**Florida Gymnastics Dominates in NCAA Regional Final: A Journey to Championship Glory!**
### **Gators Secure Spot in NCAA Championships**
**TUSCALOOSA, Ala.** – The buzz in the air was palpable as the **No. 3-seed Florida gymnastics team** made its mark at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. In a thrilling showdown held at Coleman Coliseum, with an electrifying crowd of **2,466**, the Gators clinched an exhilarating victory to advance to their **41st NCAA Championship**, scheduled for **April 17 and 19 in Fort Worth, Texas**.
#### **The Path to Victory: Team Effort Shines**
In a nail-biting contest, Florida emerged victorious with a stellar score of **197.700**, edging out host team **No. 11 Alabama**, which scored **197.675**. The competition was fierce, with **No. 6 California** and **No. 14 Oregon State** also showcasing their grit, finishing with scores of **197.575** and **196.875**, respectively.
> “Every Gator was instrumental in this narrow team win,” remarked Florida’s head coach **Jenny Rowland**.
#### **Highlights from the Meet: A Breakdown of Performances**
The championship round kicked off on the **uneven bars**, where Florida set the tone with a **landmark performance**, scoring the day’s highest of **49.550**. Stars of the show included **Alyssa Arana**, **Skye Blakely**, and **Riley McCusker**, each delivering brilliant routines and nailing impressive scores of **9.925**. Even **Selena Harris-Miranda** added to the tally with a score of **9.900**.
Next, Florida’s unwavering force continued on the **balance beam**, where all routines hit the mark, although a few minor bobbles affected the team’s scoring potential. Harris-Miranda shone once again, achieving a score of **9.900**, complemented by **Arana** and **Victoria Nguyen**, who both delivered commendable scores of **9.875**.
The excitement surged as the Gators moved to the **floor exercises**, where three gymnasts scored **9.900** and above, contributing to a competitive total of **49.500**. **Leanne Wong** led the pack with a magnificent score of **9.950**, capturing the day’s floor title.
Tension gripped the arena as the Gators entered the final rotation with a mere **two-tenths lead** over Alabama. The pressure mounted, but Florida stepped up, capping the meet on the **vault** with an impressive performance that earned the day’s high score of **49.350**. Both **Anya Pilgrim** and **Wong** led off the lineup with matching scores of **9.900**, sharing the day’s honors for vault alongside other stalwart contributions of **9.850** from their teammates.
### **Event Winners: Who Stood Out?**
Scores from Sunday’s competition revealed the top performers:
– **Vault:**
– **Anya Pilgrim** & **Leanne Wong**, Florida – **9.90**
– Corinne Bunagan, Alabama – **9.90**
– **Bars:**
– Chloe LaCoursiere, Alabama – **9.95**
– Madelyn Williams, California – **9.95**
– **Beam:**
– Gabby Gladieux, Alabama – **9.95**
– Mya Lauzon, California – **9.95**
– **Floor:**
– **Leanne Wong**, Florida – **9.95**
– Mya Lauzon, California – **9.95**
#### **Florida Gators’ Season Milestones**
1. Florida celebrated its **22nd NCAA Regional title**, marking their impressive streak of consecutive victories.
2. The **0.025 margin** of victory against Alabama is the narrowest win for Florida in NCAA Regional history since 1997.
3. **Leanne Wong’s** dual titles on vault and floor have catapulted her into a prestigious **spot on the Florida Career Wins Chart**, now standing at **No. 4 with 88 wins**.
### **Coach Rowland’s Optimistic Outlook**
Expressing her pride and excitement, Coach Rowland said, “The Gators keep dancing, and we’re thrilled to head to **Fort Worth for NCAA nationals.** It was a tough competition filled with remarkable gymnastics from all teams. While we know we can perform even better, today it was enough.”
### **What’s Next for the Gators?**
The Florida Gators are set to unleash their talent once again at the NCAA Championships, returning to Fort Worth for the **eighth time since 2015**. They will compete in the **afternoon semifinal** on **April 17**, starting at **4:30 p.m. ET**, broadcasted live on **ESPN2**.
– **NCAA Championships Schedule:**
– **April 17, Semifinal:**
– Afternoon semi: Alabama, Florida, TBA, TBA – **4:30 p.m. ET** on [ESPN2](https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/bc6add32-5548-48fd-85c6-4936c3ba5b8e)
– Evening semi: UCLA, LSU, Michigan State, Utah – **9 p.m. ET** on [ESPN2](https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/2bb3f085-47d1-42ad-b7a6-5dbf365d5b36)
– **April 19, Team Final:** – **4 p.m. ET** on [ABC](https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/6ac2bce8-d03c-455f-aed8-7ed6e1577978)
As the Gators prepare for this prestigious championship, fans can look forward to an exhilarating display of talent, determination, and unwavering spirit. **Go Gators!**
