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Thanks for all the support. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Anyone with comments/questions/suggestions please email me at: bdfoxjr@chomptalk.com
  • 2025 4-Star LB Myles Johnson Commits to Gators

    2025 4-Star LB Myles Johnson Commits to Gators

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    Billy Napier’s bat signal came out Wednesday evening signaling a verbal commitment in the 2025 recruiting cycle. 4-star LB Myles Johnson was the latest prospect to join the Florida class, just a week after decommiting from Alabama.

    Following several trips to Gainesville, Johnson left the Alabama class despite being committed since October 2023.

    The Brewton, AL native measures in at 6’1 and 220 lbs and is the No. 25 linebacker in the 2025 class according to 247Sports. He is also the No. 16 overall prospect from Alabama.

    Florida beat out Alabama and Mississippi State for Johnson’s pledge. He became the ninth commitment for Napier’s 2025 Gators class. Overall, Florida’s class ranks No. 67 overall.

    In addition to football, Johnson plays basketball and runs track at TR Miller High.

  • #GatorMade: Wyatt Langford Continues To Swing A Hot Bat

    #GatorMade: Wyatt Langford Continues To Swing A Hot Bat

    Photo by Michael Owens | Getty Images

    Despite a rough start that saw Wyatt Langford hitting at just a .224 clip more than a month through his first big league season, the Trenton, FL native has completely turned his season around and is now among the favorites to win the AL Rookie of the Year award.

    In a May 4 contest against Kansas City, the struggling rookie strained his hamstring running down the first base line. He was placed on the ten-day injured list but was expected to miss three to four weeks.

    To that point, Langford had hit just one home run, and that was of the inside-the-park variety.

    Upon returning to the lineup on May 28, Langford has been on fire. In the month of June he hit .309 with three homers, six doubles and three triples. Oh, and on the final day of the month, all he did was hit for the cycle, becoming the first Texas rookie to do so since 1985. He was awarded the AL Rookie of the Month for June for his performance.

    In July, Langford has only gotten hotter. Through seven games, he’s 10-26 (.385) with three doubles and a home run.

    As a result of his production, Langford is moving around the Rangers’ lineup. On Monday, the 2023 first round pick was hitting cleanup for the defending World Series champions.

    As stated earlier, Langford has also seen his stock rise in the American League Rookie of the Year race. BetMGM has Langford tied with New York RHP Luis Gil for the best odds at +175.

    The Rangers have four games remaining before the All-Star break. While the former Gator won’t be there this year, the talent is starting to show out and the future is extremely bright.

  • Florida HC Tim Walton Named D1Softball Coach of the Year

    Florida HC Tim Walton Named D1Softball Coach of the Year

    Florida softball head coach Tim Walton was named the national coach of the year by D1Softball.com Monday afternoon.

    Walton led the Gators to a 54-15 overall record and one win short of the national championship series. Additionally, Florida won the SEC tournament title on the way to being named the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

    The 2023 season saw Florida finish 38-22 before falling in the Stanford regional.

    Walton revamped the program after an underwhelming conclusion to 2023. In the circle, freshman phenom Keagan Rothrock put her mark on the record books with stellar performance after stellar performance. In all, Rothrock went 33-9 with a 2.59 ERA.

    Offensively, the Gators returned the NCAA Player of the Year in Skylar Wallace and added catcher Jocelyn Erickson from Oklahoma and outfielder Korbe Otis from Louisville.

    The Gators have been active in the transfer portal since the conclusion of the season. They’ve landed commitments from RHP Kara Hammock (UNC-Wilmington), INF Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama), and SS Rylee Holtorf (Washington).

    Walton is a five-time recipient of the SEC’s Coach of the Year Award (2008, 09, 11, 13, 17). His teams have made it to eighteen NCAA post-seasons. Additionally, the program has made it to fifteen super regionals and earned twelve trips to the College World Series since he took over at Florida.

  • WGYM Liveblog: 2024 Olympic Trials Day 2 ft. Leanne Wong

    WGYM Liveblog: 2024 Olympic Trials Day 2 ft. Leanne Wong

    You might notice a little something different about our headline today.

    If you haven’t been keeping up so far, that’s because Skye Blakely and Kayla DiCello have both torn an Achilles and are out of the competition and therefore Olympic selection. Leanne Wong is left the only Gator standing, and she didn’t have her best day of competition after watching her friends go down left and right. If you want to catch up on yesterday’s competition, check out our liveblog, but if you only have you a few minutes, here’s the TLDR:

    • 12 athletes left standing, 5 women on the team, 2 replacement athletes. The odds are tough.
    • Skye Blakely, Kayla DiCello, and Shilese Jones are all out with injury. The former two we’ve already discussed, but Jones had a knee injury during vault warmup on Friday. She went on to compete bars but withdrew from the remainder of the meet. After being evaluated yesterday more thoroughly, she will not be continuing in the selection process.
    • Simone Biles is still dominant as ever, despite Friday’s AA total being her lowest so far this summer. Barring disaster, one of those 5 spots will be hers automatically by finishing first in the two-day all-around.
    • Sunisa Lee has added her full routine back on bars and casually competed a Chusovitina (full-twisting double layout) on floor. If she keeps competing the way she did Friday night, one of those 5 spots is hers.
    • Tokyo Olympians Jordan Chiles (UCLA) and Jade Carey (Oregon St) are also looking like likely choices, demonstrating consistency on their key events and showing crucial upgrades to both their difficulty and stamina since Championships.
    • The fifth slot then comes down to who adds the most to the team score in a three-up, three-count situation for team finals. Bars and beam feel like the crucial events, with beam edging out bars by just a little bit, in my opinion.
    • Wong debuted a new vault – the Cheng, which is the hardest non-Biles vault being performed at these Trials – but may or may not have put enough support on the table with both hands. She originally incurred a two-point deduction for lack of support, implemented to discourage dangerous technique on difficult vaults, but the UF coaching team submitted an inquiry and it was accepted, erasing the deduction. She led the competition after the first two events, but beam was a problem and she went out of bounds on floor. She’s No. 8 after Day 1.
    • Wong has the most international experience of any of the remaining athletes, but there are a few other younger athletes to look out for – Tiana Sumanasekera (UCLA), Joscelyn Roberson (Ark), and Hezly Rivera could all find their way onto this team, should they have great nights on bars and beam, and especially if Wong does not.

