Florida Gators Gymnastics: A Bumpy Road to Victory
A Strong Start and a Tough Turn
The Florida Gators gymnastics team demonstrated their strength and resilience in a challenging match against Auburn. They started strong on the uneven bars, with Riley McCusker scoring a near-perfect 9.975—the highest score of the night. The Gators led by 0.475 after the first rotation. However, things took a turn during the vault event.
Ly Bui suffered an injury when her leg hit the mat, and Amelia Disidore had a rough landing. These setbacks brought Florida's vault score down to 48.600, putting them behind Auburn halfway through the meet.
Bouncing Back
But the Gators refused to give up. They bounced back with strong performances on the floor and beam, scoring 49.425 on the floor and 49.450 on the beam. This helped them secure a victory with a total score of 197.100 to Auburn's 167.700.
Undefeated Season Continues
Despite the setbacks, Florida remains undefeated in the 2025-26 season. McCusker's high score led one of Florida's best bar rotations. Anya Pilgrim, Skye Blakely, and Selena Harris-Miranda also scored high, giving Florida an early lead. Even after Bui's injury and Disidore's fall, Denie Ferris and Harris-Miranda saved the rotation. Harris-Miranda scored a meet-best 9.950, and Ferris posted a 9.925.
Floor and Beam Excellence
On the floor exercise, Florida kept their momentum going. Jayla Booker, Disidore, Ferris, and eMjae Frazier each scored 9.875, while Skye Blakely impressed with a 9.925. This energy helped Florida close the rotations on top.
On the beam, the Gators were consistent. Blakely, Frazier, and Harris-Miranda all scored 9.900 or better. Harris-Miranda has not scored lower than 9.950 on the beam this season.
Rankings Update
While Florida won against Auburn, they will no longer be at the top of the Race to Nationals rankings. Oklahoma took the top spot with a high score against Georgia. Florida will drop to third place, tied with Alabama. LSU is expected to move up to second.
The Gators will play their next match at home against Arkansas on Jan. 30 at 7:15 p.m.
