After taking back-to-back losses for the first time in two decades, the No. 4 Gators got back to their winning ways in Athens.
Florida posted nine scores of at least 9.900 on its way to a 197.575-197.325 victory. Among the group were two veterans who each thrived in their three respective events.
Selena Harris-Miranda, a household name in NCAA gymnastics, closed out the meet by tallying a 9.950 in her floor exercise. Harris-Miranda also nearly eclipsed her collegiate best on the mat, just 0.025 short of the mark.
Alongside the 2025 Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year was Kayla DiCello. The pair each added a score of 9.950 across the meet, but it was history for the latter.
DiCello entered the first rotation behind Gators senior eMjae Fraizer and junior Anya Pilgrim. The two picked up modest scores of 9.900 and 9.850, respectively, to open the meet.
But then came DiCello.
The five-time All-American from Maryland had set a UF record of a perfect 10.000 on bars amidst her freshman campaign, and made history once more at the Stegeman Coliseum.
DiCello had yet to truly find her groove in the event until Friday night’s SEC showdown. The junior notched a score of 9.950, marking her season-best in the event. The total also topped that of any gymnast competing on the bars, aiding in Florida’s 0.050-lead heading into the second rotation.
What was deemed as a top storyline of the night proved to be incredibly instrumental in the Gators’ first win in February.
Sophomore Skye Blakely made her collegiate all-around debut against Georgia and met expectations.
The five-time U.S. Senior National Team member scored lowest on the bars, but found her footing in the events down the line.
Blakely also made her debut on the vault, scoring a modest 9.875. The score pushed the Gators to match the Bulldogs halfway through the competition.
Florida nearly posted a 9.850-sweep on its floor routines, until eMjae Frazier took the event crown (9.900).
Blakely, a Frisco, Texas, native was also awarded a 9.900 in Florida’s final event of the night, just shy of matching the team-leading score from Harris-Miranda.
Florida head coach Jenny Rowland welcomed Blakely to compete all-around, just two years removed from her silver medal-winning performance at the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Blakely followed three-time Olympian Simone Biles on the podium.
Blakely and the rest of the Gators squad did just enough to top UGA. Florida was ahead by 0.275 heading into the final rotation, which would present top talent.
The Gators ranked No. 2 in the country on the beam, while the Bulldogs also stack up to second nationally on the floor.
The Gators extended their streak of domination over the Bulldogs, marking their 11th consecutive victory against the conference rival. Friday was also the fifth-straight win in Athens for Florida.
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.
