice. Great final handstand, holds it forever. Double front half out, step back, and another. Still, puts it to her feet what seemed comfortably. Incredible!

Nickle, BB: Big bobble on her acro series but stays on. Stuck gainer full dismount it looked like!

McClelland, FX: Really strong opening pass, a front double full, and nailing this choreo. Rudi to very floaty loso, gorgeous. This might be her same routine as last year? I feel like I remember it.

Kellerman, VT: Handspring pike half, stuck!!! Huge.

Brown, BB: Standing loso to another loso, that’s fun. Leap series is pretty steady. Dismount had a small foot adjustment.

Harris-Miranda, UB: Ray to bail, solid handstand position. Double layout dismount, little hop back. A great routine for her!

8pm: Doyle, VT exh: Y1.5, very deep but sticks it? It’s getting there.

Wong, UB: Maloney to pak, legs just glued together, floats nicely. Great low bar handstand, van Leeuwen is clean too. Double layout, stuck!

Spence, FX: Double wolf turn, nice and steady. Front through to double tuck, solid. That’ll finish it out, we didn’t see the first pass.

Arana, UB exh: Maloney to bail, clean. Double lay dismount, stuck! That could easily go back in the lineup.

White had a solid exhibition on beam as well for NIU!

Kraus, FX: Biiiig double tuck, lots of air on that. Not a lot of amplitude on her dance series. Combo pass is clean, well controlled. Double pike to finish, underrotated, has to step forward to stay on her feet.

Homecillo, FX: I missed what the first pass was, but the landing was well controlled. Not great amplitude on her dance elements, but good positions in the air. Double tuck to finish is solid.

AFTER TWO: UF 98.525, MSU 97.925, NEB 97.825, NIU 95.025

8:17pm: Rotation 3!

Kuenemann, Neb VT: Yfull to start off, pretty clean in the air, little step.

Stephen, MSU UB: Clean releases, full in dismount stuck!

Pilgrim, UF BB: Candle mount, solid. Bhs loso, super steady. Switch leap to split leap, gorgeous 180 positions. Bhs gainer full, stuck! She’s automatic, y’all.

Ross, NIU FX: Double pike to start, very nice. Dance series a little low but good positions. Combo pass is clean. Double tuck, a little wide in the lunge, tried to keep her front foot from sliding but couldn’t quite mask it.

McClelland, VT: Another Yfull, a little off to one side, bounce in place.

Zsarmani, UB: Big release, good transition to low. Stuck dismount! Let’s go!

Blakely Sr., BB: Front aerial to bhs, clean. Split leap to switch half to beat jump, fabulous positions in the air. Full turn is clean. Stuck dismount!

Harbeck, FX: Rudi is great. Really serving the drama in her choreo. Some flexed feet in her dance series. Double pike to her knees, ouch!

Hall, VT: Yfull like a DART into that mat, couldn’t move if she tried.

We missed Doyle but she got a 9.85, so clearly a hit.

Nguyen, BB: Onodi to bhs, absolutely gorgeous, adjusted like a pro. Switch leap to split jump, showing oversplits like the elegance queen she is. Bhs 1.5, little hop forward. Lovely.

Jencks, VT: Another solid Yfull! Nebraska quietly chugging along here.

Smith, UB: Didn’t see her releases but she nailed her double lay dismount!

White, FX: Really nailing this routine so far. Combo pass is clean. Double tuck, and she falls forward onto her stomach, yikes.

Lazzari, BB: Bhs loso, bobble at the end but stays on. Front aerial is clean. Switch to split, great extension there. Split 1/2 from side stand, okay. Gainer full off the side, chest way down, grabs her legs? Very unusual for her.

Kellerman just hit a clutch routine on bars for Michigan State – 9.925!

Sikon, VT: Another Yfull, a little hop.

Sallee, FX: Front double full to front tuck stuck! That’s a way to start! Dance series a little rough, first split was not 180 and lots of flexed feet. Rudi to back full, that’s unusual, but clean.

Harkness, UB: Only saw the dismount but gorgeous and stuck!

Wong, BB: We come in at her acro series – bhs loso, locks it in. Full turn is clean. Such precision and elegance throughout her choreo. Gainer tuck full off the end for her dismount this year – sticks it!

Spence, VT: Y1.5, little hop forward, definitely some knees there though.

Abney, UB exh: Ray to overshoot, a little wild in the legs on the transition there. Clean final handstand work. Double tuck stuck! Solid, but probably doesn’t compete with this stellar lineup.

Harris-Miranda, BB: Acro series is a lil wobbly, there. Gotta get used to this equipment and arena, I suppose. Switch to split, good split positions, some feet. Full turn had a bobble. Front toss is powerful, stands it upright. Roundoff 1.5 stuck!

Frost, VT exh: Yfull-on pike off – oh god! Crashes it and falls off the mat! She looks okay, but that was scary.

McCusker, BB exh: Love her opening low beam choreo. Double wolf turn, very steady. Side aerial loso, bobbles but saves it. Switch to split, incredible. Korbut, lovely. Front aerial, snaps those arms down to not bobble. Stuck the landing!

