GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 3 Florida gymnastics team opens 2022 road action Friday at Southeastern Conference rival Georgia. The meet kicks off a SEC Network tripleheader at 6 p.m. in the Stegeman Coliseum<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__georgiadogs.com_sports_2017_6_16_stegeman-2Dcoliseum-2Dgym.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=mF6O8Pc53wd3zo1Ybv_wnxcCy5zrX7eaTFzngGsKaL29o5QebDBIWCSPdFVNQNbh&s=eSNzC8eYyJs4FxYiCJjEChvtRL7LJvJLi16UsX6zmUI&e= >.
This is the 155th meeting between Florida and Georgia. The Bulldogs are the Gators most frequent opponent in the program’s 50-year history.
How to Follow the Gators:
Florida at Georgia is Meet 1 of a SEC Network Friday Night Heights triple-header. Olympians John Roethlisberger and Alicia Sacramone Quinn call the action.
On the go Friday? Follow the action on SEC Network<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D5c7c00b4-2D4d5d-2D45ca-2D8de1-2De0b14cbc837e&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=mF6O8Pc53wd3zo1Ybv_wnxcCy5zrX7eaTFzngGsKaL29o5QebDBIWCSPdFVNQNbh&s=dV76B67xXWRcZupKmFr-78GwocJmGusDBddtF7tiMvQ&e= >.
In the Gators’ Last Meet:
Florida opened SEC action with a 197.00-196.925 win Sunday over then No. 11 Alabama in front of a sellout Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center crowd of 8,781. The first-ever dual meet aired live ABC came down to the final routine.
Florida trailed by 0.350 heading into the last rotation and used back-to-back 10.0s by seniors Nya Reed and Trinity Thomas to move into the lead for the only time in the meet. The 10.0 was Thomas’ second of the meet, as she also anchored vault with her first 10.0. That mark completed her “Gym Slam” (a 10.0 on every event during collegiate career). Super Senior Megan Skaggs won her second collegiate all-around at 39.525.
That final rotation put UF ahead by 0.075 for the narrowest margin of victory in a Florida-Alabama dual meet since the first meeting in 1979.
SEC Awards for the Gators:
Two Gators claimed SEC Weekly honors after their performances in the league opener<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2022_1_18_gymnastics-2Dsec-2Dweekly-2Dawards-2Dfor-2Dtrinity-2Dthomas-2Dand-2Dleanne-2Dwong.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=mF6O8Pc53wd3zo1Ybv_wnxcCy5zrX7eaTFzngGsKaL29o5QebDBIWCSPdFVNQNbh&s=-2jNRv9Cp_c5N-jI01olsVOS15MmGzDsCBV8eJVC7hE&e= >. Trinity Thomas picks up her first SEC Specialist of the Week honor as she’s claimed 15 SEC Gymnast of the Week accolades. Leanne Wong shared the SEC Freshman of the Week honor after turning in season-best marks of 9.9 (beam) and 9.925 (floor) in her first collegiate all-around (39.30).
About the Georgia Gym Dawgs:
Friday is Georgia’s second meet of the season, as COVID protocols postponed the Gym Dawgs Jan. 14 trip to Kentucky and the Jan. 17 home dual versus Iowa.
UGA opened the season with a 197.75-194.50 loss at No. 1 and defending NCAA champion Michigan on Jan. 6. Senior Megan Roberts posted UGA’s top score for the meet with her 9.9 on vault.
Series History:
Georgia leads 93-60-1.
Last meeting: UF won 197.25-196.075 in 2021 home dual action
