The last time Florida gymnastics won the national championship, Uptown Funk ruled the charts.
The 4,017 days since have been filled with close call after close call, but all that can cease to matter.
If the Gators can get the job done Saturday at Dickies Arena.
UF is in the NCAA Team Final for the fifth time in the last six years, but this time feels different.
Florida is on a roll and carried a streak into Fort Worth of five straight meets over a 198. That came to an end in the semifinals narrowly, but the Gators still defeated the likes of LSU and Georgia to win first place in the afternoon session.
Oklahoma, winners of three of the last four titles, outscored UF in the evening group with a 198.300 and still look strong.
While Florida has looked stronger than LSU in recent meets, the Tigers won this title two years ago and showed resilience in coming back to defeat Georgia – momentum in hopes to carry into Saturday’s final.
Even Minnesota, the Cinderella of the group, upset UCLA to storm into the final and is playing freely with no expectations.
This is a tough field, but the Gators are back after a one-year absence and with all the confidence on their side.
“We can say there’s no been regrets with this team,” coach Jenny Rowland said. “Team 54 has brought a lot of joy to this team, and I am incredibly excited to continue dancing and compete one more day with this team.”
Here’s live updates for the meet:
Florida gymnastics in NCAA Championship live meet updates
Rotation 4: Florida gymnastics 197.6875; Oklahoma 198.1625; LSU 198.075; Minnesota 197.375
Gators deliever a 49.600 on bars (its best event of the night), but it isn’t enough. Oklahoma and LSU engaged in a battle for the ages, but the Sooners prevailed thanks to a 49.6375 on the floor. Florida finishes in third place. Selena Harris-Miranda ends her legendary college career with a 9.950, and Skye Blakely scores the same. It was about the best Florida could do and consistent with its usual top bars scores, but the gap was just too big.
Rotation 3: Florida gymnastics
Well, it’s going to take some more magic for the Orange and Blue. Florida can’t get the top-notch vault routine it needed and instead settles for a 49.250. Oklahoma bounces back after a slow start on beam and gets a 49.4375. LSU, though, with a 49.6125 takes the lead. For Florida, though, it trails by over a half point and will need its top bars routine of the season plus a lot of help to win it all.
Rotation 2: Florida gymnastics 98.8375; Oklahoma 99.0875; LSU 98.9875; Minnesota 98.7125
Despite a 49.450 on floor, the Gators can’t make any in-roads. Oklahoma with a 49.4875 on bars, and Kaitlin Chio’s 10 on vault elevates the Bayou Bengals to a 49.475 on vault. Selena Harris-Miranda comes oh so close to a gym slam on floor to anchor for the Gators, but she settles for a 9.900. Gators will need some magic on vault and its normal dominance on bars, plus some breaks from Oklahoma and LSU, to claim the program’s first title since 2015.
Rotation 1: Florida gymnastics 49.3825; Oklahoma 49.600; LSU 49.5125; Minnesota 49.2625
Everything in gymnastics is relative, and while Florida gymnastics will take a 49.3825 on beam, it isn’t enough so far to compete with Oklahoma and its 49.600 on the vault. The Sooners do rank No. 1 in the nation on vault, but so do the Gators on beam. UF had a chance to increase its score, but Alyssa Arana suffered a fall. LSU on floor, where it also ranks No. 1, tallies a 49.5125 to put the Gators in third through one rotation.
Florida gymnastics in NCAA Championship starting lineups
(In order of competition)
Balance beam
Floor
Vault
Uneven bars
What channel is Florida gymnastics at the NCAA Final?
TV Channel: ABC
Streaming: ESPN.com or the ESPN App
The NCAA Semifinals will be broadcast on ABC. Olympians Samantha Peszek, Aly Raisman and John Roethlisberger calling the action and Taylor Davis providing sideline reports.
What time is Florida gymnastics at the NCAA Final?
The Gators will compete with No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU and No. 13 Minnesota.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida gymnastics comes up short once again as Oklahoma wins NCAA title
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
