Tonight’s meet will say a lot about both of these teams. Following seasons of being mired in the SEC doldrums, Georgia has finally started to turn some heads as of late, landing the top recruiting class this year and that class’s crown jewel, Lily Smith, starting out the season as more than advertised. But behind the smokescreen of these developments, the GymDogs haven’t shown much else to be excited about. The injury woes the team seems to always be facing have hit once again, and while the team has broken the 197 barrier, it followed that performance by going into the 195s the next week. There are things to look forward to here, least of all former five-star Holly Snyder’s appearance on bars last week; her increased presence could be a game changer. But if Georgia’s going to have any hope of a resurgence this season, coming back to Stegman after two weeks on the road and showing out will be of the utmost importance.
The visiting Gators are coming off a narrow loss to Alabama at home last week, marking their first home loss since 2019, when they were defeated by- coincidentally -Georgia. Most have chalked 2024 up as a rebuilding year for Florida, but there’s really too much talent on the roster for the team to deserve that. The lineups just need to worked out to reflect that, particularly vault and bars. A road win tonight, especially a more decisive one than the win against Auburn, would be a huge confidence boost.
Rotation 1: Georgia VT, Florida UB
LaClair (Georgia) VT: Did not see but 9.850.
Blakely (Florida) UB: Was looking really nice but on the double front dismount she stumbles forward one leg way up. 9.575
Cashman (Georgia) VT: Back this week after being sick and not traveling last week. Long delay with some judging, vault I think…but we already have a 9.950 for LaClair so not sure what is up. Alright, actually announcers got it wrong- 9.950. Here she goes. Piked a bit on the full, small hop back. 9.775
Nguyen (Florida) UB: Absolutely horrible bars angle to see handstands, legs together on releases like usual, DLO same almost a stick but brings the left foot back. 9.825
Smith (Georgia) VT: Second week on this event. Not a ton of height but decent form in the air, hop back. 9.850
Disidore (Florida) UB: With some inconsistency in the lineup, nice to see her season average of 9.833. Maloney to Pak nice form, VL a little closely caught, fights for the stick with the chest down and holds it. Should score over that average. 9.875
Scott (Georgia) VT: Hop back on the full once again. Got a powerful block. 9.825
Pilgrim (Florida) UB: Same Maloney to Pak, perfect handstand on the low bars, stuck FTDB. Gators picking up some momentum. 9.875
Finnegan (Georgia) VT: 1.5 lands feet hip width apart, hop forward. 9.850
Lazzari (Florida) UB: Tkatchev bit low but clears the bar, great form on the Pak, last handstand looks hit, stuck FTDB once again. 9.900
Wahl (Georgia) VT: Y1.5 not as controlled as last week, good distance but lunges forward. 9.775
Wong (Florida) UB: Maloney to Pak some leg separation, huge DLO good form in the air but small scoot back.
Proud FSU Law alum here but I love this UF commercial that opens with Sloane Blakely about to vault.
After 1: Florida 49.350, Georgia 49.150
Just a few tenths between these two. Georgia’s vault lineup was about as good as it could ask for considering what’s available; I’m super impressed with how quickly Scott’s has been able to shape up. Florida got hot with a few bars sticks after sticks have been a little lacking in its rotations; good for the Gators escaping unscathed after a fall on that event in two of the first three meets.
Rotation 2: Georgia UB, Florida VT
Draser (Florida) VT: Wow great 1.5, legs slightly bent in the air towards the end but only the tiniest movement to the side. 9.900
Howard (Georgia) UB: Wooooop her first appearance of the season, finally! Piked Tkatchev some flexed feet big air, sticks the double tuck. 9.825
Lazzari (Florida) VT: Sizable hop forward but good to see her get it to her feet after last week’s fall. 9.825
Wahl (Georgia) UB: Oh no announcer she was NOT the Georgia freshman with a 10…Kennedy doesn’t correct either LOL. Had to wait a little. Maloney to Pak construction legs together and great form on the Pak, last handstand a little short and holds onto stuck double tuck. 9.875
Pilgrim (Florida) VT: Looked like a little shuffle to the side, Kennedy says stick. Let’s see. Yeah I think there was a little movement but still very nice. 9.875
Snyder (Georgia) UB: Gorgeous first handstand, Piked tkatchev pointed toes to bail, last handstand a bit short, chest down but stuck double tuck. 3 for 3 for the GymDawgs. 9.900
Blakely (Florida) VT: Bent knees to land and hop forward, felt about the same size as Lazzari’s. 9.850 went 0.25 higher.
Finnegan (Georgia) UB: Tkatchev looks like caught too short and needs to take another kip, Pak not the best shape, sticks FTDB to end. 9.550
Wong (Florida) VT: Half on half off Pod vault, keeps toes pointed tiniest of hops to land a little off to the side. 9.875 I might have gone a bit higher.
Scott (Georgia) UB: Ever just forget she was once a Florida commit? Some flexed feet on the Tkatchev but plenty of height, better form on Pak and VL, and another stick on the DLO.
Ferris (Florida) VT: Flight starts pretty far back from the table, hop forward. Better than last week’s near fall. 9.850
Smith (Georgia) UB: Carbon copy of her 10.0 routine. What’ll it be tonight? 9.950
After 2: Florida 98.800, Georgia 98.600
Just two tenths separating the teams once again. Georgia is definitely looking stronger and not likely to go 195 like last week, but we’ve got two rotations to go still. Exciting seeing Howard and Snyder start to ease their way back in still; them both being at fuller strength would make me a little more confident in the GymDawgs. Florida’s vault landings are still pretty first half of the season, but Ferris showing a bit more of her potential tonight with her best landing of the season should be a good sign for that lineup in the future.
