Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators' roster is decorated with gymnasts known to be fierce competitors. However, after losing standouts like Trinity Thomas, Rachel Baumann, Kayla DiCello and others from last year's NCAA runner-up team to graduation and the upcoming Paris Olympics, some questioned what the 2024 season would look like for the Gators.

It's safe to say they did not disappoint their fans the way they competed this season. Florida is 17-1 and opens the postseason on Saturday at the SEC Championships in New Orleans.

The Gators' success can be attributed to both the veterans and freshmen stepping up to ensure they give their best performances each week. The freshman class includes six gymnasts, all of whom have broken into the competing lineup for the Gators at least once, and each time they do, they tend to deliver results.

"Big-time freshmen, really, just making their mark, starting to create a legacy that we can't take away from them. I'm so excited to see them shine on the competition floor and extremely proud of them for trusting this process. It is unlike anything they've ever been through in their entire gymnastics career," said head coach Jenny Rowland. "Being able to shoot your shot when the time comes and executing it well really says a lot, and these freshmen keep showing up and extremely proud of them."

One freshman in particular, Anya Pilgrim, is having quite the season.

"My freshman season has been going really well, and I've really enjoyed it," said Pilgrim. "I didn't really come into the season with any expectations. So, I've just been surprised with all the progress I've made, but also not surprised because it did take a lot of hard work to get there."

Pilgrim is racking up the honors and awards by competing in the all-around in all but one meet this season. She is the latest in a long line of UF gymnasts to score a perfect 10, has the nation's highest all-around score for a freshman at 39.675, and has earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors five times. "I wasn't really sure what to expect or what my role would be on the team, but I did my best to prepare on all four events so that whenever my name was called, I'd be ready," said Pilgrim.

Pilgrim is the picture of dedication after competing despite battling strep throat during last week's quad meet against No. 18 NC State, Iowa State and Long Island University in the team's senior night. She fought in each event, and even when her beam performance did not go how she wanted with a fall, she bounced right back with a 9.90 on her floor routine.

"You can't be perfect all the time," said Pilgrim. "And you know, we've been doing this for 10 weeks now, and I've been doing really well. So, I feel pretty good going forward."

A strong spirit and consistency keep earning her a spot in the starting lineup, but it also shows a side the soft-spoken gymnast doesn't show too often.

"Anya came back, and she's like, 'I never want to score a 9.75 again.' Whatever it was, she's like, 'That will not happen again,' " said Rowland. "She's super competitive. She was just hungry to get back in the gym and get going."

The grit Pilgrim and her teammates embody will be essential for them to remember as they tackle the trip to New Orleans.

They will take on Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU on Saturday. Each matchup was a memorable chapter in the Gators' story, including their only loss of the regular season to Alabama, their upset win against LSU, and their highest overall score against Kentucky.

"It's definitely been fun to compete with each team and see them progress as we have," said Pilgrim. "But at the end of the day, every meet is a fresh start. So, you never know what you're going to get."

While the Gators claimed the regular-season SEC title, the six freshmen on the team are looking forward to experiencing just what it means to be a part of the SEC Championship meet for the first time.

"They said it's one of the most fun meets of the year, and there's a lot of energy. So, I'm really looking forward to it," said Pilgrim.

Everyone is excited about arguably the biggest test for the team this season and whether the Gators can pull off another win in their favorite meet.

"I can prepare all the freshmen for what I feel is the most exciting, most thrilling and just all the competitive feels you're going to have. That's what we live for; that's why we do what we do," said Rowland. "I can share that, I can say that all I want, but until you truly experience it on the competition floor, I don't feel like you really get it.

"Hopefully, it will be a core memory, for the rest of their life."