The Florida Gators are the three-time defending NCAA Champions and have proven themselves as the team to beat in college gymnastics. They currently sit at #2 in the standings and can contribute a lot of that success to this year's freshman. There are five on the Gators fourteen member roster, and they have have made a big impact in the first half of the season. The class includes:

• Peyton Ernst - U.S. Senior National Team Member (2012-2014)
• Alicia Boren - four-time J.O. all-around champion
• Amanda Cheney - fourth on beam at the 2015 J.O. Championships
  
• Ashley Hiller - runner-up to Boren on vault at the 2015 J.O. Championships
  
• Lacy Dagen - first on beam at the 2014 J.O. Championships

This group ranks an impressive No. 2 in the 2015-2016 CollegeGymFans.com top recruiting classes, but strong classes are nothing new for the Gators.
In the last seven years Florida has had the No. 1 recruiting class five times, talent that has helped them bring home the last three in a row National Championships. The class of 2015 is breaking into lineups and making big contributions on the competition floor, which is definitely not an easy task on a team of veteran champions.

Being a freshman on a team that has dominated NCAA Gymnastics in recent years carries an extra set of expectations. The spotlight shines a little brighter, there is smaller room for error, and they know their University is counting on them to bring home another championship. All the while, they are trying to get acclimated as freshman on a college campus, living on their own for the first time, being thrown into an unfamiliar environment with new coaches, classmates, and teammates. Their entire world is turned upside down, and yet these new Gators have stepped to the plate as strong, reliable competitors.

Alicia Boren

Boren has seen the most competition of any freshman this season, competing in the all-around all but one meet thus far. Definitely not surprising, as she won the J.O. Championships all-around title an incredible four times before coming to Florida, but impressive nonetheless. Boren has been named the SEC Conference Freshman of the week four times this year and has fallen just twice in 43 routines. In her all-around debut at UCLA, she scored a 39.575, equaling the highest total ever for a Gator making first all-around appearance.

“I’m really proud of the freshman class, being able to step in at any given time is not an easy task. Boren doing all around..has shown her true character, passion, love for the sport. She is very dedicated in the gym so it carries over to the competition floor” - Head Coach Jenny Rowland

Boren knows the expectations that come with joining a team with three straight national titles. When discussing the transition, she said, "They say you're going to compete all-around, but you've got to figure it out as you go. I feel like it's motivated me so much because they've won three (titles), but I haven't added to any of that, and I want to be able to add to another one for them." It seems as if the sky is the limit for this powerhouse gymnast who will undoubtedly be a huge player for the Gators this post-season, and the rest of her time in Gainesville. To top it all off, Boren’s parents are both UF Veterinary school alums, so she was born with blue and orange in her blood.


See Boren's 9.9 floor routine at Auburn:

Peyton Ernst

Ernst is a former U.S. National Team Member (2012-2014) and brings with her some incredibly valuable international elite experience. She was part of Team USA's gold medal teams at the 2014 Pacific Rim and Jesolo Trophy events, and took second all around at the 2013 Mexican Open, 2013 Tokyo World Cup, and 2014 Jesolo Trophy competitions. Ernst has been a rock for the Gators on beam this season, with a season high 9.925 against Alabama.

Ernst's college debut, 9.875 at TWU:


Injuries have limited Ernst this year, but she has done everything she can to help her team. Coach Rowland talked a little about the injury, and how it has impacted her this season after the Missouri meet February 19th - "Peyton was one of my highlights tonight. She did a brand-new beam routine and actually put her hands down on the beam during her series. That is actually a big deal for her as she had [shoulder] surgery nine months ago...She was released this week by the doctor and did a fantastic job on beam tonight. You could see a smile light up her face when she landed that series. We are looking forward to improving on that and moving forward." Definitely look for Ernst to contribute more her sophomore season, and continue to be an incredible asset to this team.

Amanda Cheney

Before coming to Florida, Amanda Cheney trained at Orlando Metro Gymnastics, and was fourth on beam at the 2015 J.O. Championships, and first on vault and balance at the 2014 Florida State Championships. Cheney has performed mostly exhibition routines this year this year, but competed vault in the opening meet of the season.

When asked how the 2016 season is going, Cheney responded:

"So far I have done vault and beam in the O'Dome and it has been a dream come true. I always wanted to be a Gator, and being on the team in the O'Dome is such an amazing feeling."

Coach Rowland on Cheney: "Amanda Cheney competing exhibitions on vault and balance beam has been a dream, a goal of hers since she started gymnastics so to see that happen and for her to perform well, I am so happy for her and she just couldn't get that smile off her face at the end of the meet." Similar to Boren, Cheney’s parents are both Florida graduates, making putting on that Florida leotard every Friday a little more special.

Cheney showing a lot of power on her vault against TWU!

Ashley Hiller

Originally from Houston, Hiller trained at Stars Gymnastics and had a very successful level 10 career. She took second on vault at the 2015 J.O. Championships, and has competed on floor three times for the Gators this season, and once once on vault.

Ashley Hiller debut on Vault against Arkansas “it was amazing competing with my teammates in the O’Dome..Coming in as a freshman it was a lot of pressure but having my teammates guide me through the season has really helped"

Hiller performs floor with a huge smile and even bigger double pike!


After their home meet versus Arkansas, Hiller commented "It was amazing competing with my teammates in the O’Dome. Coming in as a freshman it was a lot of pressure but having my teammates guide me through the season has really helped."

Lacy Dagen

Lacy Dagen comes out of San Mateo Gymnastics. She was a former elite and competed at the 2012 Secret Classic and Visa Championships as a junior. In 2014, she placed first on beam, fourth on floor, and third all around at J.O. Championships. Unfortunately Dagen is out this season with a torn ACL, but will look to make a strong comeback for her sophomore season. At the beginning of the season, she stated

Even though I got injured before the season started I still feel very part of the team. I love cheering on my teammates on all the events, I just can't wait until I'm better and can compete with my team in the O'Dome.

It is always hard to be the new kid on the block, but especially so when you are stepping onto a championship caliber team. Bridget Sloan admitted she had no idea what to expect from her freshman coming in, saying "As a senior, I wasn't prepared on what to do, so I'm just going to do what I've always done and see if they jump on my train and they did. It was incredible in the gym to see them grow as athletes. They're able to have fun in practice now. We're not just the upperclassmen, we're their teammates and their friends. It's awesome to see that because that's what you need in a team. You need people to look up to, but you also need those people you can turn to...that's what it's supposed to be about."

Coach Rowland mentioned that their mindset this year is to "focus on the process and enjoy that journey. We aren’t focusing on the destination. One other theme we have is “Designed to Go Far,” it is just knowing that anything and everything happens in our lives makes us the person we are. We want to build on that day after day.” It is early in their careers, but it looks as if these freshmen are indeed, designed to go far.


Related:
Videos: Florida at TWU
Beyond the Routine: Texas Dreams | Peyton Ernst: Breaking Through
Beyond the Routine: Episode 2: How Florida Did the Unthinkable
2015-2016 NCAA Incoming Freshmen: Florida
Future Gator Lacy Dagen On Club Career And Starting At Florida