Gators prepared for another top-15 meet
This is their first home meet of the 2021 campaign January 14, 2021 | 7:04pm EST
Florida earned the title Best College Athletics in America for 2021 from Niche college rankings following a short, but successful 2019-2020 athletic year. Photo by Emily Felts | The Independent Florida Alligator
Florida is only heading into its second meet of the season, but one theme is abundantly clear.
Every accomplishment the 2021 team achieves is in the name of the 2020 Gators gymnastics senior class.
Former Gators Sierra Alexander, Maegan Chant, Rachel Gowey and Amelia Hundley were supposed to be honored March 13 at a meet against Texas Woman s University. But the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the NCAA was
Denied last year’s title chase, Florida gymnastics enters 2021 with championship dreams
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One long national nightmare is over, anyway.
This Friday, the Florida Gators team is in Auburn, set to open a season that, thanks to COVID-19, is abbreviated, with teams only competing within the SEC to reduce travel. One thing will be familiar, at least in a sense: For the first time during Jenny Rowland’s tenure as head coach, the Gators start the season ranked No. 1, just edging out the Oklahoma Sooners, where they perched to finish last year’s COVID-shortened season.
The rest is going to be strange. Each of the SEC’s squads will compete in eight dual meets over 10 weeks, with two bye weeks with not all of the SEC fielding gymnastics programs, this means some teams will double up, and Florida will compete against Auburn twice, once away and once at home. This is in contrast to a normal regular season, which would see the Gators compete in around 12 meets and likel
Gators to clash against No. 14 Tigers
Florida is looking to push its winning streak to 11 January 8, 2021 | 1:00pm EST
The team is led by junior standout Trinity Thomas, pictured above. She was a finalist for the Honda Award, which is given to the best collegiate gymnast in the country. Photo by Emily Felts | The Independent Florida Alligator
Undefeated and ready to compete for a third National Championship, Florida was heading into its last regular season meet and the SEC Tournament.
Then, March 17 swept in like a typical Florida summer thunderstorm.
The team went from 14 hours of tutoring and training for the SEC and the NCAA Championship to nothing, former senior Amelia Hundley said.
Florida gymnastics tabbed No. 1 in preseason poll for third time
The Gators narrowly grabbed the No. 1 ranking during a tiebreaker with Oklahoma December 18, 2020 | 4:49pm EST
Florida earned the title Best College Athletics in America for 2021 from Niche college rankings following a short, but successful 2019-2020 athletic year. Photo by Emily Felts | The Independent Florida Alligator
The Gators received a Christmas present eight days early.
The team received its third ever No. 1 ranking in the Women’s College Gymnastics Association preseason poll. The previous two times Florida landed that coveted spot, it was a good omen for the season ahead. The 2014 and 2015 teams, which were also ranked No. 1, finished as National Champion