Florida at Alabama

Recap

The Big Storyline: This meet was mostly one to forget for both teams: The Gators extended their win/loss record to 3-0 despite uncharacteristic mistakes on all four events. Consistency remains an issue for the Crimson Tide—missing routines from key contributors Shallon Olsen and Makarri Doggette certainly didn’t help—though they rallied after counting a fall on bars to finish strong with a season high score on beam and floor. Fifth-year Sania Mitchell made her collegiate debut on vault, her first competitive routine since tearing her Achilles at the 2022 SEC championship.   

Implications: Alabama drops to fifth in the SEC while Florida retains its top spot by a comfortable three tenths over Auburn. Florida remains at No. 2 nationally, but at one point dropped to No. 3 in the in-progress standings, showing its position isn’t as secure as it may seem.

Records: Alabama’s Shania Adams matched her career high 9.900 on floor in her season debut. Trinity Thomas’s five-routine streak of 10s on floor came to an end, though she tied Bridget Sloan for most career all-around wins (27) in program history.

Controversies: Scoring remained generous at times but mostly plausible through the first three quarters of the meet before veering toward the mathematically impossible during the final rotation.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 2 Florida at No. 11 Alabama

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Florida has been hot so far this season, averaging 197.788 in back-to-back victories at home. Can Jenny Rowland and company replicate that level of success on the road and officially overtake Oklahoma at the top of the rankings? After a lackluster performance against Arkansas in Week 2, Alabama will be looking to prove it’s still one of the top teams in the SEC.   

What We’re Watching: Florida fifth-year Trinity Thomas has scored a perfect 10s in six consecutive meets and is currently tied with Maggie Nichols and Kyla Ross for fourth-most career 10s of all time, just four off the record shared by Jenny Hansen and Jamie Dantzscher. 

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: In addition to Thomas, this meet will feature the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Gabby Gladieux, Specialist of the Week Kayla DiCello and Gymnast of the Week Leanne Wong.