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Florida gymnastics schedule, top meets: What to know before the season begins

noah ram, gainesville sun
·3 min read

The mats have been laid out, the bars lifted up, and the leotards donned.

What does this mean?

That Gainesville’s greatest spectacle is just mere weeks away from returning.

The Florida gymnastics season kicks off next Friday with a quad meet vs Fisk University, George Washington University and Talladega College.

Here is what you need to know about the Gators season:

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What is Florida gymnastics schedule?

University of Florida gymnast Leanne Wong performs on the beam during a meet against the Oklahoma at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Feb. 25, 2022. The No.3 Florida Gators beat the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners.
University of Florida gymnast Leanne Wong performs on the beam during a meet against the Oklahoma at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Feb. 25, 2022. The No.3 Florida Gators beat the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners.

January 12: Home vs Fisk, George Washington and Talladega College; 6:45 p.m.; SEC Network +

January 19: Away at Auburn; 6 p.m.; SEC Network

January 26: Home vs Alabama; 6:45 p.m., ESPN2

February 2: Away at Georgia; 7 p.m.; SEC Network

February 9: Home vs Arkansas; 7:15 p.m.; SEC Network

February 16: Away (St Charles, Missouri) at Mizzou, Illinois and Lindenwood; 7 p.m.; SEC Network

February 23: Home vs LSU; 6:45 p.m.; ESPN2

March 3 (Sunday): Away at Kentucky; 2 p.m.; ESPN2

March 9 (Saturday): Away at Nebraska, Eastern Michigan, Lindenwood; 7 p.m.

March 15: Home vs Iowa State, NC State, Long Island University; 6:45 p.m.; SEC Network

A look back at Gators gymnastics last season

University of Florida gymnast Payton Richards performs her floor routine during a meet against the Oklahoma at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Feb. 25, 2022. The No.3 Florida Gators beat the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners.
University of Florida gymnast Payton Richards performs her floor routine during a meet against the Oklahoma at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Feb. 25, 2022. The No.3 Florida Gators beat the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners.

Under coach Jenny Rowland, the Gators continued their excellent run of success in 2023.

Florida endured a grueling regular season schedule and lost just twice in the regular season. Both occurred on the road, first to LSU (198.10-197.975) on February 17 and second to top-ranked Oklahoma (197-70-197.95) on March 3.

As the postseason rolled on, UF gained revenge on LSU in the SEC Championships (which Florida won) and the NCAA Championships.

However, the Gators failed to overcome the Sooners and finished second in the penultimate meet.

On April 15 in Fort Worth, Texas, Oklahoma won its sixth national title, and Florida finished runner up for the second year in a row.

UF gymnastics roster changes

University of Florida gymnast Trinity Thomas celebrates her vault during the opening meet of the year at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville Jan 7, 2022. The Gators won the quad meet over Rutgers, Northern Illinois and Texas Woman's University with a score of 197.675.
University of Florida gymnast Trinity Thomas celebrates her vault during the opening meet of the year at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville Jan 7, 2022. The Gators won the quad meet over Rutgers, Northern Illinois and Texas Woman's University with a score of 197.675.

Trinity Thomas’ departure creates the largest void. Thomas will remain with the team this season as a student coach while pursuing a second master’s degree.

Her playing career ended last season after five exemplary years that saw her win the Honda Award (given to the best female collegiate athlete in their sport) twice, win the 2022 NCAA all-around title and claim SEC Gymnast of the Year three times.

Four other graduate students are gone from last year’s squad – Halley Taylor, Rachel Baumann, Leah Clapper and Savannah Schoenherr.

Baumann regularly competed in the floor exercises. Taylor and Clapper only appeared in two meets, and Schoenherr, unfortunately, spend last season injured.

Kayla DiCello, one of the squad's top gymnasts last season, won't be competing for the team this season as she attempts to qualify for the Olympics this summer in Paris.

Besides Thomas, much of the top gymnasts returned. This includes Leanne Wong, Sloane Blakely and Payton Richards.

University of Florida gymnast Sloane Blakely performs her floor routine during a meet against the Oklahoma at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Feb. 25, 2022. The No.3 Florida Gators beat the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners.
University of Florida gymnast Sloane Blakely performs her floor routine during a meet against the Oklahoma at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Feb. 25, 2022. The No.3 Florida Gators beat the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners.

The Gators will also be joined by six new freshman – Alyssa Arana, Kaylee Bluffstone, Gabby Disidore, Skylar Draser, Danie Ferris and Anya Pilgrim.

Each of the six enters with impressive credentials and expect to get ample playing time on a Gators squad where seven of 17 are underclassman.

Florida gymnastics to host LSU and Livvy Dunne

The one to circle immediately is LSU. That matchup generally attracts the most attention, whether in Baton Rouge or Gainesville, and this year is no different.

This is especially true after last season’s battles.

Other top meets include the trips to Kentucky and Auburn, and the home meets vs Alabama and Arkansas.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators gymnastics season begins next Friday, January 12