Gators head coach Jenny Rowland congratulates freshman Alicia Boren on Friday night after a routine. (Photo: Ron Irby)
A Home Opener To Smile About for Gators
Friday, January 15, 2016 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Once the chalk dust had settled and the O'Connell Center had emptied Friday night, Jenny Rowland took a moment to reflect.
Rowland was asked if someone in a few years asks her what she remembers most about Jan. 15, 2016 -- the date of her home debut as Florida's gymnastics coach -- what would it be?
Rowland smiled, and then spoke of the moment when freshman Alicia Boren allowed the edges of her mouth to turn north during her floor routine.
"The team recognized it,'' Rowland said. "She is such a fun and happy girl in the gym, and she is so serious in competition and has not learned yet -- and maybe she started to tonight -- to learn how to have fun on the competition floor. That was pretty memorable for me."
Rowland had many moments to pick from as the third-ranked Gators defeated No. 5 UCLA, 197.675-196.925, in their first home meet since claiming a third consecutive national championship last spring.
The Gators did not disappoint Rowland or the 6,511 fans who showed up at the O'Connell Center to see Rowland's inaugural Florida team unveiled.
Senior Bridget Sloan was spectacular as usual, winning the all-around title, highlighted by a 9.975 on the vault. Boren, the spunky 4-foot-11 freshman from New Jersey, made an immediate impression in her home debut, posting 9.900 scores on the vault, bars and floor to finish tied for second with teammate Kennedy Baker in the all-around competition.
Florida senior Bridget Sloan won the all-around competition Friday night. (Photo: Ron Irby)Baker had the best score (9.950) on floor and sophomore Alex McMurtry matched Sloan on beam with a 9.925. The Gators posted a higher score on each apparatus Friday than they did in the season-opening win at Texas Woman's University.
"Tonight was an absolutely incredible home opener for us," Sloan said. "Each meet is going to get a little better and better. That's how it's supposed to be."
In other words, how it's been the past three seasons for the Gators.
Rowland took over the program from Rhonda Faehn, who left for a top position at USA Gymnastics, shortly after the Gators three-peated nine months ago.
If Friday night is any indication, talk of a four-peat is certainly not out of bounds.
"It's just felt very comfortable,'' Rowland said of the transition.
The Gators cruised past a very good UCLA team that also has national championship aspirations.
They did so with a team performance reminiscent of the past three years when Sloan and All-American Kytra Hunter formed arguably the best 1-2 punch in the nation. Hunter graduated but Sloan is back and five freshmen have pumped new life into the program, led by Boren.
"Welcome to the Dynamic Duo team,'' Sloan quipped afterward. "Glad to have you."
So is Rowland, who spent the past five years as an assistant at Auburn before the opportunity of a lifetime came along.
Rowland said she would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous prior to Friday night's meet. However, once the festivities got underway and the Gators started to finish all those landings they worked on during the week, she began to relax and have fun.
As did Boren, who had her own case of the jitters. She didn't learn until Friday that Rowland planned to use her in the all-around competition in her O'Dome debut.
"It was amazing,'' Boren said. "They tried to prepare [the freshmen] for it, but they said it's not going to be anything like they said and that you can only feel it when you actually experience it.
"I feel like they have such an amazing past, that I didn't know how I was going to come into it, how I was going to change it. It's motivated me so much. They've won three [titles] but I haven't added to any of that. I want to add another one for them."
There wasn't much doubt which was the better team.
The Gators seized control in the first rotation with a score of 49.400 on vault; UCLA opened on bars with a 49.350. The Gators continued to stretch the lead thanks to a 49.525 performance on bars.
By the time Florida finished on floor, the bracelets they wore inscribed with the words "Designed To Go Far" rang loud and true.
They have a new coach, several new faces and new challenges. They also have the same old goals.
"As of right now we are exactly where we want to be,'' Sloan said. "We have this incredible team with incredible talent. It's something to be a part of that. The Gators will be ready for postseason."
They looked the part Friday. They danced, high-fived and smiled as wide as they could.
Rowland's tenure is off to a promising start.
"In my eyes I'm just looking to see the team building upon each meet,'' she said. "I think this was a great step for our team."
