Riley McCusker is making every moment of her final collegiate season count-and the rest of the SEC is taking notice. The Florida senior just picked up her second SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week honor, and it’s not hard to see why.
Her standout performance on the uneven bars helped power the Gators past No. 11 Auburn in a tightly contested meet, 197.10 to 196.70.
McCusker posted a stunning 9.975 on bars, just a breath away from perfection. That score isn’t just impressive-it’s the highest mark on bars in the nation so far this season. It was a performance that blended precision, grace, and the kind of technical mastery that makes judges pause before deducting even a tenth of a point.
This season marks McCusker’s fifth and final year in Gainesville, made possible by a medical redshirt after she missed her junior season due to a significant ankle injury. That setback came in November 2023 during training, and it required surgery that sidelined her for the entire year. But now, fully healthy and back in peak form, she’s reminding everyone why she’s one of the most decorated gymnasts in the NCAA.
And it’s not just about one big night. McCusker has been consistent this season, scoring a 9.925 on bars against Alabama and a 9.90 in the season-opening quad meet with North Carolina, West Virginia, and Temple. Her routines are crisp, confident, and packed with difficulty-exactly what you’d expect from someone with her résumé.
Speaking of that résumé, it’s stacked. McCusker is the reigning SEC co-champion on bars, a 2023 All-American, and a 2018 World Championship gold medalist with Team USA.
She even notched a perfect 10 at last year’s SEC Championship in a loaded meet featuring LSU, Oklahoma, and Missouri. That routine helped Florida post the highest uneven bars score of any team in the entire 2025 season.
Now, she’s got her eyes on the next challenge. Florida, currently ranked No. 3, is set for a marquee Top-10 showdown with No.
6 Arkansas this Friday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
And you can bet McCusker will be back on bars, anchoring the lineup with the kind of poise and polish that’s become her trademark.
For McCusker, this final ride is about more than just medals and accolades-it’s about finishing strong, leading her team, and leaving a legacy. So far, she’s doing all of that and more.