UF Gymnastics: Florida’s Jenny Rowland is SEC Coach of the Year

Courtesy of University Athletic Association

BY MARY HOWARD

Florida’s Jenny Rowland repeats as Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, the league announced today. A vote of the league coaches determines the SEC award winners.

Jenny Rowland: SEC Coach of the Year:

Rowland was voted SEC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year and for the third time in her six seasons with the Gators.

  *   Florida No. 1 on 2021 preseason poll and held top ranking throughout 2021 season. Gators are No. 1 seed for upcoming NCAA Championships.
  *   The Gators won their third consecutive SEC regular-season title with a 7-0 league record. It was UF’s second straight undefeated league season. 2020 and 2021 are UF’s only undefeated SEC seasons since all league teams began meeting during regular season action in 1992.
  *   Gators rank in top five in each of the final event rankings – No. 1 (beam & floor), No. 4 (vault), No. 5 (bars)
  *   Florida’s 198.275 (Feb. 26 vs Auburn) is nation’s top total for 2021. Gators lead nation with three 2021 scores among the nation’s top 11.
  *   School Records Equaled in 2021:
Uneven Bars:        Trinity Thomas     10.0 (Feb. 26)
Balance Beam:    Leah Clapper       10.0 (Feb. 19)
Team                     49.70 (Feb. 26)
Floor Exercise:     Trinity Thomas     10.0 (Feb. 12 and Feb. 12)
All-Around:            Trinity Thomas     39.90 (Feb. 12)

All-SEC Gators:
Four Gators earned All-SEC honors in SEC Championship meet competition.

All-SEC Criteria: Top two event scores (including ties) in each session of the SEC Championships made up the All-SEC team. The freshmen with the top event score (including ties) in each SEC Championships’ session filled out the SEC All-Freshman team.

Alyssa Baumann – Senior

  *   Claimed a share of SEC balance beam title at 9.95
  *   Third All-SEC honor
  *   First three-time beam winner in the 40-year history of the SEC Championship meet

Leah Clapper – Junior

  *   Used a 9.925 to claim fifth in the final SEC balance beam standings
  *   First All-SEC honor
  *   2021 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Ellie Lazzari – Freshman

  *   Claimed a share of SEC balance beam title at 9.95
  *   First freshman to win beam since teammate Alyssa Baumann claimed 2018 title
  *   Also earned spot on SEC All-Freshman team. Top freshman in SEC Championship meet all-around, placing sixth (39.475)
  *   SEC Freshman of the Week on March 1

Megan Skaggs – Senior

  *   Fourth in SEC Championship meet uneven bars standings at 9.925
  *   Second consecutive All-SEC honor
  *   Also fourth in SEC all-around (39.50)
  *   SEC Gymnast of the Week after claiming all-around title at Arkansas