That is how shut the Gators gymnastics staff is to one of the crucial memorable moments in program historical past, their final-routine, nail-biting victory over Oklahoma and LSU to win the Southeastern Conference Championship 4 weeks in the past. The victory validated what the Gators believed all alongside however needed to show: that they aren’t simply one of the crucial proficient groups within the nation, however that they will beat the most effective on the most important stage.
Florida could make that assertion much more loudly on Saturday when it faces Oklahoma, LSU and Minnesota within the NCAA Championships (ABC, 4 p.m. ET). The Gators search their first nationwide championship since successful three in a row from 2013-15.
UF head coach Jenny Rowland, who took over this system in 2016, led the Gators to nationwide runner-up finishes as just lately as 2022 and 2023, however with the ability to say “we’re No. 1” would register on a special scale.
“I think of that question a lot because it’s asked a lot,” she said. “And I really feel like persistently my reply is I would like it so badly for my athletes. I would like it so badly for them to really feel that reward and earn that reward. I’d positively acknowledge and really feel that reward as effectively. It’s been a journey. I’d simply be extraordinarily grateful for our village.”
The Gators superior by successful the primary nationwide semifinal on Thursday, beating LSU, Georgia and Stanford. With the highest two groups from every semifinal advancing, reigning nationwide champion Oklahoma received the second semifinal, with Minnesota ending second to advance to the NCAA Finals for the primary time in program historical past.
While the Gophers earned their spot just like the SEC energy trio, most anticipate both Florida, Oklahoma or LSU to hoist the championship trophy early Saturday night.
The final time the three have been collectively on the SEC Championships in Tulsa, the Gators received by the slimmest of margins, knocking off the Sooners 198.175-198.150. LSU positioned third with a 197.950 staff rating. Florida’s late-season surge included a program-record 5 consecutive scores of 198 or extra previous to their 197.7875 exhibiting Thursday.
That was of little concern because the Gators celebrated a return to the nationwide finals after being eradicated within the semifinals a season in the past.
“I feel we’ll positively be capable to construct off this vitality going into the Finals,” mentioned Riley McCusker, who closed Thursday’s competitors by successful the person nationwide title on the uneven bars. “We simply should go on the market and be us and do it large.”
Hang around the Gators long enough, and you’ll hear a few repeated phrases that they have held close all season.
They subscribed in the preseason to “The Promise,” a tribute to Tim Tebow’s famous speech in 2008 after a loss to Ole Miss, which ignited a run to the national championship. They want to “be regular” or focus on themselves and what they know they can do, rather than on the competition. And they always seek to “do it large,” to leave everything on the competition floor and walk away without any regrets.
They passed the first test in Fort Worth.
“This staff really was unbreakable,” Rowland mentioned afterward. “We were coming in here, and we were not going to back down.”
The Gators exited Dickies Arena with what they got here for, however you might sense in addition they know they’ve extra left. They began robust on beam, turned in environment friendly performances on flooring and vault, after which closed with a dynamic routine on the uneven bars.
Oklahoma was the one staff within the semifinals to attain 198 or increased, with Florida’s rating the second-best of the eight groups within the area.
None of that issues Saturday. It’s a recent begin.
“Saturday is a new day. And so, I’m sure it will bring new challenges, new results, all sorts of things,” Oklahoma coach Okay.J. Kindler mentioned. “The process is what we’re focusing on right now.”
Ditto for the Gators.
“This staff simply must get on the market and do it precisely like we all know how, we have been doing this complete season,” mentioned sophomore Skye Blakely. “Just do our regular, be calm, be daring, and simply deal with it like another meet.”
At this stage of the championship chase, there is nothing else to do.
The Gators have put in the work. They have cleared all the roadblocks. It’s down to one day, one competition, and if they turn in the kind of performance they had at the SEC Championships, they will have a big shiny trophy to bring home.
“We’re going to be authentically us,” Rowland mentioned. “The Gators just have to remain present, not make it bigger than it needs to be. And just enjoy their moment. That’s when they’re really great.”
FLORIDA
Coach: Jenny Rowland (eleventh season)
National seed: No. 3
Notable: Florida has tasted victory in opposition to Oklahoma and LSU (see above), so the Gators know they will come residence with a nationwide championship in the event that they stick their landings and carry out as much as their skill. That has been the purpose because the begin of the season.
Gymnast to look at: Selena Harris-Miranda completed tied for ninth within the all-around within the mixed all-around scores from Thursday’s nationwide semifinals. Harris-Miranda completed with a 39.4625 rating, her lowest all-around mark since a 39.425 on Feb. 13 in a house loss to the Sooners. Don’t be shocked to see Harris-Miranda flip in a greater rating on Saturday.
OKLAHOMA
Coach: Okay.J. Kindler (twentieth season)
National seed: No. 1
Notable: The Sooners stay the staff to beat and their 198.3000 rating was the most effective of the eight groups within the semifinals. Oklahoma’s deep lineup features a pair of freshmen in Ella Murphy and Mackenzie Estep as Kindler reloads season after season.
Gymnast to look at: Senior Faith Torrez, competing for the primary time this season within the all-around competitors, claimed the all-around nationwide championship on Thursday and is a big scorer on beam. At the regional meet in Lexington, Ky., Torrez delivered an ideal 10 on beam. Torrez received the beam nationwide title as a sophomore in 2024.
LSU
Coach: Jay Clark (sixth season)
National seed: No. 2
Notable: The Tigers rallied within the remaining rotation Thursday to beat Georgia and end second in Semifinal I to the Gators. LSU completed on the ground train and posted three scores of 9.9125 or higher to advance in a efficiency Clark referred to as removed from the Tigers’ finest.
Gymnast to look at: Kaitlin Chio is without doubt one of the prime gymnasts within the nation and confirmed it once more on Thursday, posting prime scores for vault, flooring and all-around within the first nationwide semifinal. She is the 2026 SEC Gymnast of the Year.
MINNESOTA
Coach: Jenny Hansen (twelfth season)
National seed: No. 13
Notable: The Gophers pulled an upset within the regional by knocking out Utah. They did it once more on Thursday within the second semifinal by edging UCLA for second place to advance to the NCAA Championships for the primary time in program historical past.
Gymnast to look at: Senior Brooklyn Rowray performed an enormous function in Minnesota’s first NCAA Finals berth by successful the person nationwide title on the beam. Rowray posted a 9.9625 to affix Marie Roethlisberger as the one Gophers with nationwide titles. Roethlisberger received the bars championship 36 years in the past.
