Trinity Thomas reached familiar heights and won the Southeastern Conference All-Around Championship title. His performance helped the Gators win the 2023 SEC Championship.
She finished a gymnastics slam of the season — a perfect 10 on every event in a single season — following her 10.0 on uneven bars and floor to secure back-to-back SEC championships for Florida. Thomas now has 27 perfect 10s – just one short of equaling the all-time record.
The No. 3 Florida Gators (12-2, 6-1 SEC) entered the second session of the Southeast Conference championship on Saturday against the No. 6 Louisiana State Tigers (8-5, 4-3 SEC) , No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats (10-3, 5-2 SEC) and No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-5, 4-4 SEC).
The Gators finished with a score of 198.425, edging out second-place Alabama by .500. UF won three of the four events and earned a meet record score in Duluth, Georgia.
The Gators started the game on the vault. Florida sophomore Sloane Blakely tied with Alabama freshman Gabby Gladieux for first in the event with a score of 9.950.
Florida sophomore Chloi Clark appeared on vault with a score of 9.825. She was also named to the SEC Gymnastics Community Service Team on Thursday.
UF finished with a total of 49.375 in the event; Alabama went over the top with a total of 49.525.
The Gators dominated on the uneven bars. Thomas scored a perfect 10.0 to secure first place. Florida junior Victoria Nguyen and second Leanne Wong tied for second with a score of 9.950.
Nguyen returned to uneven bars after slipping on vault against the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners on March 3.
UF’s score of 49.700 put it ahead of Kentucky, which finished with a score of 49.600.
Florida continued to dominate as they moved into the third rotation – the balance beam. Wong earned first place with a score of 9.975 to earn the honor of SEC Individual Champion on balance beam.
Florida scored 49.675 to surpass Alabama and Kentucky’s tied for second place score of 49.375.
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The Gators ended their night on the ground, and Thomas hit perfection with his second 10.0. Florida rookie Kayla DiCello finished in second place with a score of 9.950.
UF’s score of 49.325 helped them clinch first place in the competition; LSU passed them in the event with a score of 49.625.
Thomas had the evening’s top all-around score with a score of 39.800. Wong fell a close third with a score of 39.625. DiCello earned fifth place with a score of 39.600.
Florida’s next meet will be the National Collegiate Athletic Association regionals. UF will discover its seeding on Monday.
Contact Jori Rzepecki at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @jorirzepecki.
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Jori Rzepecki
Jori Rzepecki is a freshman journalism major and gym reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys watching TV shows and reading books.
