Gators gymnastics may have traveled away from Gainesville for the week, but it was all Florida in the Lone Star State on Friday night.
The No. 4 Gators dominated across the board in their first quad-meet action this season. They spent the last six weeks competing head-to-head against Southeastern Conference foes, but made the most of the uncharted territory.
The meet brought Florida, Texas Women’s University, Arizona State and Fisk together. The Gators last won the TWU quad to close out the 2023 regular season.
Florida came out on top at 197.700, followed by the Sun Devils at 195.475. The Gators’ 2.225 margin of victory is their largest since their 197.725-193.450 win against West Virginia.
Head coach Jenny Rowland’s crew came out the gate firing, immediately making an impact in the non-conference matchup.
Florida was the only program to nab at least one score of 9.900 or greater across the first rotation. Skye Blakely led the charge, earning a 9.975 on the uneven bars. While impressive, the total came just short of her best performance of the night.
Blakely recorded a perfect score on the beam, snagging Florida’s first 10.000 of the season. Her second-rotation performance was a large part of the Gators’ near-flawless showing.
The Gators made history during their beam rotation, posting the highest score of any program across any event this season with a 49.800. Oklahoma’s 49.700 in the same event is the next closest feat.
Florida saw all of its qualifiers post scores of at least 9.875 on beam. Senior Selena Harris-Miranda notched a 9.975 routine, while juniors Skylar Draser and Kayla DiCello each earned 9.950.
Blakely, a 5-foot-4 sophomore, was familiar with Florida’s home for the night. She is from Kingwood, Texas, just 37 miles removed from Friday’s action in Denton. The Gators’ win was their third trip to the city, with the first in Rowland’s debut with the club in 2016.
Florida was fresh off a much-needed conference victory on Feb. 20 in Athens.
The Gators’ 197.575-197.325 win handed Georgia its first home loss of the season. Blakely made headlines in the victory as she picked up her collegiate all-around debut. She came in second at 39.225.
Florida swept all but one rotation on Friday, topping the Sun Devils in beam, bars and floor. The night gave Arizona State its second-consecutive quad meet. It dropped to TWU and Oregon State in its latest action.
The Gators saw 12 total 9.900-plus finishes, including two from eMjae Frazier. The senior added a 9.925 and 9.900 on bars and floor, respectively. Frazier, a New Jersey native, also picked up a modest 9.875 on beam, which didn’t stand as tall as the rest of the event showings.
While it was Florida’s first non-conference competition in seven weeks, the Gators remained confident in their routines. The group posted one of its most consistent outings of the season, even if it was against a weaker front.
The Fisk Bulldogs will take the floor for the last time on March 14, as the university announced in 2025 that this season will conclude any gymnastics activities. The Gators had faced the Bulldogs once prior to Friday’s win, coming on Jan. 12, 2024. Florida topped the program by 7.150 in the home meet.
The Gators will return to Gainesville and take on No. 2 Louisiana State University on March 8. Coverage will begin at 5:45 p.m. from the Stephen C. O’Connell Center as Florida will be at home for the final time this season.
Contact Riley Orovitz at rorovitz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @rileyorovitz.
Riley is a sophomore sports journalism student in her second semester at The Alligator. She is the beat reporter for Gators Gymnastics and Swim & Dive while also contributing to the Gators Football Beat. She previously served in the same role in her first semester with the newspaper. Riley is an avid South Florida sports fan and enjoys playing/following all sports in her free time.
