The Florida gymnastics team faced two Tigers to start the season and felled them both. It’ll be facing off against yet another feline opponent in its return to the O’Connell Center.
The Gators will take on the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats (3-2, 1-0 SEC), who just knocked off the Arkansas Razorbacks in their last meet, tonight at the O'Connell Center. While Kentucky isn’t ranked as high as LSU, the team still has some formidable presence to bring to the competition that UF will certainly be looking out for.
Anarchy from UK
There was quite a bit to like from the Wildcats in their victory over Arkansas, and there were some aspects of the meet they’d like to take back.
A gymnast the Gators (2-0, 2-0 SEC) will keep a close eye on is Kentucky’s Mollie Korth. The two-time All-American and All-SEC representative did well in most of her all-around events with a 9.900 on the vault and floor.
That being said, there were a few rough areas for the Wildcats. The team’s beam score was a very low 47.775, Kentucky’s lowest score on the beam in four years. The abysmal rotation included a 9.600 from Korth and a staggeringly poor 9.125 from senior Alex Hyland.
The Wildcats will need to shape up their beam score if they have any hopes of beating the Gators, and Kentucky coach Tim Garrison acknowledged that UF will be one of Kentucky’s bigger challenges.
“Our opening SEC road slate at Florida will certainly be a challenge,” Garrison said in a release. “They are a very talented — and judging from their first two meets, a very confident — team.”
Hungry, Hungry Gators
There was plenty of reason to celebrate after the Gators ended LSU’s 35 consecutive home-meet winning streak, but coach Jenny Rowland made it clear that the team didn’t stay stuck in the past.
“We celebrated, it was a wonderful day,” Rowland said. “Now it’s time to get our heads back looking forward.”
Florida will carry the momentum from that win into its return to the O’Connell Center against an opponent that made the NCAA Championships for the first time last year.
With sophomore Alyssa Baumann firmly back in the lineup and freshman Trinity Thomas continuing to impress in her role as an all-arounder, things are looking up for Florida to continue its hot streak when the Wildcats roll into town.
Junior Rachel Gowey also joined Thomas and senior Alicia Boren in winning a weekly award, being named SEC Specialist of the Week for her efforts on the beam against LSU.
With the momentum from a huge win behind them and consistent success in their first two meets, the Gators will be far from reserved when they return to Gainesville.
“This team is fired up,” Rowland said. “They’re hungry. They’ve got this grit, this desire that’s definitely been elevated.”
Follow River Wells on Twitter at @riverhwells and contact him at rwells@alligator.org.
UF gymnast Rachel Gowey scored a meet-high 9.925 on the beam against LSU.
