On a big night in the O’Dome, the Gators showed up in a big way.
Ahead of the SEC matchup, which pit the #2-ranked Gators against the #8-ranked LSU Tigers, everyone was already expected to be wowed. Anytime the Gators and Tigers meet is always guaranteed to be a big show. Last season, the Gators took down the Tigers in Baton Rouge in a thriller. As they prepared to make it two years in-a-row, they knew they would have to rise the occasion.
They did just that, thanks to a perfect 10 on bars for Trinity Thomas. Believe it or not, this is only the sophomore’s first perfect 10, but it definitely will not be the last. The routine later came in at #1 on SportCenter’s Top 10 Countdown.
In addition to Trinity’s milestone, the meet sold out and the Gators’ received the highest score in the nation, and the third-highest score in team history. On the same night, Gator Gymnastics Alumni were in the building, which made sold-out crowd even more excited. The atmosphere of the Top-10 matchup, as well as the presence of former Gator greats, gave the team the extra spark to win in a dominating fashion.
Heading into another SEC matchup next week, this time against the Kentucky Wildcats, the Gators can feel very confident in themselves. Beyond Thomas’ starpower, there are a lot of other things to be excited about, as well. Freshman Peyton Richards may be new, but she is already making her mark. Tonight saw her compete in every event, showing she can be a true contributor. As always Nya Reed is a joy to watch, on both vault and floor.
After falling short last season, it looks like the Gators came back better and hungrier. It seems like the sky’s the limit for these ladies!
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