Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – All it took was a quick glance at the lineup sheet Friday night to know a new era had arrived for the Gators gymnastics team.

Some familiar names missing. A lot of new ones to get to know.

As usual when at home, the Gators started on vault. A pair of juniors – Rachel Gowey and Sierra Alexander – performed the first two routines for a Florida team opening the season a week later than its opponent, Southeastern Conference foe Missouri.

Freshman Trinity Thomas, the most decorated of Florida's six newcomers as a three-year member of the U.S. Senior National Team, then took her place at the top of the runway. Thomas glided toward the vault before launching onto the apparatus and flying high into the air, finally landing a little long.

Following Thomas, senior Alicia Boren took her turn and delivered in veteran fashion, scoring a meet-high 9.875. Two more freshmen, Nya Reed and Savannah Schoenherr, followed Boren. Neither was anywhere close to perfect, with Reed posting a 9.775 and Schoenherr a 9.450.

With half their opening rotation of the season performed by freshmen in their college debuts, the Gators trailed the Tigers as the second rotation began.

Nothing to worry about.

That deficit quickly disappeared by the meet's midway point, highlighted by Thomas' meet-best 9.950 score on the uneven bars, a performance that drew a roar from the crowd when the lean and graceful Thomas dismounted. Right behind Thomas was sophomore Megan Skaggs, who turned in a 9.925. The Gators got sharper and sharper as the night progressed, giving the second-largest season-opening home crowd (8,446) in school history ample reason to believe they should only get better with more experience.
 
That's because five of Florida's six freshmen competed Friday in a 197.300-196.450 victory over the previously unbeaten Tigers, a victory that came with sophomore Alyssa Baumann serving only as a cheerleader following a fall off the uneven bars at practice on Thursday.

"I know this team was itching and ready to go,'' fourth-year UF head coach Jenny Rowland said. "If this is what jitters look like, first meet out, then it's going to be a spectacular year."

The new-look Gators look like they'll be just fine.

Boren captured the all-around title (39.575) with a flashy performance. Boren was at her best at the end, closing with a 9.925 in the floor exercise. Besides Thomas, Reed and Schoenherr, freshmen Leah Clapper (9.875 on beam) and Sydney Johnson-Scharpf (9.750 on floor) also made their debuts for the Orange & Blue.

The mood afterward bordered on giddy considering 24 hours earlier the team was dealt an unexpected blow when Baumann got banged up.

"It changed [our lineup] on two or three events for sure,'' Rowland said.

Even so, it didn't matter, primarily thanks to Thomas finishing second to Boren in the all-around standings (39.475). As debuts go, Thomas had one of the best in school history only a few months after placing eighth at the U.S. Championships in Boston over the summer.

"I thought it was the most exciting thing ever. I was super excited going into my first college meet, but it's just like any other meet except – except 12 times more fun," she said. "I've never had a team like this, where we're like sisters. I know they have my back and I have theirs. They make it so much fun."

Coming off a third-place national finish at last year's Super Six in St. Louis, Rowland reloaded by signing the nation's top-ranked recruiting class. They looked every bit the part Friday.

Boren was impressed by the way the freshmen handled the pressure of their first meet in front of a big crowd and televised on the SEC Network.

"Honestly, this class is a big class and it's a lot of girls to have the whole team to adjust to,'' Boren said. "So for that to happen and then come out how we did tonight with that many performances from them, and that solid, it was amazing."

Reed turned in a dynamic floor routine that had the fans on their feet, matching Boren for the Gators' best score in the routine.

A native of Landover, Md., Reed won't soon forget her first outing at Florida.

"We prepared so hard for this. Everybody has been telling me the experience would be worthwhile,'' she said. "I went out there, and seeing all the fans cheering for us, knowing I have a great team behind my back, it was so special. I'd say landing my first vault in the O'Dome is something I will always remember."

When it was over, Rowland was asked to make a statement to open the press conference.

She paused, finally uttering one word two times: "Wow! Wow!"

The word hit home this night.

"It's a great taste in the mouth right now,'' Rowland said. "I'm just very thankful this team came together and had each other's backs."