    Now that you’re all caught up, let’s talk about what to look out for tonight, specifically for Wong and her chances to make the team.

    Rotation 1, Bars: She needs to have the cleanest, best-connected bar routine of the year. She needs to prove that she is a more team-final-usable option than Carey if Biles or Chiles needs a break, and a better one than Rivera. Look for Wong to connect multiple elements together, not just two at a time, as well as flawless leg form and handstands, if she’s going to make that happen.

    Rotation 2, Beam: Again, needs to be the cleanest, crispest beam routine with solid difficulty that she’s put together all summer. MUST show that she can stay on the beam and not have any major bobbles. If that means not doing full difficulty, I think it’s worth watering down a tenth or two. She needs to show control on her dismount too, in particular. It has to be a TF-worthy routine. She and Rivera are in the same rotation, so it will be easy to compare apples to apples pretty quickly. If Rivera outshines Wong on both bars and beam… it may be over for our CEO.

    Rotation 3, Floor: I think she just needs to do what she did Night 1, except stay in bounds. I don’t think she needs the Dos Santos upgrade she’s been training for her third pass – it just needs to be clean. Floor isn’t where this team will need her, really.

    Rotation 4, Vault: There are two options here – the safe route and the power move. The safe route would be to do her DTY first – demonstrate that it’s still a clean, safe option, guaranteed for a good score in qualifications. The power move would be to do the Cheng first again, and make sure it’s clear her block is acceptable under international standards, no question, no need for inquiry. If she’s not confident she can do that, though, she should take the safe route.

    It all starts at 8pm ET on Peacock and NBC, but if you can’t tune in, we’ll have all the action for you play by play right here!

    8:04pm: Still waiting on broadcast start – I believe we may be delayed until 8:10, I’ve seen a few reports saying so.

    8:05pm: Okay, here we go! Broadcast is finally starting.

    Sumanasekera, VT: DTY, a little chest down but basically stuck. Wow. That’s the way to get your night going!

    Rivera, UB: Weiler half to open, pirouette on low bar is good too. Tkachev is clean, not connected. Pak has legs just glued together, not connected, into Maloney, also clean. Piked Tkachev is clean. Full twisting double tuck dismount, little adjustment. She’s coming out swinging!

    Roberson, VT: Cheng, better amplitude than Day 1 I think, a little chest down on landing, two steps back into the salute. Lots of bent knees.

    Simone Rose, UB: I’m shocked we’re seeing her, but very excited! Good low bar handstand work, a little over on her pirouette. Maloney to uprise to Ray, gorgeous. Great handstand, blind change is good too. Ezhova, to van Leeuwen, fingertip catch. DLO is stuck! Good for her!

    Eveylynn Lowe, VT: Another competitor I didn’t expect we’d see! Y1.5, suuuper clean, little hop forward. That’ll play WELL in college, wherever she commits.

    Wong, UB: A little shy on opening handstand, blind change is better. Jaeger excellent. Pirouette is perfectly on top. Bhardwaj is lovely. Maloney to pak is clean. van Leeuwen is fabulous. DLO, little hop back. Peszek saying she missed her hand on her Bhardwaj? I didn’t see it, so hopefully it’s a small deduction.

    Chiles, VT: DTY, floats it, very clean. Just a little slide back. Crosses her feet a little bit at the end but stands it up very straight, well done.

    Lopez for her second vault, again straight as a board, really well done. Just a bounce back on the landing. Great dynamics.

    13.9 for Wong on bars – versus Rivera’s 14.3… not a great start. Beam will be a little more important though, she’ll need to stay in her bubble and not let anything get to her.

    Molomo, VT: Y1.5, very clean, little hop forward. That’ll play well in NCAA soon too.

    Lincoln, UB: First handstand, pirouette was great but had to recast when she had to save it from going over the wrong way. Tkachev to pak is gorgeous, a little close to the bar. van Leeuwen is great. Full twisting double back – stuck! A great hit for her – she could also be in the mix, but I think she’s more likely an alternate than on the team.

    Carey, VT: Cheng, much cleaner than Roberson, little bounce on the landing.

    Lee, UB: Great opening handstand. Nabieva to Bhardwaj, great connection. van Leeuwen is clean. Blind change is fine, Jaeger to pak to Maloney to gienger all connected!!!! That’s so hard, holy cow. Full pirouette, not connected, into full twisting double back stuck! That’s a two-time Olympian right there, I’m calling it now.

    Biles, VT: Yurchenko double pike, VERY bouncy, several big steps back. She stayed on her feet but she’s upset with herself. Didn’t open quite soon enough. She’s also only doing the one vault tonight – no need for her to do the Cheng, she has nothing to prove, but leaves the door open for someone else to win vault.

    8:30pm: Caylor, VT: DTY, chest a little low, but good dynamics, little slide back.

    STANDINGS AFTER FIVE:

    1. Biles, 74.4
    2. Lee and Chiles, 70.9
    3. Carey, 70.5
    4. Roberson, 69.975
    5. Rivera, 69.125
    6. Sumanasekera, 69.05
    7. Wong, 68.65

    8:39pm: Rotation 2!

    Chiles, UB: Great low bar handstand. van Leeuwen is great. Next handstand a little shy, blind change clean. Piked Jaeger is great. Piked Tkachev to pak is good, there was some minor adjustment prior to that. Maloney to gienger is great, well connected. Full twisting double back, little hop back. Another solid performance, two more like that and she’s an Olympian again.