Rotation 3: Georgia BB, Florida FX
Wahl (Georgia) BB: BHS LOSO LOSO no hesitation, side somi controlled too, split 3/4 wasn’t quite 180, back 1.5 hop forward. 9.775
Draser (Florida) FX: Double tuck controlled lunge, wolf turn controlled as well, ring leap combo extended but flexed feet, double pike solid to end. 9.800
Morgan (Georgia) BB: control on full turn, some form on BHS LOSO medium check. Another check on the leap combo, getting a little more tentative? Not that side aerial. Controlled hop forward on 1.5, almost identical to Wahl’s. Not sure what SZA song her beam music is but I love it. 9.875
Nguyen (Florida) FX: Hunter Hunter floor music if anyone likes anime. Front double full to sissone, connection was undeniable. Back 1.5 to front lay, her usual Ever just forget this was once her home arena? 9.900
Turner (Georgia) BB: BHS LOSO LOSO some bent legs but perfect landing, witch split. One and a half twist first stick of the night on this event. 10 hands…it was a stick but…9.825.
Hurd (Florida) FX: Bit earlier in the lineup tonight, controlled Rudi. Ring leap combo reminiscent of her top elite days in terms of execution. Double pike pretty low but controlled landing. Maybe this is her ideal lineup spot because that was her best routine of the season. 9.900 yep!
Battle (Georgia) BB: Full turn, split half steady, switch split. Kickover front to beat zero hesitation. BHS LOSO looks like no hesitation but has to take a tiny step. BHS gainer full stuck. 9.825
GymDawg 2024 commit Harlyn Tomlin and dad Mike are in the crowd.
Pilgrim (Florida) FX: Steps forward on the double back, leaps look a little off this week in their positions. Double pike better control on this landing. 9.850
Smith (Georgia) BB: Smith (UGA): Front aerial BHS gorgeous extension but doesn’t do her usual second BHS. Switch to split leap, great, little check on the kickover pike. Gainer full, stuck. 9.875
Blakely (Florida) FX: Front through to double pike underrotated and right leg needs to come up, back 1.5 to front full better landing, looking disappointed at the end. 9.825
Scott (Georgia) BB: Full turn, great control, FHS BHS LOSO is a little slow and a check, leaps to BHS I think a tiny check there as well, split to switch perfect. Moonwalk. FHS front full, little hop. FHS front full. LOL at the moonwalk Michael Jackson top hat she gets after. 9.900
Richards (Florida) FX: Back after a few weeks off. DLO her usual, straddles are well executed with the extension, back 1.5 to front half to straddle strong. 9.825
After 3: Florida 148.100, Georgia 148.000
Wow, it’s tight. Neither team had many major giveaways in that rotation, as evinced by Georgia closing the gap by a tenth. Of note re: Lily Smith, her 9.85 was a 9.8-9.95 split. An SV issue perhaps after the missed BHS.
Rotation 4: Georgia FX, Florida BB
Draser (Florida) BB: Good for her leading off again. BHS LOSO dead on, back 1.5 almost a stick but shuffles forward. The Gators need all the sticks they can get to hold this lead. 9.850
Williams (Georgia) FX: One thing she is gonna give in her routine is a megawatt smile. Back 1.5 to front lay no OOB this week. Straddle leaps are extended to 180, double pike does go OOB on that one, both feet. Double tuck stuck. Each of those passes gave something quite different. 9.800…?
Blakely (Florida) BB: Aerial to BHS no hesitation. Leaps 180, same with the switch into Gainer off the side. Scoot backwards. 9.925
LaClair (Georgia) FX: Fireball, would have been funny if we had Brubach’s Fireball too. Front full through to double back really good landing control, rudi to LOSO, that’s a really fun and well-executed routine. 9.825
Pilgrim (Florida) BB: BHS LOSO slow and in control. Beat stepout to aerial, great toepoint in the leaps, gainer full off the side, first stick of the night. 9.850
Fitzgerald (Georgia) FX: Rudi to BHS stays in bounds, music is giving Y2K Disney era and it’s hard to put my finger on why. Double tuck big slide back. 9.825
Lazzari (Florida) BB: BHS LOSO LOSO there’s her usual control on the landing. Leaps are above 180, front aerial tiny check shoulder droop, gainer full stick. 9.925
Cashman (Georgia) FX: Back 1.5 to front lay, umm how did she get First Person Shooter by Drake into her routine I feel like that JUST came out. Double tuck controlled lunge. No major issues there. 9.875
Nguyen (Florida) BB: Onodi wobble a bit into BHS, think that was connected…? Leaps the best executed of the lineup so far. Back 1.5 tries for stick, little wobble to the side. 9.900
Wahl (Georgia) Barely stays in bounds on the full-in. This is old Simone music. Like the BHS into the dive choreo. Front tuck through to double back brings chest up. 9.850
Wong (Florida) BB: Looks like struggles on her leaps onto the beam, splits the beam I think. Goes for it again once on the beam. BHS LOSO. Back double full hop back. Not really ideal for UF to end. 9.300
Smith (Georgia) FX: No issues front double full or 1.5 to front lay, huge air on the straddles, I really like the choreo going into the last pass, Rudi to straddle looked like a little tilt to end. She is star power. 9.925
FINAL: Florida 197.425, Georgia 197.300
Florida with the identical score as last week, and it pulls out the win with it this time. Lily Smith’s 39.600 all around propelled Georgia to a score nearly two points higher than last week’s; it wasn’t enough to beat the Gators, but the big total was needed.
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Live blog by Katherine Weaver
