SEC Championship Session Two

Recap

The Big Storyline: Florida turned in one of its best performances of the season to win its first SEC championship since 2016. Despite a few hiccups, Alabama kept the meet close through three rotations while early mistakes from Auburn and LSU kept it from challenging the Gators. Sixth seed Missouri snagged fourth place after an impressive performance in the afternoon session.

Postseason Implications: Florida has secured its place as the overall two-seed heading into regionals. Alabama’s competition ended on a somber note with an injury to beam anchor Luisa Blanco. The extent of her injury is unknown at this time, but it does not bode well for the Crimson Tide’s postseason prospects. 

Records: The Gators’ 198.200 is the second-highest total in the championship’s 41-year history. Despite a disappointing performance, LSU’s 49.550 on beam is its best single event total at an SEC championship. Suni Lee became the first Auburn gymnast to score a 10 at the championships while both Auburn and Missouri posted program-best championship scores and finishes.

Preview

• No. 2 Florida | 198.050 NQS | 198.575 season high
• No. 5 LSU | 197.735 | 198.125 season high
• No. 6T Auburn | 197.650 NQS | 198.575 season high
• No. 6T Alabama | 197.650 | 198.075 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one…

Hands down, this is the marquee session of this conference championship weekend. The SEC night session is typically competitive and unpredictable, as evidenced by Alabama’s upset victory last season. Legitimately any one of these four teams could walk away with the 2022 title. 

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this…

On both the team and individual title fronts, the final rotation is guaranteed to be a nail biter! Tune in around 9:30 p.m. ET to see the drama unfold. Worst case scenario, you’ll get to see Haleigh Bryant on vault, Suni Lee on bars, Luisa Blanco on beam and Trinity Thomas and Nya Reed on floor. 

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on?

All four teams are locked into being a two seed or better for regionals, but Auburn and LSU could earn top seeding if they can match or exceed their season high performances—a tough task but not impossible.  

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• Georgia: 16 titles, last won in 2008
• Alabama: 10 titles, last won in 2021
• Florida: 10 titles, last won in 2016
• LSU: 4 titles, last won in 2019

Records Watch

• Team: 198.375 | Vault: 49.800 | Bars: 49.700 | Beam: 49.625 | Floor: 49.725
• All Around: 39.850 | Vault: 10.000 | Bars: 10.000 | Beam: 10.000 | Floor: 10.000

Last Time Out

Eighth-ranked Alabama upset heavy favorites Florida and LSU for the championship, thanks in no small part to a stellar performance by sophomore Luisa Blanco in which she took the all-around crown outright and earned shares of the vault, bars and beam titles.