Gators senior Leanne Wong and teammate Victoria Nguyen on Friday night at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. (Photo: Morgan Hurd/UAA Communications)
A Night of Perfection Heading Into Postseason
Saturday, March 15, 2025 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
| More on Florida's Senior Night win from FloridaGators.com |
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The emotional night was over. Gators gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland could finally breathe and talk without the constant threat of tears dripping from her eyes.
"That was so hard,'' Rowland said.
Rowland had departed the competition floor of the O'Dome Friday night and found a seat in the quiet media room, where she waited for Gators Leanne Wong, Danie Ferris and Selena Harris-Miranda to join her. In her 10th season at UF, Rowland is accustomed to the pageantry and sensations of Senior Night. What made this one different was that there were more than usual, with six active team members honored after Friday night's impressive victory over Kentucky.
The Gators' 198.625-197.725 victory – their score stands as the highest in the country this season – was full of heart-pumping moments, including the first career 10 from sophomore Ferris on the vault.
"This is something I'll definitely remember forever,'' Ferris said.
When Harris-Miranda dismounted, she raced into the arms of Rowland, confident that if perfection exists, she was as close as she could get on this particular evening.
"I was like, 'Oh, my God. I might get a 10.' But you never know, because they might split it, find something,'' she said.
The judges saw what Harris-Miranda felt, and her beam routine highlighted a standout all-around performance. Harris-Miranda won the all-around title (38.875) as the Gators turned in the second-best score in program history, trailing only the 198.775 at the 2022 NCAA Regional Finals.
As her teammates shined, Wong performed with her usual grace as an O'Dome fan favorite the past four years. Wong opened with a 9.900 on vault, posted a 9.875 on uneven bars, and recorded a 9.950 on beam.
Wong was having a stellar night, but as the Gators closed the evening on the floor, the anticipation grew with everyone in the building knowing that Wong's final home performance was coming up. Since arriving at UF in 2022 as a talented freshman from Overland Park, Kansas, Wong has blossomed into one of the program's most decorated gymnasts.
She did not disappoint on Friday night.
With all eyes on the floor routine, Wong dazzled the crowd in her humble and stylish way, drawing a standing ovation at the end of her performance. Moments later, when the judges award her a 10 – the 10th perfect score of her career, which ranks second in program history – the crowd went wild as Wong's teammates mobbed her.
"I got goosebumps,'' Harris-Miranda said. "I was screaming and jumping, and then I was like, 'Oh, my God, I'm next.' I need to find water."
Added Wong: "I couldn't have been more grateful for the way to finish off in the O'Dome. I got my first one here, and my last one on the floor here."
In the clear eyes of the aftermath, the Gators appear to be peaking at the perfect time. Florida has scored 198.000 or higher in three consecutive meets since a deflating loss at Oklahoma that included a season-ending injury to senior Sloane Blakely.
Rowland said the Gators have the weekend off and will return to the gym Monday in preparation for next week's SEC Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. The way the Gators rose to the challenge on an emotional Friday night has them eager to stay the course.
"I was amazed by what I saw from the scoreboard," Harris-Miranda said. "I knew we had it in us, and I was just happy we could do that for our seniors."
Rowland had a celebratory dinner with her family and assistant coaches planned afterward. The regular season is over. The postseason awaits.
The Gators have had their ups and downs, but on a Friday night packed with UF teams competing at the highest level, the gymnastics team did its part.
The Gators delivered a big win and memories they will talk about in years to come.
"A spectacular way to send off our seniors,'' Rowland said. "This team just keeps getting better. This is what they do in training on a daily basis. It's not a surprise. I don't like surprises."
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