    Wong, BB: This is critical. Light your candles. Springboard mount, switch leap to switch half, those are clean. Switch ring, check. Bhs loso, steady. Double wolf, keeps it even. Front aerial to split to straddle, no adjustments visible. Side somi, dead on. Really in her zone. Roundoff 2.5, a little deep in the landing, little shift to the side. That was WAY better than Friday – will it be enough??

    8:45pm: I really didn’t need to see an injury montage again.

    Carey, UB: Good opening handstand work. Bhardwaj is floaty. Maloney to gienger, leg form is alright. Ezhova, a little messy. Short on that handstand, and the last one. Saved her pirouette somehow, wow. Full twisting double back dismount is stuck! What a professional, good for her.

    Biles, UB: Weiler and low bar work are clean. Maloney is rushed, leg sep. Piked Tkachev to pak, fights back. van Leeuwen is cleaner. Full pirouette is clean. Double twisting double back is so high, just a little adjustment on the landing it looked like.

    Lee, BB: Loso mount and she falls! Oh no! Front aerial to split to bhs, super quick – she’s doing angry beam now. Triple wolf, SO steady, wow. Switch, breaks connection, switch half to ring jump. Bhs loso loso, touches the beam but stays on somehow, girl. Deep breaths. Switch ring, another check. Gainer full off the end, she’s SO mad.

    Looking at the replays, her shoulders weren’t over her hips square enough on her mount, but on her series she just got ahead of herself. I think she’s still safe, but it makes beam all the more important for that fifth member.

    9:00pm: Rivera, BB: Double wolf is super clean, she looks calm. Side aerial, so crisp. Bhs loso, snaps her arms down even though she had a little lean. Switch to switch half, shy of 180, to bhs swingdown. Front aerial to split to straddle, little lean again, keeps it small. Switch ring, position is a little questionable? Bhs bhs double pike a little low but basically stuck. We’ll see where that ends up!

    14.275 for Rivera, vs. just a 13.65 for Wong… that feels like our answer right there.

    Roberson, UB: Good opening handstand. Maloney to uprise, to Ezhova, little hesitation but made it work. Low bar handstand is way past handstand. Transition back to high has some leg sep, gienger is a little cleaner. FTDLO dismount, little hop in place. Not her event, but made it through.

    Sumanasekera, UB: Low bar work is clean. Maloney to pak has some leg sep. Jaeger is nice and high. Half pirouette in the middle is weird construction for this code. Little bounce on her dismount. I’m shocked at the leg form – her lines on every other event are so nice. Just a 12.85, oof. That could be the reason Rivera is chosen over her.

    STANDINGS AFTER SIX:

    1. Biles, 88.6
    2. Chiles, 85.1
    3. Lee, 83.725
    4. Carey, 83.575
    5. Rivera, 83.4
    6. Roberson, 83.0
    7. Wong, 82.3
    8. Sumanasekera, 81.875

    9:09pm: We’re getting a little interview with Biles now about Tokyo and the twisties. We are so lucky to even have her for another quad.

    Wong, FX: Double wolf to start, clean. Double double, MUCH cleaner than Friday. DLO, she kept it in bounds! It was close. Dance series is very crisp, ring position is lovely. Whip half to front full, good idea, still stumbled a little on the landing. Double pike STUCK COLD, little fist pump from Owen Field in the corner. We love to see that.

    Carey, BB: Opening combination was clean. Bhs loso, steady. Switch side, good, she’s never falling on that again after Championships. Switch to switch half to straddle, all good 180 positions, she’s gotten so much better at those. Side aerial, solid. Double pike, single step on that dismount. She’s staying so chill, that’s serving her really well right now.

    Lincoln, FX: FTDLO, one of the cleanest I’ve ever seen, WOW. So high, so straight. Small hop on the landing. DLO, also rod-straight, little shift back. Really hitting her moments in the music here, gorgeous splits in her dance series. Triple wolf, very steady, good landing position. Front full through to double back, both feet OOB, oof. It was golden up to that point.

    Biles, BB: Switch leap mount to switch half to back pike, the ATTACK, dang. Triple wolf turn, very steady. Front aerial to split to straddle, a little shy of 180 maybe? She’s a little tight. Bhs loso loso, DEAD on, the thuds of the beam underneath her are so satisfying. Side aerial, NO she’s off! Wow, that hasn’t happened in a while. Remounts, full in dismount, single step. Soooo good up until that point.

    Lee, FX: FTDLO STUCK COLD! Yes ma’am! Switch ring is gorgeous, through to split full, lovely and precise. 1.5 to front full, a little slidy on the landing but good form. Turn sequence is good. Triple wolf, big smile after, she knows this is a good one. This music fits her SO well. Double back to finish, just a little hop back. Big grin after she finishes, kisses to her hometown crowd – she’s stoked for that one.

    I just have to do a quick story moment with y’all – Lee’s music is “Eyes of the Untold Her” by Lindsey Stirling, it’s her new single, and she actually reached out to Lee to give her blessing for her to use it. The concept behind the music video is young Stirling starting out in her career seeing all of her iconic moments over the course of her career so far – how incredible that Lee is using that song as she fights to make the dreams of little Suni come true again, especially after such adversity.

    9:29pm: Sumanasekera, BB: Candle mount, lovely. Bhs bhs2ft layout2ft, so solid. Switch leap to bhs swingdown, good connection. Switch to switch half, definitely tight and short of 180 on that second split. Side aerial, clean. Sissone to wolf jump, both good. Full turn is fine. Double pike dismount, little foot slide. Good for her!

    Rivera, FX: FTDLO, big slide back, almost OOB. DLO, another smaller slide. Dance series is nice and crisp. Her wolf turn is too, just a double I think? Front through to double tuck, another slide back. That split full is short of 180. 2.5 twist, big pop on the landing and bounds forward, I think kept it in?

    Roberson, BB: Standing full to start, EXCELLENT, very solid, not too crunched. Switch to switch half, a little tight, to back tuck, clean. Side aerial loso loso, corrected midair and stayed steady, wow. Full turn is clean. Onodi to straddle to pike jump, I think that’s new, cool combination and very quick. Bhs bhs double pike, single step back. She’s really doing everything she can to try and make her case, but bars worries me.

