Florida Gymnastics: How to watch Gators during NCAA Championships
The road officially ends today for Florida gymnastics as the Gators are one of the final four teams standing and will officially compete for the national title this afternoon.
Getting to this point was far from guaranteed after Trinity Thomas was injured during the Regional semi-finals. The teams Florida expected to see for the grand finale will all be present today.
Florida Gymnastics: How to watch
What – NCAA National Championships
When – 4 PM
Where – Fort Worth, TX
TV – ABC
Today Florida will square off against Oklahoma, Utah, and LSU in a winner take all quad meet for the national title. The Gators survived their semi-final round on Thursday with a team score of 197.400. It was the second-lowest score Florida has put up all season and over a full point off the mark they scored at the SEC championship when they had a season-high 198.475.
The semi-final round was a roller coaster for the Gators. Florida led after the first rotation but fell to last after posting a 49.0875 on the balance beam. Florida shot back up to first following a 49.525 on the floor and was aided by Cal falling apart to enable them to cruise through the vault.
Anything in the 197 range won’t cut it today. Both Utah and Oklahoma topped 198 during their semi-final session.
Florida’s trio of Trinity Thomas, Leanne Wong, and Kayla Dicello will lead the way, though it is unclear if Thomas will try the beam and floor. She only did the uneven bars and vault during the semi-finals, as she is still nursing her leg injury from the regional round.
Oklahoma will be led by Jordan Bowers, Audrey Davis, and Ragan Smith. Utah will have a mix of athletes, with only two competing in more than two events. Maile O’Keefe will do the all-around for them. She scored a perfect ten on the balance beam during the semi-finals.
If this will be the first meet all season, you have watched just keep in mind that in order to win, teams need to string together 9.90 and above from each individual performance. 9.85 will keep the ship moving, but too many 9.8s won’t get it done. 9.7 and below is a disaster at a meet like this.