ATHENS, Ga. – With just a tenth advantage heading into the final rotation, a solid balance beam performance was needed if No. 8 Florida was going to take a Groundhog’s Day win in Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum.
The Gators got just that, pushing that final margin out a bit more to open February action with its season best of 197.475 to take the win. No. 21 Georgia also turned in a season best of 197.30.
TONIGHT’S MEET
Uneven bars opened competition for Florida. For the second consecutive week, senior Ellie Lazzari led the Gators on the event, this time with a 9.90. That mark tied for second with Georgia’s JaFree Scott and Holly Snyder. The Gators also got 9.875s from freshman Gabby Disidore, freshman Anya Pilgrim and junior All-American Leanne Wong. Georgia’s Lily Smith anchored the lineup with a 9.95 to win the event.
It was a season-high 49.45 for Florida on vault. The Gators who competed at the 2023 World Championships – Pilgrim and Wong – shared the win at 9.925. Freshman Skylar Draser led off the lineup with a collegiate-best 9.90 for third to complete the UF vault sweep.
Florida was led on floor exercise by 9.90s from both Victoria Nguyen and Morgan Hurd. That mark set Hurd’s collegiate best. Those two shared second behind Georgia’s Lily Smith, who won the evening floor title at 9.925.
UF’s lead was just a tenth heading into the final rotation.
Florida opened its beam set with a 9.85 by Draser. The next three marks all were 9.9 or better – Sloane Blakely (9.925), Pilgrim (9.90) and Lazzari (9.925). Blakely and Lazzari shared the balance beam win and Pilgrim tied for third with UGA’s Scott. The GymDogs’ floor scores couldn’t keep pace on the final rotation as UF nudged out the winning margin to 0.175.
Smith claimed the all-around win at 39.60 and UF’s Pilgrim was second with a collegiate-best 39.55.
GATOR PERFORMANCE NOTES:
* Senior Ellie Lazzari made her first uneven bars appearance since the 2021 NCAA team final to close January action last week versus Alabama. She’s led Florida on the event both times, earning a collegiate best 9.925 on Jan. 26 and a 9.9 tonight.
* Junior Morgan Hurd upped her collegiate floor best to 9.90. She had twice turned in her previous high of 9.875 in UF’s opening two meets of the 2024.
* Florida’s 49.45 on vault raised its season-best by 0.175 tonight
* Five Gators equaled or set collegiate bests Friday:
* Gabby Disidore – 9.875 (bars)
* Skylar Draser – 9.90 (vault)
* Danie Ferris – 9.85 (vault)
* Morgan Hurd – 9.90 (floor)
* Anya Pilgrim – 39.55 (all-around), 9.925 (vault)
HEAR FROM THE GATORS:
On tonight’ meet:
“It’s always a great day for the Gators when you come away with a win, especially on the road in the SEC. So extremely proud of this team for a solid road performance tonight. Leading only by a tenth going into the last event, this team showed a lot of confidence on beam and was consistent throughout all four events. Really proud of this team’s performance, which was a lot stronger than our performance on our first road trip. Looking forward to getting back in the gym and continuing to refine those small details.” – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
On earning a collegiate best to lead off UF on vault:
“Coming out here tonight, it was just really fun. It was a new arena – I’ve never been in an all-black arena – so it was really cool. Starting off on vault, I’ve been working really hard every day in the gym to fix my landing and get my legs tighter. To come out here, be first up and score a collegiate best was amazing.” – freshman Skylar Draser
What to attribute your calm demeanor to lead off events for UF this season?
“When coming to college gymnastics, I just wanted to have so much fun. Having the support of my team and the coaches, knowing they believe in me makes me believe so much more in myself and knowing I can do it every day in the gym. I’ve never felt more confident coming out here so I think that has helped me so much to be able to go out there and just be me.” – freshman Skylar Draser
Coming back to Exactech Arena to play host to Gators Link to Pink next Friday:
“The Gators are coming home to host Link to Pink, a meet that is very near and dear to the Gators heart. Extremely excited to be in front of Gator Nation again and looking forward to being able to honor and celebrate those survivors.” – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
RECORDS: Florida (5-1, 2-1 SEC), Georgia (1-4, 0-4 SEC)
THE SERIES: Georgia leads 93-65-1.
NATIONAL RANK:
Florida – No. 8 in the Jan. 29 Road to Nationals standings<https://roadtonationals.com/results/standings/season/2024/2/0/5>
Georgia – No. 21
UP NEXT:
A Florida fan favorite is next! The 18th Annual Gators Link to Pink presented by UF Health versus No. 7 Arkansas is Friday in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Arkansas lost 198.475 – 196.20 at No. 5 LSU Friday night.
Meet: Gators Link to Pink presented by UF Health vs Arkansas
When: Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:15 p.m. ET
Venue: Stephen C. O’Connell Center <https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-arkansas-link-to-pink-2/> (gates open at 6 p.m.)
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN <https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/c2ebe44e-4733-44fe-99a7-400394d3848b>
Live Scores: StatBroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=497231>
* Promotions: Link to Pink T-Shirt & Shakers – Every seat in the Exactech Arena gets a 2024 Gators Link to pink t-shirt and pink shaker, compliments of UF Health!; Pink Treats: First 250 student get a pink doughnut!
* Tickets: Sold out. Check the Official Gator TicketExchange<https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1280019?tm_link=tmr_redirect> to purchase tickets other fans can’t use Friday.
No. 8 Florida at No. 21 Georgia
Final Team Totals
Feb. 2, 2024 ● Stegman Coliseum
Team
Vault
Bars
Beam
Floor
Total
Florida
49.450
49.350
49.375
49.300
197.475
Georgia
49.150
49.500
49.350
49.300
197.300