    Chiles, BB: Front tuck mount, foot tried to slide out from under her but she caught it, not as big a bobble as Day 1. Bhs loso, rushed it and couldn’t settle in, had to take the fall. Hops back up, front aerial straddle bhs, a little hesitation between the first two, she’s okay. Side somi, better. Switch to split to wolf, another hesitation between the first two but I think she’ll get the connection. Side aerial is clean. Switch side, great height. Double pike, single step. I think she’s still good, but hard to see anyone but one of the two tied for first on beam in that last slot after all these falls… Roberson and Rivera are tied for that spot right now.

    STANDINGS AFTER SEVEN

    1. Biles, 102.5
    2. Lee, 97.575
    3. Chiles, 97.325
    4. Carey, 97.2
    5. Roberson, 97.05
    6. Rivera, 96.95
    7. Wong, 95.925
    8. Sumanasekera, 95.825

    9:49pm: Rotation 4, let’s go!

    Biles, FX: Triple double, just a small step, it’s so cool how well she’s dialed that in. Front full through to double double, single step OOB. Double wolf, almost put a toe OOB, oof. DLO half out, aka Biles I, keeps it in bounds today, excellent. DLO to finish, basically stuck! The crowd gets on their feet – a third Olympics for the GOAT! Chiles comes to give her a double high-five screaming, “That’s what I’m talking about!” – honestly, same. She’s not thrilled with it, and clearly winded, but I think she’s also just taking it in. Crowd goes wild for her score, too.

    Lee, VT: DTY, it’s a good one! Some crossed feet, a little stutter step back, but she’s so happy – she knows she’s done it.

    Sumanasekera, FX: FTDLO, a little low but doesn’t crunch her chest at all. DLO, better. Gorgeously precise on her dance elements. Double wolf, excellent. Whip half to front full, very clean. Double pike to finish, stuck cold. She’s fighting for that spot too!

    10:00pm: Rivera, VT: DTY, also very clean, little slide back.

    Roberson, FX: Moors to open, STUCK COLD – she must’ve heard me when I said she needed to break 14. FTDLO, flares it, just a little slide. Dance sequence looks good, great split positions. DLO, a little bounce back there, keeps it in bounds. Double wolf turn, decently controlled. Punch front layout stepout through to double tuck – a standing ovation for her! And the tears are flowing – she put it all out there.

    Chiles, FX: FTDLO to open, just a little shift back. She is finding every camera in this arena and really performing the heck out of this routine. Front full through to full in, looked OOB but the flag didn’t raise?? Wolf turn 3.5, well controlled for sure. Dance series is also really crisp. DLO, little hop in place. That’ll be an excellent score – is it another Olympic team for Biles and Chiles together??

    10:15pm: Wong, VT: Let’s see which route she takes. Cheng, a little more crunched than Day 1 – we’ll need to see the slow-mo to see if she got both hands support but Peszek seems to think she did. Score indicates she did – 14.5! She pulled that power move!

    Carey, FX: How fitting that the reigning Olympic gold medalist gets to close things out?? Moors to open, just a little hop. DLO full out, little step OOB, well controlled. Really precise in her dance series now, and those splits have gotten so much better than they used to be. Double double third pass, fabulous. Punch front through to double tuck, close to stuck. Chiles running and screaming to congratulate her – that looks like a two-time Olympian to me.

    FINAL:

    1. Biles, 117.225
    2. Lee, 111.675
    3. Chiles, 111.425
    4. Carey, 111.35
    5. Rivera, 111.15
    6. Roberson, 110.975
    7. Wong, 110.425
    8. Sumanasekera, 109.55

    The committee has gone into the back to deliberate, but Simone Biles has made a third Olympics – the oldest US woman in the modern era of women’s gymnastics to qualify.

    10:30pm: We are still waiting – seeing all the emotional family fluff pieces now.

    Not sure if I agree that this is the end of Wong’s elite career – but if it is, what a way to go out, for sure!

    10:45pm: A cheeky little Paris promo cheering on Biles featuring John Legend! That’s cool.

    10:46pm: We have a countdown! 5 minutes and counting!

    10:49pm: Okay, here we go!

    Announcing the team will be Carly Patterson, 2004 Olympic AA champ, and Shannon Miller, the previous most-decorated US women’s gymnast prior to Biles.

    On the team: Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera, Sunisa Lee, and Simone Biles. Congratulations to them – incredible work this weekend and all year, they’re going to represent Team USA so well in Paris.

    Traveling alternates: Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong! For the second consecutive Olympics, Wong is a traveling alternate, this time with so much more experience and time under her belt.

    You never hope that an alternate will have to step in, but if she’s called upon, you know Wong will represent Team USA and Florida impeccably. She’s a great alternate choice, with no weak events and a calm presence even in the face of chaos.

    Thanks to all of you for joining me throughout this elite season covering the Gators – we’ll see y’all in just a few short months for a 2025 season preview!

  • WGYM Liveblog: 2024 Olympic Trials ft. Elite Gator Gymnasts

    WGYM Liveblog: 2024 Olympic Trials ft. Elite Gator Gymnasts

    Some say that making the Olympic team can be even harder than medaling at the Olympics themselves, and for American gymnasts, that may be true. Competition is fierce, and there are only five slots available each for women and men.

    For the women, it’s more like four, given that Simone Biles is still competing. As long as Biles keeps competing at the spectacular level of difficulty she’s known for, she has a place on this squad. That leaves four spots for 15 other women to compete for.

    …make that 14 other women. Unfortunately, earlier this week in podium training, future Gator Skye Blakely suffered an Achilles tear while practicing her double layout on floor. This is especially devastating as this is the second Olympic Trials in a row that Blakely has missed due to an injury right before competition. She was coming off of a fantastic showing at U.S. Classic and a solid U.S. Championships where she upgraded her vault, making a strong case for her inclusion on the team. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to covering her in the future, whether in Gainesville or a return to elite.

