GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Four signed with the Gator gymnastics team in the early signing period, UF head coach Jenny Rowland announced today.
Just eight days ago, Skye Blakely and Team U.S.A. stepped to the top of the 2022 World Championships podium to claim gold. She joins her sister, Sloane, on the 2025 Gator team as Skye defers enrollment to continue training with eye on competing in 2024 Olympics.
Gabby Disidore of Overland Park, Kan., won silver and took fifth in the 2021 Development Program Senior A National Championships (formerly named Junior Olympics Level 10 nationals). Skylar Draser of South Huntington, N.Y., won vault and bars plus took second in all-around and beam at the 2022 Metroplex Challenge. A member of the 2019-20 U.S. Junior National Team, Anya Pilgrim won vault and took floor silver at the 2022 Development Program Senior C National Championships.
Jenny Rowland Said:
“The Gators gymnastics team is grateful to welcome these four to the Florida family. They all bring high levels of skill and experience to our program. They also welcome the opportunity to pursue their education at a Top 5 academic institution. I can’t wait to have them perform in front of a sold-out O’Dome crowd! ” – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
Meet the New Gators:
Skye Blakely – Frisco, Texas
IG: skyeblakely TW: skyeblakely_
* 2022 World Championships gold with Team U.S.A. Fifth in World Championships balance beam final.
* Member of 2022, 2021 U.S. Senior National<https://usagym.org/pages/women/history/past_nat_teams_sr.html> and 2019-20 and 2018-19 U.S. Junior National teams<https://usagym.org/pages/women/history/past_nat_teams_jr.html>.
* Fifth on uneven bars, sixth in all-around and floor exercise at 2022 OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships<https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2022/w_22champs_sraa.pdf>
* 2022 Pan American Championships all-around and floor exercise bronze medalist<https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2022/w_22panam_srevents.pdf>; team silver
* 2022 Winter Cup all-around and floor exercise runner-up<https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2022/w_22wc_sr.pdf>
* Seventh in all-around and eighth on balance beam at 2021 U.S. Championships
* 2021 American Classic all-around champion and took silver on beam.
* Older sister, Sloane, is a sophomore on 2023 Gators team. Third set of sisters to be part of Florida gymnastics team (Lynn and Karen McDonnell – both on 1983 & ’84 UF teams; Mackenzie and Bridgette Caquatto – both on 2013 & 2014 UF teams).
* Will defer enrollment to pursue 2024 Olympics.
* Trains at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) and coached by Yevgeny Marchenko, Haiou Sun and Emmanuel Domingues
* Graduates from Wakeland High School in spring 2023
Coach Jenny Rowland says:
“Gator Nation is in for a treat! We are super grateful that Skye has made the decision to become a Florida Gator! Coming off a gold medal Team USA performance at the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool, England, her international experience, passion for greatness and love for the Gators will shine through both on and off the competition floor!”
Gabby Disidore – Overland Park, Kan.
IG: gabby_disidore
* Uneven bars runner-up, fifth in all-around in 2021 Development Program National Championships – Senior A<https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2021/w_21dev_sra.pdf>
* All-around runner-up in 2021 Region 4 Level 10 Championships
* Third on vault at 2021 Parkettes National Elite Qualifier
* 2018 Junior Olympics Level 10 National Championships – Junior B all-around champion<https://myusagym.com/meets/live/66738/results/44230/> and third on balance beam<https://www.instagram.com/p/BixWZthAmU_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link>
* Trains at Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE) and coached by Al Fong, Armine Barutyan Fong, Tiffany Davenport and Alex Carson
* Graduates from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in spring 2023
Coach Jenny Rowland says:
“We are so happy to welcome Gabby to the Gator family! Her work ethic, passion for gymnastics and commitment to be the best she can be both in and out of the gym is going to be a huge asset for the Gators! She will indeed be super impactful on any event, especially bars. “
Skylar Draser – South Huntington, N.Y.
IG: skylardraser
* All-around winner and swept session 4 event titles in 2022 Parkettes National Elite Qualifier<https://meetscoresonline.com/results/28922/329992#I004__SR__Sr.%20Elite>
* Vault champion at 2022 Buckeye Classic Elite qualifier<https://meetscoresonline.com/results/28092/329992#ITT1__SR__***>
* Vault and uneven bars champion; all-around and balance beam runner-up at 2022 Metroplex Challenge<https://meetscoresonline.com/results/28257/329992#IG06__E__SR>
* Competed at 2021 GK U.S. Classic and 2022 Winter Cup
* Trains at Parkettes Gymnastics and coached by Donna & Bill Strauss, Robin Netwall and John Holman
* Graduates from Reach Cyber Charter School in spring 2023
Coach Jenny Rowland says:
“We are so excited to officially welcome Skylar to the Gator family! Her passion and love for the Gators have never wavered. Skylar will make an immediate impact for the Gators showing off her power and strength. She can make a difference and fill any lineup position on any given event.”
Anya Pilgrim – Germantown, Md.
IG: anyapilgrim
* 2019-20 U.S. Junior National team
* Fourth on vault and seventh in all-around in 2019 U.S. Championships’ junior division
* Competed Level 10 beginning in 2022
* Vault champion, floor exercise runner-up and third on balance beam in 2022 Development Program National Championships – Senior C<https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/2022/w_22dev_src.pdf>
* Trains at Hill’s Gymnastics and coached by Kelli Hill
* Graduates from Stone Ridge High School in spring 2023
Coach Jenny Rowland says:
“Anya is going to shine bright in orange and blue! We can’t wait for Gator Nation to see her sparkle! Her highly competitive international experience and balance of power and grace will be super impactful on all four events.”
Gators In 2022:
Florida swept the 2022 Southeastern Conference regular-season<https://floridagators.com/news/2022/2/18/gymnastics-no-2-gators-clinch-share-of-2022-sec-title-with-win-at-no-10-kentucky.aspx> and championship meet<https://floridagators.com/news/2022/3/19/no-2-florida-gymnastics-win-sec-championships-meet.aspx> titles.
The Gators took second in the NCAA Championships team final. Five Gators earned a meet-high 16 All-America honors in 2022 NCAA competition, including Trinity Thomas winning all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise.
The 2022 season begins January 6 with a home quad meet versus Ball State, Lindenwood and West Virginia.<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/schedule> The Gators sold out four of five home meets in 2022. Find season ticket information on FloridaGators.com<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_gymnastics_.aspx>.
