No. 2 Florida opens the season on the road tonight as they travel to face West Virginia in a non-conference meet. The Gators did not lose any routines from the 2017 season and added a four-member freshman class to compete for spots in the lineup. 

Freshman Vanasia Bradley, who was the fifth member of that incoming class, announced that she would be medically retiring prior to the season and will be a student assistant coach.

The Mountaineers, which finished the 2017 season ranked No. 23, will look to junior Kirah Koshinski and senior Zaakira Muhammad for leadership and consistency. West Virginia has a class of three freshmen that should make an impact from the start of the season.

In 2017: The Gators hosted the Mountaineers on March 10 with Florida coming out on top, 197.600 to 196.100. It was the top road score of the season for West Virginia. Zaakira Muhammad finished second in the all-around for the Mountaineers behind Florida’s Rachel Gowey.

Feeling ready for tonight after our walk-through at West Virginia! ???‍♀️ #GoGators #WontBackDown #GameOn pic.twitter.com/wddzwVTl1F

— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) January 5, 2018

Florida

The Gators ended the 2017 season with a third-place finish at the NCAA championships. And where most of their competitors have lost key pieces in their 2017 lineups, Florida brings back all 24 routines from the Super Six finals. The Gators have also added the top recruiting class in the country with former U.S. elites Alyssa Baumann, Jazmyn Foberg, and Megan Skaggs plus Nicole Webb, who had a solid J.O. career.

Key event: Vault

Florida has potential to put up as many as six or seven 10.0 start value vaults, though it is unlikely that the full lineup of six will have a 10.0 vault in Friday’s season opener. Expect NCAA runner-up Alex McMurtry to be in the lineup with the easier Yurchenko full instead of her double full. Seniors Kennedy Baker (Yurchenko 1.5) and Rachel Slocum (handspring front pike half) should both be in the lineup as should junior Alicia Boren with her Yurchenko 1.5. Skaggs should also be in this lineup with a comfortable Yurchenko 1.5. 

That leaves the final spot, which could go to any one of Sierra Alexander, Rachel Gowey, or Jazmyn Foberg — all with Yurchenko fulls — to Meagan Chant with her tsuk full, or to Amelia Hundley, who competed a Yurchenko full in 2017 but is training a Yurchenko 1.5.

West Virginia

The Mountaineers ended the 2017 season with a third-place finish at the Morgantown regional, just 0.3 away from qualifying to nationals. West Virginia was led by Kirah Koshinski, who finished second on floor exercise with a 9.925, and Zaakira Muhammad, who qualified to nationals in the all-around as an individual.

Key event: Floor exercise

West Virginia has the most depth on floor with 12 gymnasts being ready to compete. Muhammad was a fan favorite last year and scored a 9.850 or better on seven occasions. Koshinski was the Mountaineers’ top floor worker last year and finished the season ranked No. 23 with an RQS of 9.905. Sophomores Chloe Cuchey, Abby Kaufmann, and Erica Fontaine and senior Jordan Gillette all should figure into that lineup as well. Fontaine is expected to make her debut on floor in 2018.