    But there are still two Gators battling it out for a berth on the squad – Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong. DiCello will be a sophomore in the fall, after deferring a year to focus on making the Paris team, while Wong will be a senior, as she continued training at Florida and has managed to compete both NCAA and elite over the past year.

    Coming into the summer, Wong had the edge over DiCello, with back-to-back World Championship berths that resulted in team gold both times. However, DiCello has made a convincing case for herself, adding difficulty and showing consistent improvement over the course of the year. She took the No. 3 spot at U.S. Championships after Biles and Blakely, and with Blakely out, she and Shilese Jones are the only non-Biles athletes to have crossed the 56.0 mark in the all-around in 2024. DiCello’s done it twice – once when she won Winter Cup and again on Day 1 of U.S. Championships. The highest-scoring team by the numbers now has her on it, with Blakely out. After being an alternate in Tokyo and Antwerp, will she finally get the call?

    Wong in particular has faltered where Team USA would need her, falling on beam at both Classic and day 2 of Championships, as well as missing some connections on bars that lowered her difficulty and going out of bounds on floor. She’ll have to have a much more consistent Trials to show that she can still be depended upon in pressure situations. We’ve seen from podium training that she has more upgrades to show, which will come in clutch now with Blakely out of the running, but she’ll need to show the ability to hit when it counts even with the additional difficulty.

    Based on the current team picture, with Biles and Jones seeming like locks provided they remain healthy and reigning all-around gold medalist Sunisa Lee looking ready to make a second team, it feels unlikely that DiCello and Wong would both be selected, given that they are both all-arounders without true “standout” events. However, there could be a world in which team medal chances are valued so much over individuals, such that two solid all-arounders are a better choice than one all-arounder and one vault/floor specialist to balance Lee’s bars/beam specialty. It’s unlikely, but not completely impossible – we’ve seen team selection take stranger routes, let’s be honest.

    There are still some familiar faces to watch out for that are competing for these final two spots, if Biles, Jones, and Lee are selected as expected. Wong’s fellow elite/NCAA combo athlete Jade Carey is a significant medal threat on vault and floor and can’t be discounted, and DiCello’s fellow “defer-to-focus-on-Paris” athlete Jordan Chiles was a crucial part of the Tokyo Olympic team that took silver. They’re the other frontrunners competing with Wong and DiCello for these two spots.

    There are also a few younger gymnasts who could contend – Joscelyn Roberson, Tiana Sumanasekera, and Kaliya Lincoln all have significant international experience to speak of and could contribute strong routines on at least one event. New senior Hezly Rivera is also a dark horse pick after a strong showing at Championships, coming in at No. 4 on beam and No. 6 AA.

    Day 1 starts tonight at 7:30 ET on Peacock, and the NBC broadcast begins at 8, but we’ll have all the action for you here play by play.

    7:27pm: Well, the meet hasn’t even started and already we have major drama!

    Shilese Jones did something to her knee in warmups just a few minutes ago…

    Reports in the arena said it looked bad, with some saying they could hear her cry out over the arena music. However…

    We just got this from USA Gymnastics – will she compete AA? Bars only? Unclear at this time, but what a fighter. I just hope that she truly has been cleared and she’s not putting a cortisone shot “band-aid” on it just to get through tonight… I would hate for her to fight through here just to have a career-ending injury because she tried to push too hard.

    7:32pm: Peacock hasn’t started broadcasting yet… I would imagine there was some kind of delay due to Jones’s need for medical attention? Hopefully it will start soon.

    7:36pm: We have video! These leos are incredible. Haven’t addressed the Jones issue any further than we know, yet.

    DiCello, VT: Punched on the board, was clearly off, just did a layout… sits it down and doesn’t get up. WHAT. This cannot be happening.

    She’s being taken off the floor in a wheelchair now. Devastating already. I don’t know how to cope.

    Lee, VT: She’s crying now, she and DiCello are roommates here at Trials. And now she has to vault. Good god. DTY, a little crooked on the block, chest a little low, but makes it around and safely. At this point, I’ll take it.

    Biles, UB: Weiler half to Maloney to uprise full pirouette. Piked Tkachev to pak salto, strong. van Leeuwen, some leg separation. Another full pirouette, a little over handstand. Double twisting double back dismount, so efficient in her twisting, little hop on the landing. Not her best but it’ll work.

    Carey, UB: Handstand work is okay. Bhardwaj is solid. Back up to high bar, some leg sep. Ezhova is pretty clean. Pirouette way past handstand. Full twisting double back dismount, basically stuck. Again she’ll take that.

    7:45pm: Lincoln, VT: DTY, very clean in the air, big hop back.

    Molomo, UB: Has a moment on low bar, has to recast and try again. Maloney to pak, decently clean. van Leeuwen is clean. Big Jaeger, great turnover. Didn’t have enough gas at the end to put her dismount to her feet, sat it down. Tough.

    DiCello officially out of Olympic contention. Jones not competing vault.

    Someone bubble wrap Wong. Good god.

    Wong, VT: She’s upgraded her first vault to a Cheng! The same vault Carey competes – it’s a vault finals kind of vault.

    Cheng – low on the block but SO quick in the air – just a small hop on the landing. Wow!

    Chiles, UB: van Leeuwen is great. Handstands are gorgeous through here. Piked Jaeger is FABULOUS. Piked Tkachev to pak, legs glued together, great amplitude. Maloney to gienger is clean. Full twisting double back – stuck! She saw that open door and said I’m walking through it!

    Back to Wong for her second vault – a DTY – lots of juice, big slide back.

    She gets a massive 2.0 neutral deduction on the Cheng due to lack of support on both hands – one hand just brushed the vault table with her fingertips, instead of actually putting pressure on it. She can’t do that again on Day 2.

    Rivera, VT: DTY, a little wild… someone check the vault. Please.

