The University of Florida’s Alaina Johnson (Tyler, Texas) is the Southeastern Conference Freshman Gymnast of the Week, the league office announced Thursday. Alabama senior Kayla Hoffman is the SEC Gymnast of the Week.
Johnson was impressive in her Gator debut, taking second in the Florida-Nebraska dual all-around with a total of 39.425. The total places Johnson No. 3 in the first national all-around rankings. The 39.425 is the second-highest ever by a Gator in her all-around debut, second only to the 39.45 posted by Samantha Lutz in the fifth meet of the 2004 season. For Gators making their all-around debut in a season opener, Johnson’s total is the highest, bettering Ashanée Dickerson’s 39.35 at Oklahoma in 2010.
Johnson also picked up the evening's uneven bars win with a mark of 9.925, while taking second in vault (9.85) and sharing second in floor (9.90).
This gives the Gator program its eighth SEC Freshman of the Week honor since the start of the 2010 season. Last year, a Gator picked up seven of the 11 possible SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Week honors. Dickerson claimed the award four times and Marissa King picked up three honors.
