The Florida Gators closed out January with a statement win on Friday night, taking down No. 6 Arkansas 198.05-195.975 in a high-profile SEC clash inside the O’Connell Center. This wasn’t just a win-it was a showcase of depth, poise, and a team starting to hit its stride early in the 2026 season.
The No. 3-ranked Gators posted their second-highest score of the year, and they did it with a mix of veteran leadership and breakout performances from rising stars. Leading the charge was sophomore Skye Blakely, who delivered the kind of meet that turns heads across the collegiate gymnastics world.
Blakely notched collegiate bests in all three of her events, highlighted by a near-perfect 9.975 on floor-her second straight win in that event. She also shared top honors on bars (9.95) with senior Selena Harris-Miranda and on beam (9.95) with junior Kayla DiCello.
Blakely’s performance wasn’t just statistically impressive-it was the kind of confident, composed showing that signals a gymnast stepping into a bigger role. Her execution on floor was electric, and her beam routine showed the kind of control and artistry that coaches dream about.
Speaking of stepping up, Harris-Miranda and eMjae Frazier both made their season debuts in the all-around, and they didn’t miss a beat. Harris-Miranda led the way with a 39.675 total, good enough to take the all-around title, while Frazier wasn’t far behind at 39.575.
For Harris-Miranda, her 9.95 on bars tied for the meet’s best, and it marked a season high. Her veteran presence was felt across the board, and her return to the all-around adds a major weapon to Florida’s arsenal as the season heats up.
DiCello, another key piece in Florida’s rotation, matched Blakely’s 9.95 on beam, showing once again why she’s one of the most consistent performers in the SEC. And while Florida dominated most of the event titles, Arkansas’s Morgan Price managed to snag the vault crown with a 9.925-an impressive routine in a tough environment.
Here’s how the event winners shook out:
- Vault: Morgan Price, Arkansas - 9.925
- Bars: Skye Blakely & Selena Harris-Miranda, Florida - 9.95
- Beam: Skye Blakely & Kayla DiCello, Florida - 9.95
- Floor: Skye Blakely, Florida - 9.975
- All-Around: Selena Harris-Miranda, Florida - 39.675
After the meet, head coach Jenny Rowland praised her team’s unity and energy, noting how the Gators let the win come to them by staying grounded and focused. “We were extremely united, supporting each other, doing it for something bigger than ourselves,” Rowland said.
“They had so much fun. This team allowed the win to come to them, just being themselves.”
That chemistry is clearly translating into results. With the team clicking on multiple levels-veterans returning to form, underclassmen rising to the moment-Florida is starting to look like a legitimate national title contender.
Next up, the Gators hit the road for a showdown with No. 7 Missouri on Friday, Feb. 6, at Mizzou Arena.
The meet is set for a 9 p.m. ET start and will be televised on ESPN2.
If Florida keeps building like this, they won’t just be fun to watch-they’ll be tough to beat.