Even after a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Gymnastics final, Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland deemed the season a success.
Rowland, fresh off of her sixth season with the Gators, has finally had time to decompress after an eventful 2021 season. After contemplation, she considers this season to be more successful than anything prior.
Her greatest season (so far)
“Probably the greatest success in my lifetime, in my career coaching,” said Rowland on Wednesday. “Just such a monumental year, and a year I’d say filled with memories.”
Even though there were low points, Rowland emphasized there were so many more highs than ever. Her pride in her team shined through her praise, and she knows her Gators are able to walk away from the season proud of what they accomplished.
ATHENS, Ga. – It doesn’t matter where you start as long as you finish strong.
That was at the top of the roller-coaster of emotions for the Gators in NCAA Gymnastics Regional Final action held Saturday evening in the Stegeman Coliseum. The Gators moved from last to first to claim the program’s 37th’ NCAA Championships berth.
Florida (197.70) and Minnesota (197.425) advance to the NCAA Championship, set for April 16-17 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Denver (197.275) and North Carolina State (196.15) rounded out Saturday’s results.
Tonight’s Meet:
All of yesterday’s winning teams in the evening session at each of the nation’s four regionals started final competition on vault.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Top-ranked Gator gymnastics wasn’t in the mood to share.
Even with Florida junior standout Trinity Thomas sidelined due to an injury in warm-ups, the No. 1 Gator gymnastics team put together a winning performance Friday at No. 6 Alabama. Florida took the win 197.425 – 197.225 in front of a physically distanced Coleman Coliseum crowd of 2,055.
With the win, Florida claims sole possession of the 2021 Southeastern Conference regular-season title. Heading into tonight’s SEC finale, Alabama needed a win to share the title with Florida.
Coleman Coliseum is not a site of many Gator victories. Florida is now 3-16 in dual meet action at Alabama, with those wins coming in 1979, 2019 and now 2021.
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Special report on the Florida Gators gymnastics:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The top-ranked Gators stepped up to the challenge for missing teammates, winning tonight’s dual meet 197.50 – 196.875 over No. 15 Kentucky Friday in front of physically-distanced sellout Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center crowd of 2,182.
COVID-19 protocols presented a challenge for Florida tonight. Gator gymnasts who performed eight routines in last Friday’s win at No. 2 LSU – Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Nya Reed, Savannah Schoenherr and Trinity Thomas – were sidelined tonight due to COVID 19 tests and contact tracing. That COVID 19 protocol circle also included Gator coach Jenny Rowland and Volunteer Coach Jeremy Miranda.