2021 Gymnastics Roster
Roster
Richards, Payton
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
V, BB, FX
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
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AA
/ Gymnastics
Payton Richards
- Height:
- 5-1
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Mokena, Ill.
- Club:
- Aerials Gymnastics Club
Bio
| Collegiate Bests: | ||
| Vault: | 9.95 | 2-14-20/4-2-23 |
| Bars: | 9.875 | 1-29-21/3-31-23 |
| Beam: | 9.95 | 2-7-20 |
| Floor: | 9.925 | Five times |
| AA: | 39.575 | 4-2-23 |
| FLORIDA CAREER NOTES: |
| · All-American (2023 NCAA) |
| · 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 SEC Academic Honor Roll |
| · SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll |
AS A GRADUATE (2024):
- Shared third in Mizzou to the Lou after matching collegiate floor exercise best of 9.925
- Injured right foot during floor routine versus LSU.
- Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll
- All-America second-team honors (9.8625) in NCAA Championships’ semifinal vault competition
- Equaled collegiate vault best (9.95) to win NCAA Pittsburgh Regional Final.
- Collegiate high all-around (39.575) set in NCAA Regional Final
- Won first vault title since 2020 at Arkansas (9.925)
- Equaled collegiate floor exercise best (9.925) three times, including in NCAA semifinal
- Set season balance beam best (9.90) in NCAA Regional Final
- Collegiate high uneven bars score of 9.875 anchored lineup in NCAA Regional Round II
- Shared Gator Gymnastics’ Most Improved with Riley McCusker
- SEC Academic Honor Roll
AS A JUNIOR (2022):
- Opened season with a 9.875 on balance beam (Jan. 7)
- Set collegiate floor exercise best (9.925) at Auburn
- Earned 9.8125 in NCAA Team Final vault competition.
- SEC Academic Honor Roll
AS A SOPHOMORE (2021)
- Set season all-around best (39.525) to take second at LSU
- Season floor best (9.875) in three consecutive meets (Missouri and at LSU, vs Kentucky)
- Set collegiate bars best (9.875) versus Missouri
- 2021 debut of Yurchenko 1.5 in home finale earned season-best 9.90
- Competed as all-arounder in four meets
- SEC Academic Honor Roll
AS A FRESHMAN (2020):
- Total versus LSU (39.50) is third highest ever for Gator making all-around debut. Equaled that total to take second at Auburn.
- Won two vault titles – at Kentucky (9.925) and at Auburn (9.95). Score at Auburn is collegiate best.
- Raised collegiate beam best to 9.95 versus Denver & Iowa State
- In every bars and beam lineup of 2020
- Member of SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
PRIOR TO FLORIDA:
- Three top-four individual finishes in 2018 Junior Olympic Level 10 Senior D Championships – floor exercise (tied for third), all-around (4th) and uneven bars (T4th)
- Shared 2017 JO Level 10 Senior A beam title. Also shared second in all-around and runner-up on bars
- 2016 JO Level 10 Junior E all-around co-champion and claimed beam title. Also shared third on vault
- 2018 and 2017 Region 5 Level 10 balance beam champion and tied for second in 2019. All-around runner-up in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Also 2016 Region 5 Junior all-around champion
- 2019, 2018, 2017 Region 5 All-Star Team
- 2017 Metroplex Challenge beam champion. All-around runner-up and shared second on vault
- Beam champion at 2019 Chris Waller Heart of a Champion meet.
- Runner-up in three events competed at 2019 Midwest Open – vault, bars and beam.
- 2019 Illinois Level 10 all-around, bars and beam champion. Vault and floor exercise runner-up. Fourth consecutive state all-around win.
- 2018 Illinois Level 10 all-around, vault, bars, beam champion. Claimed 2017 state titles for all-around, vault and bars
- Member of Aerials Gymnastics Club in Downers Grove, Ill., and coached by Don and Patrice McPherson
Graduated fall 2023 with bachelor's degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences
Graduate summer 2024 with master's degree in Entrepreneurship.
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