ChompTalk.com

Good evening, Gator fans! It’s been two weeks since we last saw each other, and a lot has happened – Florida saw an unexpected loss in Arkansas last week… oof.

Here’s what we learn from that:

• Florida is not as deep as we thought
• This beam team is not as solid as we thought
• I can never take a meet off again

Just kidding… But I’m here tonight when I probably shouldn’t be just to make sure. LSU also lost to Arkansas, so I don’t necessarily feel as bad? Maybe it’s something about that arena that’s just flukey. It’s also February, and illnesses are going around college campuses with as cold as it’s been and it being flu season – maybe that also had something to do with it. Hard to really know.

There’s a few things we should all keep our eyes on tonight to determine if last week really was a fluke or if we need to be concerned:

• Both Blakelys back in their respective lineups
• Anya Pilgrim and Selena Harris looking like their rockstar selves again
• The beam team not absolutely melting down if there’s one small mistake

Head coach Jenny Rowland teased on a UF podcast this week that we might see some different routine constructions tonight, even from athletes we’re familiar with, and I don’t know whether to be excited or scared. Maybe a shake up is exactly what they need? I keep reminding myself that it is still February, and only the second week of February, so there’s still lots of time to figure out the sweet spot for this team. No need to doom and gloom or start panicking for at least another few weeks.

I’m making it in just under the wire tonight – we start at 8:30! Live stats are here, and action will be on SECN shortly.

I’ve been so harried this week I almost forgot it was Link to Pink!! Always a great tradition for the Gators. Commentator and alum Bridget Sloan saying on stream that Rowland isn’t worried about the mistakes last week – they’re human, they’re going to make mistakes. It’s just a matter of bouncing back. I hope they can do that tonight.

8:37pm: Rotation 1 time!

Pilgrim, UF VT: An early lineup change here – in instead of Lazzari, I like that change honestly. Y1.5, clean in the air, great dynamics, sizable hop forward.

Boyd, Aub UB: Good opening handstand work, big leg sep on her Maloney. Pak is very clean though. Last handstand is rushed and piked. Stalder to double tuck dismount, has to swim for it but doesn’t move those feet!

Bui, VT: Y1.5, a little undercooked, has to scoot her feet back under herself.

Bartman, UB: Good opening handstand. Big leg sep on her pak, veeeery close caught, but somehow saved it. van Leeuwen is better. Patient with the blind change and goes over the right way, double front, step back. That’ll be a lower score, even without actually falling.

Ferris, VT: Y1.5, opened a little early, has to take a step back to steady herself. Better rotated than Bui but still a little under.

Groth, UB: Great opening handstand. Ray is super floaty. Pak salto is lovely. Last handstand is good, a little late on her final pirouette, sticks her double tuck dismount.

Wong, VT: Yhalf-on, pike half off, just a little slide back on the landing. Good dynamics, good body shape this week. That should be a better score.

Irvine, UB: Great opening handstand and blind change. Piked Jaeger to overshoot, well connected and decently controlled. Good final handstand. Full in has some knees and feet but she sticks!

8:45pm: Disidore, VT: Love to see her getting the nod this week! Let’s hope it’s a good one. Y1.5, HUGE distance but big step forward too. Would rather her be over than under, but still not great.

Greaves, UB: Tkachev to pak, big leg separation there, saved it, but then goes over on her low bar handstand and falls! Oof. Remounts, van Leeuwen is okay, some knee bend maybe? Full in is stuck, but definitely too little too late. Going to count the 9.45 from Bartman, that’ll hurt.

Harris-Miranda, VT: Y1.5, little hop forward, very clean in the air. No sticks tonight, but a good first rotation back given how last meet ended.

Jong, UB: Chow to pak, pretty textbook. van Leeuwen has some leg sep? Full in, little stutter step back.

AFTER ONE: UF 49.275, AUB 48.925

Big hugs during the Link to Pink honors pre-meet for Pat Draser, Skylar’s grandma who’s also a breast cancer survivor. That’s really sweet!

Will be interested to see what Auburn’s vault lineup looks like as far as 10.0 start values this year, and will be interested to see how Gators bars turn out – definitely some different constructions spotted in warmups. Potential dismount changes for Harris-Miranda and McCusker.

8:56pm: Rotation 2 – Huff just did the opening competitive vault – it’s a Y1.5, looked fine, some knees and a big step forward. We got no introduction, almost missed it!

Pilgrim, UB: Pak is clean, van Leeuwen LOVELY. Full in slings out far but sticks!

Schumaker, VT: Y1.5 tucked, big bounce forward but good amplitude.