    8:04pm: Reports from the arena said Rowland was filling out paperwork after Wong’s vault – must have been inquiring on the neutral deduction.

    And it must have been accepted! That helps.

    STANDINGS AFTER ONE:

    1. Wong, 14.45
    2. Biles, 14.425
    3. Chiles, 14.35
    4. Lincoln, 14.225
    5. Rivera and Carey, 13.575
    6. Lee, 13.525

    NBC showing all the horrific injuries now… I am speechless. How is this happening???

    Sam Peszek saying Alicia Sacramone-Quinn, USAG Strategic Lead for the women’s program, just texted her saying she feels unwell… BIG MOOD!

    8:09pm: Carey, BB: Front aerial to split to bhs swingdown, well connected. Bhs loso, some flexed feet but her knees have gotten a lot better. Switch side, strong. Switch to switch half to straddle, actually good split positions, love that. Side aerial is solid. Bhs bhs double pike, single step – a little close to the beam, but a great routine for her!

    Wong, UB: Great opening handstand work. Jaeger is great. Pirouette is lovely. Bhardwaj is solid. Maloney to pak, doesn’t connect but doesn’t falter with her rhythm either. van Leeuwen is clean. DLO, little hop back. Well done. She looks happy with that!

    Chiles, BB: Front tuck mount, wobbles but holds on! Bhs loso, very solid. Front aerial to straddle to bhs, very quick connections, she’s doing angry beam now. Side somi, clean. Switch leap sissone, great extension. Side aerial is dead on. Switch side, incredibly precise. Roundoff double pike, little hop back. The fight in her! She killed that.

    Jones, UB: She’s going to compete bars! Knee is HEAVILY wrapped. Great opening handstand and pirouette work. Ricna to pak, some leg sep, to Maloney clean. Tkachev is great. Double front, just a little hop forward but stays on her feet! Don’t think that was her full difficulty but what a fighter. Incredible. A 14.765!!! Huge.

    But commentator Terry Gannon saying she is withdrawing from the rest of the night – no beam and no floor. That will be a major blow to her chances at making the team.

    8:31pm: Rotation 2 continues!

    Lee, UB: Great opening handstand. Nabieva to Bhardwaj, makes that connection but has to break the series. van Leeuwen is solid. Jaeger is gorgeous, to pak nicely done. Great low bar handstand. Maloney to gienger, well done. Great pirouette, not done in combination, but full twisting double back. She’s doing the full difficulty finally! Should be a huge score, even with some missed connections.

    Sumanasekera, BB: Candle mount, excellent. Bhs bhs2ft layout, well done! So floaty! Front aerial to split jump I think? This angle is terrible. Switch to switch half, those splits were a little tight. Side aerial, strong. Sissone to wolf jump, clean. Bhs bhs double pike, little step forward. Very solid.

    Lincoln, UB: Good low bar work – ooh, overdoes an Endo but figured it out somehow. Maloney is clean. Tkachev to pak, big leg sep. van Leeuwen is clean. Slings her dismount out quite far but sticks it! 13.45.

    River, UB: Hesitates on the Weiler to open but figures it out, low bar pirouette is better. Ricna is good. Pak clean. Maloney also fine, but nothing really connected so far. Sticks her dismount! 14.025, I’m surprised her D got that high, 6.1.

    Biles, BB: Switch leap mount, big break, arm swings, but stays on. Switch half to back pike, another bobble. She’s mad now. Triple wolf, little check at the end but holds onto it. Front aerial to split to straddle, excellent. Bhs loso loso, so quick, she’s mad now. Side aerial, clean. Full in, hop back. Yeah, she’s upset with that. It’s not going to affect her ability to make the team at all, but she’s a recovering perfectionist. She knows she’s capable of better.

    STANDINGS AT HALFWAY

    1. Wong, 28.375
    2. Biles, 28.075
    3. Chiles, 27.975
    4. Lee, 27.925
    5. Lincoln, 27.675
    6. Rivera, 27.6
    7. Roberson, 27.225
    8. Carey, 27.15

    8:49pm: Rotation 3!

    Wong, BB: Switch leap mount, doesn’t connect it. Switch to switch half, wobble. Oof. Switch ring, another check. Bhs loso, now she’s getting her feet under her. Double wolf turn, stays steady. Front aerial to split to straddle, corrects midair, shows no sign of struggle. Side somi, clean. 2.5 twist dismount with just a little hop – she’s so thrilled.

    Chiles, FX: Crowd going wild for her – they know the treat they’re in for. FTDLO to open, really well controlled, just a small hop. Front full through to full in, great power, takes it right to the corner. Double wolf, a little wild but tries to cover it. Dance series looked clean. DLO, little bit of an ankle cruncher but kept it in bounds. Finessed it for sure, but well done.

    Rivera, BB: Double wolf, pretty steady. Side aerial, foot comes up with a check, but stays on. Bhs loso, much more solid. Switch to switch half, definitely short of 180, to bhs swingdown. Front aerial to split to straddle, a little hesitation out of the aerial but covers well. Switch ring, great position. Bhs bhs double pike dismount, stumbles back a little, she’s too deep, but does stay on her feet. Good fight.

    9:02pm: Roberson, FX: Moors to open! It looks shockingly good! She did not look like she’d be able to pull that off even at Championships a few weeks ago. FTDLO for her second pass, also landed well. Dance elements a little questionable on rotation but splits are good. DLO is great. Triple wolf turn is very steady. Front through to double tuck – probably a good idea considering her stamina struggles at Classic and Champs. Well done! That’s huge for her stock.

    Sumanasekera, FX: FTDLO, suuuper straight body position, wow! DLO also rod straight, incredible. Gorgeous splits on her dance series, very precise. Double wolf turn, super clean. Whip half through to front full, very clean. Double pike, a little shift back. Incredible! She’s making her case for sure.

    9:13pm: Lee, BB: Loso mount, steadier than most have been. Front aerial split bhs, good connections. Triple wolf, sooooo steady. Wow. Switch to switch half to ring jump, good positions in the air, good finish. Side aerial loso, OH GOD – big leg up, break at the hips wobble but stays on! Switch ring, another check. Gainer full off the end – little hop.

