If you had asked me earlier in the week about No. 1 Florida’s meet against No. 15 Kentucky on Friday, I probably would have told you that it would have been a little boring. I would have predicted a high home score for the Gators to add to their National Qualifying Score and an easy victory over an SEC opponent that isn’t really on the Gators’ level in the Annual Link to Pink meet.
Instead, the inevitable — for a season conducted in a pandemic, anyway — happened. And then the unthinkable did.
Without key performers, including the recently near-perfect Trinity Thomas, and head coach Jenny Rowland, Florida staged a spirited defense of its unbeaten record and home floor, downing Kentucky with a stunning show from reserves and contributors whose roles grew much bigger in a hurry.