Sports | Gymnastics - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Rachel Slocum tied for a first-place finish in vault during the NCAA Regionals on April 7. She and two other seniors competed in their last meet during the Super Six on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF moving on from third-place finish at Super Six

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 22, 2018

As it marched out to The Chainsmokers’ “Something Just Like This,” the Florida gymnastics team danced, Gator Chomped and smiled, hyping up the crowd at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday night with its infectious energy. Even UCLA’s fans participated in the fun, doing the Gator Chomp back to UF as it lined up single file on stage to collect its third-place trophy at the NCAA Super Six team final. There were no signs that the team had just lost a national title to UCLA by .225 of a point.

Senior Alex McMurtry scored a season-high 9.975 in uneven bars in Florida's third-place finish at the Super Six on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida finishes third at Super Six, UCLA wins national title

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 21, 2018

For the second night in a row, the Gators gymnastics team held the same narrative. Similar to its performance at the NCAA Championships on Friday, it all came down to the floor routine if Florida wanted to stay afloat in the Super Six team finals on Saturday night in St. Louis, Missouri.

Florida's gymnastics team finished second at the NCAA Championships on Friday night in St. Louis, securing a spot in Saturday's Super Six team final.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators take second at NCAA Championships, advance to Super Six

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 20, 2018

In her final pass on floor, freshman Alyssa Baumann carried a heavy burden.

Junior Alicia Boren and the Florida gymnastics team are in St. Louis to compete in the NCAA Championships tonight at 7. Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, California and Kentucky are the other teams competing in UF's group.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators' national title hopes on the line tonight in St. Louis

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 19, 2018

Alicia Boren isn’t one to make predictions.

Senior Alex McMurtry's fall during her floor routine at the SEC Championships resulted in her season-low score in the event.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators prepare for a return to the podium at NCAA Championships

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 12, 2018

The SEC Championships on March 24 marked two changes for the Gators gymnastics team.

Senior Rachel Slocum took home an individual title on vault in Florida's first-place finish at the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Slocum and McMurtry shine as Gators win NCAA Regionals

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 9, 2018

Right before senior Rachel Slocum stepped up to the mat for her floor routine during the NCAA Regionals on Saturday, teammate Alex McMurtry ran up to her, grabbed her hands and touched her forehead to Slocum’s. Although it only lasted three seconds, the private moment had a clear effect on Slocum, who went on to claim her first floor title as a Gator.

Senior Alex McMurtry took the individual title in the All Around (39.725) in Florida's win at the NCAA Regional Championship in University Park, Pennsylvania.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida finishes first at NCAA Regionals, qualifies for NCAA Championships

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 7, 2018

The moment before senior Alex McMurtry landed her final pass on floor, Rec Hall was quiet.

NACGC second-team All-American Rachel Gowey said practices leading up to the NCAA Regional Championships have been intense. “Putting the pressure on it helped us," she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators set to compete at NCAA Regionals

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 7, 2018

When the No. 5 Gators enter Penn State's Rec Hall in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, they will be looking to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 36th time in 37 years.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators gymnastics practices through Easter to prepare for NCAA Regionals

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 5, 2018

The atmosphere in Florida’s practice gym on Wednesday was as normal as any other day this spring.

Florida's gymnastics team is heading to Pennsylvania for the regional round of the NCAA Championships.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators to travel to Pennsylvania for NCAA Regional Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 26, 2018

After finishing in third place at the SEC Championships on Saturday, the No. 5 Gators gymnastics team is hoping to redeem itself at the NCAA Regional Championships on April 7. The field for the event was announced on Monday afternoon by the NCAA.

Florida senior Alex McMurtry stumbled and fell during her floor routine at the SEC Championships. The Gators eventually finished third in the meet behind LSU and Alabama.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF falls short on floor, finishes third at SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 26, 2018

Alex McMurtry didn’t show any signs of anxiety as she took a quick breather and rolled her shoulders back for the final pass of her floor routine.

Freshman Alyssa Baumann posted the high score in beam for the second time in her career with a 9.90.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators gymnastics team finishes third at SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 24, 2018

Alyssa Baumann finished her beam routine amongst chants for a 10 from her teammates.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida to begin postseason at SECs Saturday

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 22, 2018

Amelia Hundley is excited for a fresh start heading into postseason action. After competing in 10 regular season meets over the past three months, the sophomore isn’t anxious heading into the SEC Championships on Saturday. She’s ready.

Junior Rachel Slocum said she is excited for the upcoming SEC Championships. “I'm just trying to leave it all out on the floor,” she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators focusing on “the little things” in week off before SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 15, 2018

The Gators gymnastics team is spending its week off between the regular season and SEC Championships in its usual spot — the practice gym.

Senior Alex McMurtry tied a school record with a 39.825 in all-around against Nebraska on Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida ends regular season on McMurtry’s record night

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 11, 2018

The Florida gymnasts were silent as they took their seats in front of the post-meet press conference Friday night. It wasn’t the attitude of a team that had just ended its last home competition with its second-highest meet total of the season. A somber mood settled over the room like a wet blanket.

Senior Alex McMurtry tied the all-time UF record with her All-Around score Friday night against Nebraska.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators win over Nebraska as McMurtry takes all five event titles

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 9, 2018

Alex McMurtry thrust out a perfectly pointed left foot and pushed both arms forward in a mock sprint. Sweeping her hands back, she wasted no time in her last time competing in the O'Connell Center. She raced forward to perform her final vault routine at home this season and in her collegiate career.

Senior Alex McMurtry won the individual title in beam (9.950), bars (9.950) and vault (9.925) Friday night against Missouri.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida falls to Missouri in first meet without injured All-American Kennedy Baker

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 2, 2018

Florida coach Jenny Rowland didn’t smile at the beginning of the Gators beam rotation Friday night. Her face held the same stern acceptance it had a week ago when senior Kennedy Baker tore her Achilles tendon against Arkansas, ending her collegiate career and leaving UF with one less All-American.

Senior Kennedy Baker tore her Achilles tendon last week in a meet against Arkansas.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators focus on depth following Kennedy Baker’s career-ending injury

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 1, 2018

There was one less smile at the Gators gymnastics practice gym Wednesday.

Senior Kennedy Baker tore her Achilles tendon in the final performance of Friday's meet with Arkansas.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Kennedy Baker injured in UF gymnastics win over Arkansas at Link to Pink event

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 23, 2018

The air in the O’Connell Center was stale with the shock of a crowd of 8,321. No one spoke as all eyes in the arena focused on senior Kennedy Baker, who sat clutching her foot following a fall during her floor routine.

Junior Alicia Boren tied her career-best score on vault with a 9.95 in Florida's win over Georgia.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida facing Arkansas on Friday in 12th annual Link to Pink

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 22, 2018

The Florida gymnastics team is finding its groove, having won its previous five meets by an average of 0.480 points.