No. 7 Missouri gymnastics had a historic performance Friday night, knocking off No. 2 Florida 197.200-196.500 at Mizzou Arena during the program’s alumni meet. The victory marked the highest-ranked win in program history and came in front of a season-high crowd of 2,976.
The Tigers (5-3, 1-3 SEC) were fueled by a season-best 49.525 on floor exercise — their highest rotation score of the year — and a decisive edge on uneven bars, where they outscored the Gators (6-1, 3-1 SEC) 49.250-48.475.
Missouri set the tone early on vault, as junior Kennedy Griffin and sophomore Railey Jackson both posted 9.800s to open the meet. Sophomore Kaia Tanskanen followed with a career-best 9.875, which helped the Tigers build a narrow 49.150-48.475 lead after the first rotation.
The Tigers extended their momentum on bars, with sophomore Olivia Kelly matching her season high with a 9.850, while Tanskanen made her first bars appearance of the season and scored a 9.825. Freshman Maiya Terry capped the rotation with a career-best 9.900 in just her third collegiate routine, lifting Missouri to a 49.250 total — its third straight meet reaching that mark or higher.
On beam, Missouri continued to stack consistent routines. Redshirt senior Amy Wier and graduate student Lauren Macpherson opened with back-to-back 9.800s before Kelly tied her personal best with a 9.900. Senior Addison Lawrence anchored the lineup with a season-best 9.950, securing a share of the beam title and pushing the Tigers to a 49.275 rotation score.
Missouri sealed the upset on the floor in front of nearly 50 returning alumni. Sophomore Ayla Acevedo and Tanskanen opened with consecutive career-high 9.925s, followed by freshman Kimarra Echols’ career-best 9.875. Griffin closed the meet with her fourth 9.925 of the season, as five Tigers shared the floor title and delivered the program’s strongest rotation of the year.
Tanskanen also competed in the all-around for the first time in her career, totaling a 39.400.
Missouri will travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to face No. 29 Kentucky on Friday. The meet will air on the SEC Network.
