The Gators won the NCAA Gainesville Regional two weeks ago to advance to the NCAA Championships. (Photo: Allison Curry/For UAA Communications)
The Story Continues in St. Louis as Gators vie for title
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
Florida's gymnastics team arrived on Wednesday with an opportunity to win a fourth national title in five years.
That was the case earlier today when the No. 3-ranked UF gymnastics team traveled here for the NCAA Championships, which start Friday afternoon.
As I studied the travel itinerary closely on my iPhone, the Gators' dress code for the trip caught my attention: Grey long sleeve top, pair of plain black tights, Columbia jacket, black postseason shoes.
I could pull off a grey shirt, a sports coat and black shoes, but no way was I fitting into a pair of my wife's or daughters' black tights. Plus, at twice the weight of some of Florida's most physically gifted student-athletes, just seemed like a bad idea to even try.
So, a pair of black dress slacks had to do as the Gators embarked on another trip to the NCAA Championships, the program's 35th appearance in the event's 36-year history. It's the second trip under head coach Jenny Rowland, who took over the program in 2016.
The Gators departed Gainesville excited about the possibilities and a bubbly outlook (which is normal for this group).
#Gators made the 889 mile trip from Gainesville ?? St. Louis today for #NCAAGym Championships.
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) April 12, 2017
Here's a look at their journey!#GoGators pic.twitter.com/Nr4sY4bC8P
"When this team is together, there's always lots of fun to be had,'' Rowland said. "It's always loose, it's always light, and that what makes it so enjoyable to travel with this team."
As soon as the Gators arrived in town, they headed for lunch at a high-rise downtown restaurant that offered a chance to see the city's most famous resident: The Gateway Arch. Then it was to their hotel and later, the NCAA Championship banquet.
The Gators practice on Thursday at Chaifetz Arena and then compete in Semifinal II on Friday night in a group that includes No. 2 LSU, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Georgia and No. 14 Nebraska. The top three advance to the Super Six along with the top three from Semifinal I on Friday afternoon.
"Ready to kill it Friday, just do what we've been training all year to do,'' Rowland said. "It's an honor, a privilege to get this far. This is an amazing team. We're designed to go far and looking forward to it because this story is about to continue."
"The story continues" has been an ongoing storyline for the Gators. They even distributed notebooks with the slogan on the cover at a home meet during the regular season.
This is the first Florida team in six years without either Kytra Hunter or Bridget Sloan on the roster, and in the three years the dynamic duo was together, the Gators won three consecutive national titles from 2013-15.
However, this isn't a Gators team without headliners.
Alex McMurtry, Kennedy Baker, Alicia Boren and Grace McLaughlin form a veteran core and a talented group of newcomers has contributed significantly. Freshman Amelia Hundley has the look of a future star and junior transfer Rachel Slocum's addition has paid off in multiple ways.
"The leadership qualities of these upperclassmen, they have really done a great job of embracing them and leading the way and showing them what it's like to be a Florida Gators,'' Rowland said. "The future is really bright for Florida gymnastics."
The Gators finished fourth a year ago and defending national champion Oklahoma returns as the No. 1 overall seed.
The Gators arrived here with high hopes. What happens Friday and Saturday will determine their mood on the trip home. If all goes well, those black tights they wear on travel days could be covered in glitter.
As their story continues, that would be one heck of an ending to write about in my black dress pants.
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V, BB, FX
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