Anderson, FX: Front lay to Rudi, very low chest but controlled landing. Front double full, stumbles back but stays upright.

Nickle, FX exh: Front double full, almost doesn’t make it around, stumbles into her crossover step. Front lay to front full, leg form was all over the place.

AFTER THREE: UF 148.025, MSU 147.35, NEB 146.65, NIU 143.25

8:47pm: Last one, let’s go!

White, NIU VT: Yfull, small hop on the landing.

Kalefe, MSU BB: Bhs loso loso, absolutely gorgeous. Dance series is so crisp! Gainer full off the side is stuck! A strong lead for the Spartans.

Nguyen, UF FX: Really serving drama in her choreo this year! Front double full to sissone, a good one. Jeremy Miranda really outdid himself with this one. 1.5 to front lay, well controlled into an arabesque. Love it.

Harbeck, VT: Yfull, some loose body position and a big bounce backward.

Duplissis, BB: Acro series is solid. Full turn is a little loose but gets through it. Beat to split 3/4, positions a little muddy in the air.

Simpton, UB: Gorgeous final handstand, releases were clean. Double lay, single step forward.

Sallee, VT: Yfull, another small hop back.

Lazzari, FX: Front double full, and sits it. Feet slipped out from under her, ouch. Triple dance series, good positions in the air. 1.5 to front lay to stag jump, gorgeous.

Misenheimer, BB: Hitting a strong routine on beam for the Spartans as Lazzari goes. Gorgeous split positions in the air. 1.5 dismount is stuck!

Sikon, UB: Tkachev to overshoot, again legs a little wild. Can’t stand that skills. Full pirouette to double tuck, step back.

Sissi, VT: Yfull, hop back. Twisting technique was interesting, she twists opposite to what we typically see I think.

Blakely Sr., FX: Full in, YES so much better, just a little bounce. Gorgeous splits in her dance series. Really bringing the sass in her choreo, playing to the crowd. 1.5 to front full, almost sticks but well controlled still. Ends it with the chomp – incredible.

Zsarmani, BB: Great acro series. Splits are super clean. Sticks her roundoff 1.5!

O’Shea, VT: Yfull, big bounce back. Maybe some more height on that one? Hard to tell from this angle.

Clark, FX: Double lay is INCREDIBLE, great height and body position. Killing it in this choreo, hitting all her musical moments. Dance series so crisp. Front through to double tuck to finish, well controlled. A fakeout ending, closes it with the Gator chomp. EASILY the best of the night!

Smith, BB: Great bhs loso, lots of amplitude. Dance series is killer, she gets such height off the beam. Double tuck dismount, just a small step. I’m always so impressed that she sticks with that difficulty!

Brenner, VT: Yfull, quite a bit off to the side.

Gibson, UB exh: Overall pretty loose, not a fan of the overshoot. Dismount pretty loose too.

Stephen, BB: Standing back pike? Wow. Bhs loso, gorgeous. Double full dismount, stuck!

Wong, FX: Double lay to start things off, glad we’re sticking with that. Dance series is so quick and clean. Double Gator chomp on the “Ra Ra” of Ra Ra Rasputin, hilarious and incredibly timed. Jeremy Miranda, an artist. Whip half to front lay to finish, well controlled. That’s gonna bring the house down as the season goes on.

Harkness, exh BB: Bhs loso is excellent. Switch to another switch, good split positions. Side aerial, so steady. Cat leap to side aerial to back tuck 1.5 dismount – that could easily slot in.

Brubach, FX: Rudi to start, I think she was OOB there. A big country flavor to this routine, that’s kinda fun. Dance series is a little loose? Double tuck – crunched her ankle, and maybe put a knee down? That’s not great, that will mean the Gators count a fall. Rowland maybe reconsidering having taken Pilgrim out now?? Not sure if the Gators will still win this, honestly, Michigan State has had a great meet.

Disidore, FX exh: Front double full, overcooks it, you can tell she’s training something bigger. 1.5 to front lay, much better.

FINAL: UF 196.675, MSU 196.65, NEB 195.6, NIU 191.95

In terms of event winners, Wong and Blakely went 1-2 in the AA at 39.725 and 39.5 respectively – Wong’s mark ties Aleah Finnegan for best in the nation so far this season! Ferris wins vault with a 9.95, and Wong wins the rest of the events with the same score.

That was… a little close for comfort. Some bright spots – Skye Blakely in bars feels great, Harris-Miranda getting used to competing as a Gator is starting to look pretty good, and Ferris being comfortable on vault at that level is excellent news. There are definitely more things to work on, though, and I personally would reconsider Lazzari in some events – her consistency issues have not been fixed with time off, unless we’re just chalking this up to first meet jitters, which you don’t love to see from a fifth-year vet anyway. McCusker’s bars also concern me, I really had hoped she had fixed that dismount situation. A lot of tonight’s mistakes will need to evaporate quickly if the Gators are going to have a chance in Baton Rouge next week.

Speaking of which, I am not certain whether I will be able to cover that meet – I am still working out plans for next weekend, but hopefully I will see you all then! Thanks for being here tonight, and as always, Go Gators.