McCusker, UB: Good opening handstand. Chow to pak, so clean. van Leeuwen, legs just glued together. Stalder to double tuck dismount, little step on the landing.

Hubbard, VT: Y1.5, kinda flat – lots of distance but no height – and big bounce forward. Definitely some knees too.

9pm: Blakely Jr., UB: Great opening handstand – but falls on her Ricna. That’s not good. Rechalks, talks herself up. Almost goes over the wrong way on her handstand when she gets back up!! Ricna to pak is great this time. Blind change looked a bit labored but hits 180 degrees fine. Sticks her double front half out – that’s so tough. What great fight though.

Jong, VT: Y1.5, looked like the landing surprised her almost? Like she almost didn’t make it around? Little hop forward.

Wong, UB: Great opening handstand. Little sep on the Maloney, pak and van Leeuwen are clean. DLO is stuck cold!

Zancan, VT: Fhs onto the board, fhs onto the board, front tuck off – that’s definitely unusual! Little hop forward – doesn’t hold her landing position long, maybe lack of control deduction.

Harris-Miranda, UB: Ray is goooorgeous. Great handstand work, bail is DEAD on. Last handstands are excellent. DLO is stuck! That could go 10??

Zois, VT: Yfull, just super clean, little bounce in place. Really solid to close.

Bui, UB: Chow to pak, got her legs crossed in the air it looked like?? Rolls around the bar and has to hold on for a second. Gators will have to count a miss for a third meet so far this year…

AFTER TWO: UF 98.325, AUB 98.225

Well, that lead quickly evaporated. They need to not let these mistakes compound on beam and just forget everything that happened.

9:17pm: Rotation 3! Let’s see how they deal with beam tonight.

Draser, UF BB: Bhs loso, super steady to start it off. Switch leap to switch half, little check there. Full turn is clean. Roundoff 1.5, little step on the landing.

Zancan, Aub FX: Punch through to double pike, definitely underrotated, loses her balance stumbling forward, leg up behind her. Triple element dance series, looked pretty precise actually, good positions in the air. Double tuck is much better, well controlled too. Okay start, but they’ll need that first pass to shape up sooner rather than later.

Blakely Sr., BB: Front aerial to bhs, connection should be fine. Split leap to switch half to beat jump, SO clean and quick. Gainer full off the side, HOLDS it, then celebrates! That’s the way to return to the lineup after a week out.

Greaves, FX: Surprised to see her on floor but I’m here for it! Front through to double tuck, strong opening. Switch ring to switch half, not overly great but should meet 180 just fine. Double pike is pretty textbook! Switch ring half to straddle jump… that’s less good. Her choreo is honestly just posing too, not my favorite routine.

Pilgrim, BB: Candle mount is great. Bhs loso, little lean but moves through it like it’s nothing. Full turn is clean. Cat leap to front aerial, super steady. Switch to split leap, gorgeous 180 positions. Bhs gainer full off the side, little adjustment maybe? Yeah, slow mo shows the actual step.

Bell, FX: Punch front double full to punch front, WOW, that takes power – twisting form is a little wild, and so are her positions on her dance series, definitely some feet and knees in the split position. Double pike to close – really strong performance but needs some cleaning.

Nguyen, BB: I’ll never get over her rolling split mount, it’s so fun. Onodi to bhs, super clean, well connected. Full turn is nice and precise. Switch to split, the BEST split positions we’ve seen all night easy. Bhs 1.5 dismount STUCK! Should be a fabulous score.

Jong, FX: Full in to open, really gorgeous form actually, and well controlled. Double wolf turn, has to come up out of it a little. Fudges her tour jete full in the second part of her dance series, it looked like? Combo pass to close is nice and clean, but again, needs just a little refining I thinks.

9:30pm: Wong, BB: Switch leap to split leap, lovely. Front aerial to split jump, SO sharp. Bhs loso, DEAD on. Gainer tuck full off the end – little adjustment, not sure if the judges could see it from their angle, honestly.

McLaughlin, FX: 1.5 to front full, very clean. Dance series is super precise, really leaning into the choreo as the crowd goes NUTS for Wong’s 10.0. Double pike, overcooks it and stumbles back but keeps it in bounds.

Harris-Miranda, BB: Bhs loso bhs, little lean. Switch leap to split jump, good positions in the air. Full turn is fine. Front toss is excellent! Roundoff 1.5 twist dismount is stuck! A great recovery after a tough week last week.

