2023 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics preview: Oklahoma once again the team to beat as Florida continues to challenge

The 2023 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics season is upon us, with exciting teams, intriguing storylines, and plenty of rising stars poised to make waves this season.

The season officially kicks off this weekend with teams in action Friday-Tuesday (technically into the second week of the season, but plenty to watch nonetheless!). Keep reading for a preview of the top teams from the WCGA Preseason Coaches Poll.

GymNow will have expanded coverage of both men’s and women’s college gymnastics this season, with the addition of a dedicated men’s writer and women’s writer.

#1 Oklahoma

Unsurprisingly, perennial powerhouse and defending champion Oklahoma topped this year’s preseason poll.

The Sooners have won five of the last nine national titles and are the ones to beat yet again this year. 

The key to the program’s longstanding success is head coach K.J. Kindler’s ability to build a program riddled with talent, depth, and outstanding execution and consistency. The Sooners return eight gymnasts who combined for 20 All-America honors in seniors Ragan Smith, Olivia Trautman (COVID year), and Allie Stern (COVID year); juniors Audrey Davis and Katherine LeVasseur; and sophomores Jordan Bowers, Danielle Sievers, and Danae Fletcher. Joining the squad are former elite gymnasts Faith Torrez and Ava Siegfeldt.

The current state of the program will be clear early, as the team faces #4 Michigan, #5 Auburn, and #10 UCLA at the outset of the season at the Super 16 meet in Las Vegas before traveling to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to face #6 LSU. Other key road matchups include #7 Alabama, #13 Denver, #15 Arkansas, and #17 Stanford. At home, the team will host #3 Utah and #2 Florida in what will likely be two of the most significant matchups of the season.

“This may be the most challenging regular season schedule in program history,” Kindler noted in December.

#2 Florida

After narrowly finishing the season as national runner-up, Florida is back and arguably stronger than ever as the Gators continue their quest to return to the top of the college gymnastics world for the first time since completing a three-peat in 2015.

The Gators boast one of the most recognizable rosters in the NCAA and were narrowly edged by Oklahoma in the preseason poll after earning 21 first-place votes to the Sooners’ 22. This even after losing seniors Alyssa Baumann, Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Nya Reed, and Megan Skaggs, who remains with the team as an assistant to the head coach.

Headlining the team are seniors/graduate students Trinity Thomas, Payton Richards, Halley Taylor, Leah Clapper, and Rachel Baumann (sister of Alyssa and graduate transfer from Georgia). The substantial senior class is joined by juniors Chloi Clark, Ellie Lazzari, Alex Magee, and Victoria Nguyen (transfer from Georgia); sophomores Leanne Wong, Riley McCusker, Morgan Hurd (redshirt freshman), Bri Edwards, and Sloane Blakely; and the freshman duo of 2021 world all-around bronze medalist and Olympic team alternate Kayla DiCello and Lori Brubach.

The road to another Four on the Floor appearance runs through a challenging SEC schedule and nine-consecutive meets against preseason top-25 opponents, including the pivotal March 3 matchup versus top-ranked Oklahoma.

Update: A previous version of this story highlighted Florida’s fifth year graduate student Savannah Schoenherr. Schoenherr announced Thursday, January 5, that she is out indefinitely after breaking her foot in a “non-gymnastics related incident.”

#3 Utah

Utah starts the season where it finished: as the No. 3 team in the nation and receiving a commendable two first-place nods from voters. The third-place ranking is the highest preseason ranking for Utah since 2010.

The Utes’ roster features a well-rounded mix of experienced leaders and up-and-coming talent, including senior standouts Maile O’Keefe, Abby Paulson, Jaedyn Rucker, and Cristal Isa. Other key players include junior Jaylene Gilstrap and sophomores Kara Eaker, Grace McCallum, Amelie Morgan, and Sage Thompson. The Utes’ freshman class is always one to watch and this year includes Makenna Smith and Sarah Krump.

The Utes are set to face 11 teams in the top 25, including with their home opener vs. #6 LSU, a week three showdown vs. #1 Oklahoma, and a difficult Pac-12 schedule that sees all eight conference teams starting the season ranked.

#4 Michigan

2021 national champion Michigan squeaked into the top four to start the season after earning an impressive four first-place votes despite seeing its 2022 season end during the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

Bolstering the 2023 roster are graduate students Abby Heiskell and Natalie Wojcik, who return for a victory lap after both gymnasts earned two All-America honors each. They’re joined by senior stars Sierra Brooks and Gabby Wilson; juniors Naomi Morrison, Reyna Guggino, and Carly Bauman; sophomore Jacey Vore; and four freshman in Paige Thaxton, Kaylen Morgan, Farrah Lipetz, and Lily Clapper (sister of Florida’s Leah Clapper).

Michigan starts their season at the Super 16 quad meet against #5 Auburn, #1 Oklahoma, and #10 UCLA. After facing Denver and Fisk in week two, the Wolverines have a six-week slate against Big Ten teams before closing out the regular season with dual meets against Oklahoma and #20 Georgia.

#5 Auburn

Following its historic 2022 run to the NCAA final and No. 4 finish, the Auburn Tigers are positioned to build on their success in 2023 after earning their highest preseason ranking in program history at #5.

“This is an exciting time for Auburn gymnastics,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “I’m very happy that our peers see us as being talented enough for this ranking, and we’re looking forward to what 2023 will bring.”

While the team is stacked with a slew of talent, ranging from fifth year floor extraordinaire Derrian Gobourne to freshman and former elite Olivia Greaves, all eyes are on sophomore and Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee. The 2022 NCAA beam champion and all-around runner-up announced in November that 2023 will be her last in the NCAA as she plans to return to the elite ranks and attempt defend her Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games.

With Lee’s days in the NCAA numbered, it feels like a make or break year for Auburn. Can the Tigers build on their 2022 success and establish themselves as a national contender for years to come, or will they fade to a mid-tier team once again? Time will tell, but Jeff Graba seems to be doing everything in his power to make sure Auburn can stand on its own two legs even after the NCAA’s biggest name moves on.

On the outside looking in: #6 LSU to #36 San Jose State

The remaining preseason poll is as follows:

Also receiving votes: Towson (142), George Washington (94), Central Michigan (93), Temple (69), Western Michigan (60), Kent State (55), New Hampshire (51), Rutgers (50), Pittsburgh (16), Bowling Green (15), Sacramento State (14), UC Davis (8), Illinois State (5), Texas Woman’s (4), LIU (4), Northern Illinois (3), Ball State (2), Lindenwood (2), and Fisk (1).