GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The two Gators from the state of Texas – Alyssa Baumann and Sloane Blakely – open the season claiming Southeastern Conference weekly gymnastics honors after the first weekend of competition.
Blakely is the SEC Gymnast of the Week and Baumann is the SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week. This is Baumann’s third SEC Specialist of Week honor of her career.
Blakely is the first freshman to earn the opening SEC Gymnast of the Week honor of a season since the honor began in 2000. She is the fourth Gator to open a season claiming the SEC Gymnast of the Week award (2008: Melanie Sinclair; 2016: Bridget Sloan; 2021: Trinity Thomas).
Alyssa Baumann – SEC Specialist of the Week:
* Performed two events in season opener, with both marks 9.925 or above.
* Winning floor mark of 9.975 equals collegiate-best for fourth time. It was seventh floor win of Gator career.
* 9.975 equals the nation’s floor high for the opening weekend.
* Third on balance beam (9.925). That mark is No. T5 among nation’s beam performers through opening weekend.
* A “Super Senior” for the Gators, Baumann is an eight-time All-American
Sloane Blakely – SEC Gymnast of the Week:
* One of six Gators to win all-around in first meet since 1986 (Kytra Hunter/2012, Ashanée Dickerson/2010, Melanie Sinclair/2007, Corey Hartung/2006 and Melissa Miller/1986)
* 39.45 is the highest all-around among SEC gymnasts and tied for nation’s fifth highest for the opening weekend
* Shared balance beam title with teammate Leah Clapper at 9.95. That equals the highest mark for a Gator in her opening beam performance. Also shares nation’s beam high through opening weekend.
* Blakely swept the 2021 Junior Olympic Level 10 event titles, becoming first to take all titles outright at a Level 10 J.O. Championships
UP NEXT FOR THE GATORS:
It’s a top-12 matchup when No. 11 Alabama visits Gainesville for the first ever collegiate dual meet on broadcast television.
When: Sunday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-alabama-3/>
TV: ABC with Olympians Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson-Clarke and Samantha Peszek calling the action
Tickets: Adults: $20-$5 / Children $20-$1. To get tickets ahead of Sunday’s meet, visit the FloridaGators.com ticket site<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Ftickets-5Fgymnastics-5F.aspx&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=j8HeYcyph65n7SuVZ_zF40Zt8gS7u9pZn3LyTIsS9TaPkN3z2-MHH-BugfGe1-i_&s=0R9_Nqgti28CCLT2_l_Yq-KFSd4FIUMsheurpRlmwa8&e= > or stop by the Gator Ticket Office (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.). The O’Connell Center ticket windows open at 1:00 p.m., with the gates opening at 1:30 p.m. Gates 1 and 2 will be open for each gymnastics meet. UF students should enter at Gate 3.