Groth, FX: Front double full to open, good control coming out. Nice and crisp with her dance series there, one of the better wolf positions. 1.5 to front lay, little scoot back of the feet, otherwise excellent. Rudi to close as her teammates sing Dancing Queen behind her. A great anchor routine if I’ve ever seen one!

AFTER THREE: UF 148.025, AUB 147.4

The Gators found that lead back REAL quick. We love to see a bounce back week like this! 49.7 is the highest beam score in the nation so far this season.

9:48pm: Last one best one, let’s get it done!

Ahern, Aub BB: Bhs loso, gets lots of air on that second element. Dance series is well connected, good 180 position there. Sticks her dismount!

Nguyen, UF FX: Really showcasing her flexibility and lines in this opening choreography, I’m in love. Front double full into sissone to open, no sting mat this week – I think it was messing her up, honestly. Switch ring to switch half, gorgeous positions in the air. 1.5 to front lay, great control into her arabesque. Y turn is exceptional to finish out. That’s an incredible leadoff routine, honestly.

Greaves, BB: Double wolf turn, a little bobble but stays on fine. Bhs loso, much steadier. Beat to side aerial, technique a little unusual but pretty clean. Gainer full off the end, little shift of one foot it looked like.

Ferris, FX: Really bringing the drama in this opening choreo section, I like to see this performance quality from her. Full in this week, okay! Looks strong. Straddle elements are good in the air, maybe a little imprecise on landing position of her second element. 1.5 to front layout, not quite the rise I want in that second element but overall fine. Big celebration from AHC Adrian Burde afterward! Love that.

Zancan, BB: Bhs loso to open, little lean to one side but locks it down. Switch leap, hesitation, to switch half to split jump, added that third element as backup, I’d imagine. Roundoff 1.5 dismount is stuck – quick thinking there on her part to keep that 10.0 SV.

Clark, FX: HUGE straddle jump to start her routine off here, followed by an even bigger DLO, which goes out of bounds! Oh no! Both feet it looked like, full 3 tenths. Really serving this choreography section in the middle, everyone feels sharper tonight. Dance series is fabulous. Punch through to double tuck is much better, well controlled. Does not move that front foot, even in the slow-mo replay!

Groth, BB: Bhs loso bhs, BIG scream of celebration as she lays it in. Switch to switch half, definitely some knees and feet there. Full turn, little wobble but keeps it small. Cartwheel to gainer full off the side is stuck!

10pm: Blakely Sr., FX: Full in is fabulous, well controlled. Greaaaaat extension on her leap series, wow. Looked like her legs went on forever. Really hitting even the small moments in the music just right in her middle choreography section tonight, I love this. 1.5 to front full, very clean. Another fabulous routine!

Jong, BB: Double wolf turn, very steady. Loso loso, little check but keeps it small. Switch leap to pike jump, love that! Don’t see those very often. Roundoff double full, looked like her foot slipped on her punch off the end.

A 10.0 FOR SLOANE BLAKELY LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

10:04pm: Wong, FX: Get ready for the Rah Rah Rasputin routine! DLO, allllmost steps back over the line but uses the lean to go into her choreo instead – won’t fool the judges, but helped keep her in bounds at least. Whip half front full for her second pass, super clean.

McLaughlin, BB: Finishing out for Auburn tonight. Bhs loso, locks those arms down, not moving an inch. Beat jump to side aerial, again, so steady. Split jump to straddle 1/2, interesting technique but that’s definitely what skill it was. Full turn is clean. Gainer pike off the end is stuck! A solid beam rotation for them.

Harris-Miranda, FX: Front through to double tuck, a little overdone and wobbles a little on her landing, but doesn’t move her feet from what I could see. Switch side to straddle 1/2, very precise. 1.5 to front half to double stag jump – just needs a little cleaning but the Gators really dialed it up to 11 on the performance quality tonight, I’m obsessed.

FINAL: UF 197.625, AUB 196.825

Wong and Harris-Miranda tied for the AA title at 39.75 and UB at 9.975, Wong and Zois tied for vault at 9.9, Wong earned the BB title and Sloane Blakely the FX title both with those perfect 10.0s. Blakely just said on broadcast that she had a concussion, which is why she was out last week, so for her to get a 10.0 tonight feels doubly awesome.

Overall, a really strong comeback meet for Florida, but not without concern – bars is a problem right now, and vault isn’t exactly the strength it was supposed to be. No sticks tonight made for a very mid rotation. A win here feels necessary, so let’s check that box, but not feel too proud there. The high 197 is definitely a more encouraging number, and the second half of the meet is what really feels like the big win.

That’s all for me tonight! I’ll be back for UF/OU next Friday – it’s a big week! See you then!