    Caylor, FX: We’re finally getting a Caylor routine!! Yes! One of my faves – I’m not-so-secretly hoping she comes to UF. DLO, floated it in the air too much and had to crunch it forward. Double pike, that’s better. Double wolf, a little wild. Switch ring, a little shy. Back 1.5 to front full, goes OOB, ouch. Double tuck, OOB again – that’s tough, but still, glad she’s here.

    Biles, FX: Here we go! Triple double to open, just a tiny bounce in place? Holy cow, she’s unreal. Front full through to double double, also a small hop. Really controlling her landings tonight. A little flub on her dance series but covers well I think. Wolf turn is clean. Biles I – DLO with a half out – one foot OOB, she can take it. DLO to close – there’s nothing like watching her end with a pass that most gymnasts start with. I’ll never get over it. She’s much happier with that than she was with beam.

    9:24pm: Carey, FX: Moors to open, looking good! Some knees still but very clearly laid out. FTDLO, even straighter, good. Being very careful with her dance elements – wanting to make sure she gets the right credit, I would imagine. Looked pretty precise to me. Double double, looked like a step OOB. Front through to double tuck, a little deep in the landing, but overall a great routine.

    STANDINGS

    1. Biles, 42.925
    2. Lee, 42.325
    3. Chiles, 42.075
    4. Wong, 41.6
    5. Rivera, 41.3
    6. Carey, 41.225
    7. Roberson, 41.15
    8. Sumanasekera, 40.55

    9:35pm: Rotation 4!

    Rivera, FX: FTDLO, both feet OOB, oof. DLO, very clean. Switch ring, gorgeous, looked like she tripped on her second element but covered into choreo? Hard to tell. Double tuck, a little short maybe? 2.5 to finish, stays in bounds. Looked pretty good overall.

    Roberson, VT: Cheng, big stutter step back. Lots of knees in the air, a little low on the block it looked like. Looks like she’ll do a second vault. Not that we’re seeing it.

    Lee, FX: FTDLO, stuck cold??? Sunisa Lee! Switch ring to split full, gorgeous. 1.5 to front full, not super difficult but very clean. Great musicality through here. Triple wolf turn, lovely. Double tuck to finish, opened a little early and bounced back. She had a FABULOUS night, holy cow!

    9:45pm: Sumanasekera, VT: DTY, stutter step back. Pretty clean in the air too.

    Biles, VT: Yurchenko double pike, just a single step back, brings her second foot back as well. Absolutely ridiculous, and the crowd knows it – they are on their feet for her! We are so lucky to live in the time of Simone Biles!!

    Cheng for her second vault, twists SO fast, just a slightly larger hop back. She is just the GOAT, no holds barred.

    Lee finishes the night as now the only healthy non-Biles athlete with over a 56 AA score this summer! And Biles finishes with a 58.9 – WILD that that is her lowest single-day AA score this summer.

    Carey, VT: Cheng for her first vault, well done – just a small hop in place and some leg sep in the preflight. Knees didn’t look bad at all.

    Wong, FX: Let’s see how the CEO ends her night! Gorgeous straddle full to open. Double double for her first pass, tried to save it but stumbled OOB. DLO, much cleaner, just a small shift back. Dance series is gorgeous as usual. Whip half to front full, the easier pass but I agree with that choice. Double pike to close – good for her going with the pass she knew she could hit.

    Chiles, VT: DTY – great form and power, just a little hop back.

    And they decided to show us athletes talking instead of Chiles’s second vault for whatever reason… anyway!

    STANDINGS AFTER NIGHT ONE:

    1. Biles, 58.9
    2. Chiles, 56.4
    3. Lee, 56.025
    4. Carey, 55.825
    5. Roberson, 55.475
    6. Lincoln, 54.875
    7. Rivera, 54.825
    8. Wong, 54.75

    With DiCello out and Jones highly questionable, this team picture just got VERY fuzzy very quickly. It could be a repeat of the Tokyo team – Biles, Chiles, Lee, and Carey – with one additional athlete. But then the question is… who?

    We’ll be back here for Day 2 at 8 ET to see if Wong can rep the Gators and make her first Olympic team – you won’t want to miss it!

  • Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel Sign NBA Contracts

    Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel Sign NBA Contracts

    Photo by Eakin Howard | Getty Images

    A pair of former Florida Gators have signed free agent contracts despite going undrafted in this week’s NBA Draft. Point guard Zyon Pullin joins the Miami Heat roster on a two-way deal while big man Tyrese Samuel signed an exhibit-10 deal with the Phoenix Suns.

    Pullin joined the Gators out of the transfer portal following four years at UC-Riverside. In his first year in the SEC, he averaged 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Additionally, the 6’4 guard shot 44% from the floor and 45% from behind the three-point line.

    A two-way deal gives Pullin the opportunity to learn and develop with the Miami Heat. The designation only allows him to suit up in a maximum of fifty games on the teams active roster. He will likely see significant time with the teams G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls SkyForce.

    Likewise, Samuel transferred into Florida following four years at Seton Hall. In 2023-24, the 6’10 forward averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He shot 56% from the field over the thirty-six games he donned the orange and blue.

    An exhibit-10 deal in the NBA is non-guaranteed training camp invitation but has an option for the team to convert it into a two-way deal. Teams are limited to six exhibit-10 contracts. These players will likely see a lot of action in the NBA G-League as they continue to develop.

    Both players are likely to get their first taste of professional basketball in the upcoming summer league. Stay posted with ChompTalk for the latest updates on both of these players and much more.

  • Jac Caglianone Pens Farewell to Gator Nation

    Jac Caglianone Pens Farewell to Gator Nation

    Photo by Hailey Moore | ChompTalk

    Following an improbable run to the national semifinals at the College World Series, Florida Gators superstar Jac Caglianone has said goodbye to both college baseball and the Gator Nation.

