Trinity Thomas performs her floor routine at last year's NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Gators Boosted By Healthy Thomas
Thursday, January 6, 2022 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When the No. 2-ranked Gators gymnastics team opens the 2022 season Friday night, the energy is certain to be high in front of the home fans at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.
There are fresh faces to cheer, new performance routines and intriguing storylines.
Oh, and following an injury-plagued junior season, a healthy Trinity Thomas.
"Trin's great,'' head coach Jenny Rowland said this week. "Ankles are solid."
Those ankles cost Thomas a lot in 2021. One of the most dazzling performers in college gymnastics since her freshman year in 2019, Thomas injured both of her ankles during warm-ups in a late regular-season meet at Alabama a year ago.
Thomas' injury limited her ability in the postseason and forced her to retire from elite gymnastics before having an opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. While Thomas announced her retirement from elite gymnastics in May, she is recovered and ready for her senior season. Thomas has two years of eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 shutdown in the spring of 2020.
"There's not an ounce of tape on her, which is fabulous," Rowland said. "She's tumbling, she's vaulting, she's doing all four events, so she is doing a really great job. Really exciting. I know she's looking forward to a great senior year."
At the time Thomas injured both ankles, Florida was ranked No. 1 and a favorite to win the national title. However, without Thomas at 100 percent, the Southeastern Conference regular-season champs finished fourth at the NCAA Championships.
Thomas was the only gymnast in the country last season to earn the maximum five All-America honors from the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association, and was one of five gymnasts in the country to earn multiple perfect 10s.
The 2020 SEC Gymnast of the Year is ready for a strong comeback season in a career filled with awards and highlight performances.
"It makes me strive for even more,'' Thomas told Inside Gymnastics Magazine in October. "I always know there's room for improvement and I always strive to be the best I can be. I definitely feel the pressure, but I honestly put it on myself. I know what I'm capable of and I know I have more in me to give."
Meanwhile, fellow senior Sydney Johnson-Scharpf is coming off a season that ended prematurely when she ruptured her Achilles tendon while warming up for the NCAA Regional Final.
Rowland said Johnson-Scharpf is on the road to recovery.
"Sydney's recovery is doing well," Rowland said. "She has been working hard and making good progress and really doing a great job of taking care of herself and what her needs are."
There are fresh faces to cheer, new performance routines and intriguing storylines.
Oh, and following an injury-plagued junior season, a healthy Trinity Thomas.
"Trin's great,'' head coach Jenny Rowland said this week. "Ankles are solid."
Those ankles cost Thomas a lot in 2021. One of the most dazzling performers in college gymnastics since her freshman year in 2019, Thomas injured both of her ankles during warm-ups in a late regular-season meet at Alabama a year ago.
Thomas' injury limited her ability in the postseason and forced her to retire from elite gymnastics before having an opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. While Thomas announced her retirement from elite gymnastics in May, she is recovered and ready for her senior season. Thomas has two years of eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 shutdown in the spring of 2020.
"There's not an ounce of tape on her, which is fabulous," Rowland said. "She's tumbling, she's vaulting, she's doing all four events, so she is doing a really great job. Really exciting. I know she's looking forward to a great senior year."
Welcoming two 🐊🏈 staff members as Social Ambassadors for Friday's 🐊🤸home opener:
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) January 6, 2022
🔸@katieturner0087 - Assistant AD of Recruiting Strategy
🔹@briazjawade - Director of On-Campus Recruiting & Football Events
Follow them for exclusive access to Friday's meet!#GoGators pic.twitter.com/3XlT4XPBXU
At the time Thomas injured both ankles, Florida was ranked No. 1 and a favorite to win the national title. However, without Thomas at 100 percent, the Southeastern Conference regular-season champs finished fourth at the NCAA Championships.
Thomas was the only gymnast in the country last season to earn the maximum five All-America honors from the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association, and was one of five gymnasts in the country to earn multiple perfect 10s.
The 2020 SEC Gymnast of the Year is ready for a strong comeback season in a career filled with awards and highlight performances.
"It makes me strive for even more,'' Thomas told Inside Gymnastics Magazine in October. "I always know there's room for improvement and I always strive to be the best I can be. I definitely feel the pressure, but I honestly put it on myself. I know what I'm capable of and I know I have more in me to give."
Meanwhile, fellow senior Sydney Johnson-Scharpf is coming off a season that ended prematurely when she ruptured her Achilles tendon while warming up for the NCAA Regional Final.
Rowland said Johnson-Scharpf is on the road to recovery.
"Sydney's recovery is doing well," Rowland said. "She has been working hard and making good progress and really doing a great job of taking care of herself and what her needs are."
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