Florida at LSU

Results

The Big Storyline: Thanks to an extreme lack of separation between scores, this meet was one of the tightest and most exciting of the season. It came to a dramatic end with the last routine of the night, in which LSU standout freshman Haleigh Bryant sat her final pass on floor, allowing Florida to take the meet. The Gators and the Tigers ended up earning the season’s first 198-plus scores.

Implications: Florida will remain comfortably in the top spot in NQS rankings this week, while Oklahoma will surpass LSU for the second spot there. 

Records: Trinity Thomas smashed Florida’s program all around record with a 39.900; she was also awarded the night’s only 10.000 for her floor routine. 

Controversies: In a very accurate display of judging, 13 of the evening’s 48 routines scored a 9.925.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 1 Florida at No. 2 LSU

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: See the numbers next to the teams? LSU seems to be surging at the right time. Florida certainly has the edge, especially after a bye week, but LSU looked the strongest it’s been last week, so it will be quite a fight. 

What We’re Watching: Scoring and how egregious it will be. Oh, you mean a non-obvious answer? An all around battle between Kiya Johnson and Trinity Thomas would be the showdown of the season, but for that to be the case, both need to compete the all around. That’s not a given, at least for Johnson, who hasn’t done it in two weeks. It doesn’t seem to be a cause for concern, but you have to assume the Tigers will want her on all four on this night of all nights. 

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Florida’s and LSU’s football matchup was postponed in the fall, and their men’s basketball matchup was postponed just this week. Anything but the same fate for this meet will narrowly avoid making a trifecta.