The Gators are down two vaults from last year’s lineup from Caquatto and Sloan, but this should be no problem to make up. Kennedy Baker and Alicia Boren both return their solid Yurchenko 1.5s, and Ericha Fassbender and Alex McMurtry both bring their Yurchenko fulls to the lineup. Amanda Cheney and Ashley Hiller both made a lineup or two last season with their fulls, and if Lacy Dagen has recovered from injury, she too competes a nice full-twisting Yurchenko. However, it’s really the freshmen that bring the variety into play here. Canada’s Maegan Chant brings a solid Tsuk full to the table, which is rare in the NCAA. In addition, Amelia Hundley, Rachel Gowey and Sierra Alexander all could come out with Yurchenko fulls or 1.5s, and it’s possible Hundley might even break out a double if she’s given the chance.
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Bars takes a little more of a hit, losing three routines: Caquatto, Sloan and Dancose-Giambattisto. Returning to the event will be Baker, Boren and McMurtry who contributed during nearly every meet last season. While Grace McLaughlin made a lineup early on in 2016, it’s also possible that Fassbender could sneak into the lineup. She competed bars in |
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Beam loses two routines in Sloan and Ernst, and while their elite difficulty and style will be missed, the Gators will be happy to have three elites coming in that can boost them back up. Gowey, Hundley and Chant all have stellar beam routines, boasting high difficulty and great reception on the international stage. The greatest challenge will be finding which skills they can perform most consistently and cleanly and then piecing those together into a full routine. Lineup stalwarts Baker, Boren, McMurtry and Fassbender will also return to the lineup with the possibility of an appearance by McLaughlin.
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On floor, Florida will feel the loss of Sloan and Caquatto minimally. With so much depth on the event already, the addition of Chant and the return of Claire Boyce from injury will almost be equal parts blessing and curse. Chant placed fourth on floor at Canadian Nationals this year, and Boyce was a regular floor contributor pre-injury. Only six girls can make a floor lineup, but |
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As far as the all-around goes, Florida’s approach last season was almost entirely centered on its all arounders Sloan, Baker, Boren and sometimes McMurtry. Due to her nagging back injury, McMurtry probably won’t do floor every week, but it’s almost certain that Baker and Boren will return to the all around. On weeks when McMurtry isn’t doing floor, it’s possible that somebody like Fassbender or even Hundley could end up in the all-around, depending on how coach Rowland wants to play with all this depth.
Stay tuned for SEC part five tomorrow as we cover the storied Georgia Gymdogs! Be sure to check out our potential lineups page here and all the previous posts in our series:
Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn
