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Florida’s Thomas is SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Year

March 28, 2019

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UF freshman Trinity Thomas' winning 9.975 on floor exercise was the high score for any event for the NCAA Corvallis Regional. [Alan Youngblood/Staff photographer/File]

Special to Gatorsports.com

Florida’s Trinity Thomas is the Southeastern Conference Freshman Gymnast of the Year, the league coaches voted.

Thomas, the nation’s top-ranked freshman all-arounder, has dazzled throughout her collegiate debut season:

* SEC vault champion after equaling collegiate-best of 9.95. Also shared second on floor exercise (9.95) and third in all-around (39.575)

* One of four in the nation (and only freshman) ranked among nation’s top 20 for every event – No. 5 all-around (39.65 RQS), No. T2 floor (9.965), No. 4 uneven bars (9.95), No. 14 balance beam (9.910), No. 17 vault (9.9).

* Four All-America regular-season honors – the nation’s leading freshman total.

* First in league history to earn a SEC weekly honor after each competition (three SEC Gymnast; six SEC Freshman of Week)

* Leads Florida with 22 event titles (seven floor; five all-around, bars; three vault, two beam)

* Seven nearly perfect 9.975s (three bars; four floor) leads Gator freshman all-time

*Every collegiate-best is a 9.925 or better. Top all-around (39.75) equals high by a Gator freshman (Bridget Sloan-2013)

*Only current collegiate to also be a member of U.S. Senior National Team

She is the ninth Gator to receive SEC Freshman of the Year and first since Kennedy Baker claimed the 2015 honor.

The All-SEC Team is comprised of the student-athletes with the top two event scores (including ties) in each session of the SEC Championships. The All-Freshman team is comprised of the freshmen student-athletes with the top event score (including ties) in each SEC Championships’ session.

The five Gators on the 2019 All-SEC and/or SEC All-Freshman teams are:

Alyssa Baumann – ALL-SEC TEAM

* SEC balance beam co-champion (9.95). First in 21 seasons to win SEC balance beam title in consecutive seasons.

* Shared second in SEC floor competition at 9.95

* 2019 National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches regular-season All-American for balance beam

* Second consecutive All-SEC appearance

Rachel Gowey – ALL-SEC TEAM

* SEC balance beam co-champion. Returned to lineup after sitting out last four beam competitions to equal collegiate best (9.95).

* Four-time beam winner in 2019

* Second consecutive appearance All-SEC honor

Megan Skaggs – ALL-SEC TEAM

* SEC balance beam co-champion. Raised collegiate best (9.95) for second consecutive meet to win second beam title of 2019.