    Caglianone, who set the program’s all-time home run record, penned his farewell via Instagram Friday night. In 159 career games, thr Tampa native crushed 75 home runs, breaking Matt LaPorta’s record.

    The talented Caglianone was named the John Olerud Award winner as the nation’s best two-way player earlier in the day Friday.

    As a freshman, Caglianone only played in 28 games due to a torn ACL as a senior in high school. He was actually expected to redshirt, but after a conversation with head coach Kevin O’Sullivan and a sputtering offense, Caglianone did what was best for his team.

    In 2023, Caglianone crushed a BBCOR-era record 33 home runs while also pitching Sundays for the Gators. He pitched to a 7-4 record and a 4.34 ERA.

    His 35 homers this season place just behind Georgia’s Charlie Condon. More impressive though, Caglianone hit at a .411 average and only stuck out eight percent of the time.

    Caglianone thanked the game of college baseball, Gator Nation, and his coaches and teammates in his post.

    Next up for Caglianone: the 2024 MLB Draft. Caglianone is projected as a top-five pick, per most prognosticators.

  • Gators silenced by Texas A&M, eliminated from College World Series

    Gators silenced by Texas A&M, eliminated from College World Series

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    After toppling the Kentucky Wildcats, 15-4, earlier in the day, the Florida Gators baseball are now eliminated from the College World Series after being shutout by the Texas A&M Aggies, 6-0.

    Florida had a tremendous day swinging at home plate against Kentucky, but their bats went cold Wednesday night. There we plenty of opportunities for the Gators to score, but instead they went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

    The Gators started the game on defense with right handed pitcher Liam Peterson on the rubber. The freshmen got off to a rocky start by walking the first four batters and giving the Aggies an early 1-0 lead. Soon after, Peterson’s replacement, Fisher Jameson would give up a sacrifice fly, adding on to the pressure and making it a 2-0 Texas A&M lead.

    The Aggies’ fanbase started a collective taunt toward Peterson and before things got out of control, Florida manager Kevin O’Sullivan went to his bullpen in an attempt to settle things down. O’Sullivan called in right hander Jameson who would go on to pitch through 4.2 innings and tally five strikeouts.

    Texas A&M would take advantage of another pitching change in the fifth inning, when leadoff hitter Gavin Grahovac launched a pop fly to center field, taking a friendly bounce into the crowd for a ground rule double and advancing base runner Jace Laviolette across home plate, making it a 3-0 ballgame.

    Florida redshirt freshman Jake Clemente was on the mound during the sequence and had his day cut short during the same inning he started.

    The Aggies would place two more daggers in the heart of the Orange and Blue during the sixth inning when left fielder Caden Sorrell launched a two-run home run to push the score to 5-0. Texas A&M second baseman Kaeden Kent would add an additional RBI with a single to shallow right field.

    The Florida Gators baseball season is now over and the squad will fly back home to Gainesville following the shutout loss. Florida finishes the season with a 36-30 overall record.

  • Gators destroy Kentucky, 15-4, in College World Series elimination game

    Gators destroy Kentucky, 15-4, in College World Series elimination game

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    The first pitch between the Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats was delayed on Tuesday night after rainstorms gloomed over Omaha, Nebraska. The ballgame was pushed back to 11 a.m. EST and while the Wildcats faltered, the Gators were locked in at home plate to put a beatdown on its SEC rival.

    The Gators thrived in its second elimination game in Omaha, knocking out Kentucky, 15-4, and advancing in the College World Series. The Wildcats entered the double elimination tournament as the No. 2 seed and will now return to Lexington after being eliminated.

    Florida batters literally came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning to open the flood gates and jump to an early 7-1 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

    UF shortstop Colby Shelton started the scoring frenzy with an RBI double, hitting the ball to right field and advancing junior Jac Caglianone to tally his first run of the game. Soon after, catcher Luke Heyman dinked a single to left field which was enough to buy time for both baserunners, Cade Kurland and Colby Shelton, to make their way home and add two additional runs to the scoreboard.

    Designated hitter Brody Donay started off his incredible day at the plate in the bottom of the first with a grand slam to right field, scoring Heyman, right fielder Ashton Wilson and third baseman Dale Thomas.

    Donay eventually continued the impressive showing with a solo shot to left field to propel the Gators to a 10-4 lead.

    Home run leader Caglianone set a new Florida record in the sixth inning, breaking the all-time school record for career home runs with 75 under his belt. The record was previously held by former Gators slugger Matt LaPorta. It was Caglianone’s 35th home run of the season.

    Earning his first win of the season on the mound was Pierce Coppola, who pitched through five innings and struck out nine batters while only giving up four runs. Relievers Jake Clemente and Alex Philpott strung together seven total strikeouts through the final four innings and didn’t allow a single run.

    The Florida Gators aren’t done playing and have to face off against the No. 2 seed Texas A&M Aggies at 7 p.m. EST on Wednesday, essentially participating in a double header. It will be the second time UF has competed against the Aggies in the tournament. The game will broadcast on ESPN.

  • Gators’ CWS Matchup vs Kentucky Postponed

    Gators’ CWS Matchup vs Kentucky Postponed

    Photo by Hailey Moore | ChompTalk

    Florida baseball will have to wait one more day for an opportunity to advance to the national semifinals.

    Due to the weather forecast in Omaha Tuesday evening, Florida’s loser’s bracket matchup against Kentucky has been postponed to Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM, ET.

    The Gators and Wildcats were supposed to get underway at 7:00 PM Tuesday, but the forecast is highly unfavorable for the entire night in the Nebraska city.

    Florida will be sending Pierce Coppola to the mound and the day off likely gives necessary rest to the bullpen arms that have played a large role in the Gators advancing this far.

    The winner of the Florida – Kentucky game will have a quick turnaround as they are slated to face Texas A&M in the 7:00 PM game, as well.

    For those attending the game, gates at Charles Schwab Field will open at 8:00 AM (CT).