SEC Gymnastics Week 5 Preview: Georgia falls out of top 20, Arkansas and Alabama on upset watch

For the first time this season, not all of the eight SEC gymnastics teams are ranked in the top 20.

Georgia is at No. 21 after a rocky meet last weekend vs. Kentucky, but the other SEC teams are all ranked in the top 15, with Kentucky leading the way at No. 3. The No. 5 through No. 9 spots are all taken by SEC teams: No. 5 LSU, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Arkansas, No. 8 Florida, and No. 9 Missouri. Auburn rounds out the conference ranked at No. 15.

#3 Kentucky @ #6 Alabama

Matchup Details: Friday, February 2 @ 8:30 p.m. ET | Kentucky @ Alabama – Live Stats | Video (SECN)

Kentucky

The Wildcats may be on the road this week, but they will be on a high heading into Tuscaloosa. They set a new program record last week, scoring a 197.95 last weekend and had two perfect 10s: Makenzie Wilson (vault) and Raena Worley (floor). Wilson was named SEC Specialist of the Week for her performance. Kentucky is ranked above Alabama on every event except bars, where they trail the Tide’s average by almost two-tenths. It will be the Wildcats’ first road test since losing to LSU two weeks ago, so they will be looking to prove that they can win as the away team.

Routine to watch:

• Jillian Procasky on bars: Bars will be very important for Kentucky to focus on this week, and since Procasky scored a 9.9 last weekend, the team will be needing her reliable routine to compete with Alabama’s bars expertise. 

Alabama

The last time the Tide faced Kentucky at home, in 2022, they secured the win, and Alabama will be looking to claim that victory once again. Alabama had an exhilarating meet last weekend, bringing in a new season-high final score (197.575) and earning a perfect 10 on vault from Lilly Hudson. Luisa Blanco was named SEC Gymnast of the Week for the second time this season after scoring a 39.7. If they are looking to defeat the Wildcats, then they will need to up their vault (+0.15) and floor (+0.3) scores from last weekend.

Routine to watch:  

• Jamison Sears on floor: The Tide needs a boost on floor, and Sears is definitely the gymnast that could provide it. With her personality, plus the energy of a home crowd, it could be what Sears needs to score her first 9.9 on the apparatus in her collegiate career.

#7 Arkansas @ #5 LSU

Matchup Details: Friday, February 2 @ 8 p.m. ET | Arkansas @ LSU – Live Stats | Video (SECN)

Arkansas

The Gymbacks may be ranked below the Tigers heading into this matchup, but it will be a neck-and-neck competition. Arkansas is averaging above LSU on beam (+0.127) and is virtually tied with LSU on floor. The Razorbacks will need to focus on getting those sticks on their vault landings and eliminating wobbles on beam to increase both event totals and upset LSU in their home arena. 

Routines to watch: 

• Cami Weaver on vault: Weaver is the highest ranked vaulter (No. 24) for Arkansas, averaging a 9.875. She scored a 9.9 vs. Georgia, and it will be really important to leadoff the Razorbacks against LSU on a high note. 
• Kalyxta Gamiao on beam: She has proved that she is capable of scoring big on beam, like her 9.925 vs. Alabama. Scores like that could be exactly what the Gymbacks need to stay ahead of LSU on beam. 

Check out some highlights from Arkansas’ last meet against Auburn here.

LSU

LSU took its first SEC loss on the road to Missouri last weekend and will be looking for redemption this week at home. The Tigers have shown they have the ability to score in the 198s, but being able to consistently score in that range will be the key moving forward. LSU averages higher than Arkansas on vault (+0.077) and bars (+0.127), but floor will be a focus area for the Tigers, since that is where the two teams are so closely matched.

Routines to watch:

• Haleigh Bryant on floor: Bryant was rested on floor last weekend, but her 9.925 average this season will be greatly needed against Arkansas. She is ranked No. 7 on this event and No. 1 in the all-around. 
• KJ Johnson on vault: She has a very calming yet explosive energy about her when competing on this event, which is why she is in the leadoff spot. Johnson is responsible for setting the Tigers up for a successful rotation, which will be even more important this weekend.

#8 Florida @ #21 Georgia

Matchup Details: Friday, February 2 @ 7 p.m. ET | Florida @ Georgia – Live Stats | Video (SEC)

Florida

Florida took a loss to Alabama last week at home, but they are coming to Athens this weekend expecting to continue their seven-meet win streak. The Gators average above the Bulldogs on every event, with the biggest gap being on beam (+0.354) and the smallest gap being on bars, where the two are virtually tied. Florida has increased its score each week, and if they can continue that trend against Georgia, then it will be hard for the Bulldogs to match the Gators’ scores. 

Routine to watch:

• Ellie Lazzari on bars: Lazzari competed on bars for the first time since 2021 last weekend and scored a career-best 9.925. The Gators will rely on Lazzari’s bars routine to keep their gap above Georgia. And in other exciting news, Lazzari announced on Flipping Out with Bridget Sloan this week that she plans to return next season for a fifth year.

Georgia

The GymDogs had a rough time at Kentucky last weekend and scored a 195.65, only surpassing 49 on vault (49.125) and floor (49.025). But the last time Georgia competed at home, the team reached a new season high (197.050), so the Bulldogs could come back home and show that they are a 197+ team. In order to do that, they will have to get their beam (48.525 against Kentucky) and bars (48.975) back into the 49+ range, which is very possible seeing as the only event the GymDogs don’t average 49+ on is vault (48.969).

Routines to watch:

• Zora Morgan on beam: She made her collegiate debut last weekend and posted Georgia’s highest beam score with a 9.85. She showed really great poise and focus when the Bulldogs needed a good score the most, so it will be interesting to see if she stays in the lineup and continues to improve. 
• Ady Wahl on vault: Wahl’s score has increased every week on this event. She competes a Yurchenko 1.5 and scored her collegiate-best 9.925 last weekend. Will her score continue to get better every week until she hits 10?

#9 Missouri @ Texas Woman’s University

Matchup Details: Saturday, February 3 @ 7 p.m. ET | Missouri @ Texas Woman’s 

Missouri is taking a break from SEC matchups this week and heading down to Texas to face Texas Woman’s University. The Tigers beat TWU last year in their first meeting since 1986. Mizzou is coming off a huge upset against LSU but will be shooting to get their beam score back in the 49 range after seeing it drop last weekend (48.9).

Routine to watch:

• Kennedy Griffin on floor: She was named SEC Freshman of the Week for her stellar performance on floor that helped Missouri beat LSU. She scored a 9.975, and she could be on track for a 10 this season.

Fisk, Talladega, and Temple @ #15 Auburn

Matchup Details: Friday, February 2 @ 8 p.m. ET | Fisk, Talladega, Temple @ Auburn – Video (SECN+)

The Tigers are hosting a quad meet this weekend against Fisk, Talladega, and Temple. Auburn dropped back two spots in the rankings from last week after only scoring in the 196 range vs. Arkansas. If the Tigers want to get back into the 197 range, they will need to get their bars score back to 49+. They scored a 48.875 last weekend. The Tigers rank among the top 20 on each event, with beam being their highest placement at No. 10. 

Routines to watch:

• Gabby McLaughlin on bars: She has been the most consistent bars routine for the Tigers with a 9.862 average, so if Auburn is looking for someone to keep things moving in the lineup, it’s her.