2016 Florida Gators women's gymnastics team
# 2016 Florida Gators women's gymnastics team

The 2016 Florida Gators gymnastics team represented the University of Florida in artistic gymnastics during the 2016 NCAA Division I women's gymnastics season. The Gators competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and hosted their home meets at the O'Connell Center on the university's campus in Gainesville, Florida. The 2016 season was the Gators' first under head coach Jenny Rowland.

The Gators were ranked No. 2 in the 2016 preseason coaches' poll, second to only Oklahoma.

## Previous season

The 2015 Gators team came into the 2015 season ranked #1 in the preseason coaches' poll, and finished the season with an 8–2–0 record after losing against conference rivals Alabama (Jan. 23) and Louisiana State (Feb. 20) in away meets. Following the regular season, the Gators placed third at the conference championships, and first at the NCAA Regional in Morgantown, West Virginia. As a result, the Gators advanced to Nationals, their 33rd appearance at the tournament. After tying with Utah for first in Session I, the Gators turned in a 197.850 score in the Super Six and were crowned 2015 National Champions – the third time in the program's history, all of which have been back-to-back. Senior Kytra Hunter took the individual National floor title, and was presented with the Honda Award as a result of her outstanding achievements.

On April 24, 2015 – less than a week after the team's National title – 13-year head coach, Rhonda Faehn announced her resignation from the Gators program after being offered a senior vice president role at the national governing body USA Gymnastics. Soon after, on Saturday, May 9, 2015, it was announced that Auburn assistant coach, Jenny Rowland would be succeeding Faehn as the new head coach of the program. It was also assistant coach Owen Field's inaugural season at Florida. Previously, he held the same role with the Nebraska Cornhuskers women's gymnastics program.

## Schedule

Florida announced the 2016 schedule in the September 2015. The 10-week regular season consisted of 5 home and 5 away meets. The Gators hosted SEC rivals Alabama, Louisiana State and Arkansas. They also hosted two non–conference teams, California, Los Angeles and North Carolina. They travelled to SEC schools Auburn, Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky; as well as to Texas Woman's in the first week.

2016 Schedule :

| Date | Time (ET) | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Friday, January 8 | 8:00 p.m. | at Texas Woman's* | 2 | Kitty Magee Arena • Denton, TX | N/A | W, 196.825–191.450 | 780 |
| Friday, January 15 | 6:45 p.m. | #5 UCLA* | 3 | O'Connell Center • Gainesville, FL | N/A | W, 197.675–196.925 | 6,511 |
| Friday, January 22 | 8:30 p.m. | at #8 Auburn | 1 | Auburn Arena • Auburn, AL | ESPN | W, 197.075–195.900 | 7,424 |
| Friday, January 29 | 6:45 p.m. | #5 Alabama | 1 | O'Connell Center • Gainesville, FL | SECN | W, 198.175-197.525 | 8,867 |
| Friday, February 5 | 7:00 p.m. | at #11 Georgia | 1 | Stegeman Coliseum • Athens, GA | SECN | L, 196.35-196.40 | 10,224 |
| Friday, February 12 | 6:45 p.m. | #9 Arkansas | 2 | O'Connell Center • Gainesville, FL | SECN+ | W, 197.45-195.975 | 7,621 |
| Friday, February 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at #19 Missouri | 2 | Hearnes Center • Columbia, MO | SECN | W, 197.75-196.65 | 1,830 |
| Friday, February 26 | 6:45 p.m. | LSU | | O'Connell Center • Gainesville, FL | SECN | | |
| Friday, March 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at Kentucky | | Memorial Coliseum • Lexington, KY | ESPNU | | |
| Friday, March 11 | 6:45 p.m. | North Carolina* | | O'Connell Center • Gainesville, FL | N/A | | |

Note: * denotes non-conference rival(s).

## Roster

The Gators lost four seniors after the 2015 campaign; Kytra Hunter, Jamie Shisler, Rachel Spicer and Kiersten Wang – all due to graduation and at the ends of their eligibility. However, they welcomed a 5-member–strong 2015–16 incoming freshman class composed of Alicia Boren, Amanda Cheney, Lacy Dagen, Peyton Ernst and Ashley Hiller. Amanda Cheney joined the team as a walk on athlete.

2016 Roster :

| Name | Height | Year | Hometown | Club |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Kennedy Baker | 5-0 | SO | Flower Mount, TX | Texas Dreams |
| Alicia Boren | 4-11 | FR | Franklin Lakes, NJ | North Stars |
| Claire Boyce | 5-6 | JR | Arlington, TX | Texas Dreams |
| Bridgette Caquatto | 5-3 | SR | Naperville, IL | Legacy Elite |
| Amanda Cheney | 5-5 | FR | Orlando, FL | Orlando Metro |
| Lacy Dagen | 5-1 | FR | Pleasanton, CA | San Mateo Gymnastics |
| Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto | 5-6 | SR | Montreal, Quebec | Gym-Richelieu |
| Peyton Ernst | 5-1 | FR | Coppell, TX | Texas Dreams |
| Ericha Fassbender | 5-3 | SO | Katy, TX | Stars Gymnastics |
| Morgan Frazier | 5-2 | SR | Winter Garden, FL | Orlando Metro |
| Ashley Hiller | 4-11 | FR | Pasadena, TX | Stars Gymnastics |
| Grace McLaughlin | 5-2 | SO | Allen, TX | WOGA |
| Alex McMurtry | 5-2 | SO | Midlothian, VA | Richmond Olympiad |
| Bridget Sloan | 5-1 | SR | Pittsboro, IN | Sharp's Gymnastics |
