Throughout this season, Kytra Hunter has thrived on the big stage.
Three of the freshman all-around competitor’s four best scores have come at the Southeastern Conference Championships (39.625) and against Georgia (39.675) and Alabama (39.45), Florida’s most heated rivals.
But Friday will serve as a whole different challenge for Hunter.
When No. 1 seed Florida competes in the evening session of the NCAA Championships, she will experience for the first time an environment where the Gators have historically struggled to capture a national title.
Despite the pressure, she remains composed as always.
“I’m treating it like any other meet,” Hunter said. “Having that mindset is what’s calming me. If I start thinking about nationals and Super Six, I think I’ll get ahead of myself.”
At the SEC Championships on March 24, she performed well in The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth.
In that meet, Hunter’s 39.625 helped her snag the all-around title. That afternoon, she also picked up the vault win (9.975).
Hunter is the Gators’ first SEC All-Around Champion since Kristen Guise in 1995 and the first UF freshman to win the title since Elfi Schlegel in 1983.
“That’s a pretty stressful stage with those teams and she did exceptional,” coach Rhonda Faehn said. “I have no doubt she’ll do exactly the same with the same focus, same energy into the national championship.”
Two weeks after one of the most dynamic performances of her collegiate career, Hunter followed with an average showing at regionals.
In Raleigh, N.C., on April 7, she recorded a 39.25 after posting a 9.8 on uneven bars and touching the balance beam (9.6). Still, she recorded a 9.95 on floor exercise to win the event title.
“I did mess up my (beam) series a little bit at regionals,” Hunter said. “I was thinking about finishing and moving on before actually finishing the skill. I kind of got ahead of myself.”
But the one aspect of Hunter’s freshman campaign that has inspired her teammates is her ability to rebound quickly from mistakes.
“Kytra’s done so well throughout the season, becoming more of a team player and understanding collegiate gymnastics,” junior Marissa King said. “She’s really grown.
“I don’t think [the team’s freshmen are] going to struggle this weekend because we’ve spoken about it. They’re excited and they’re ready.”
When No. 1 seed Florida returns to Duluth this weekend, three of its five opponents — Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia — will be SEC foes.
In a sense, the NCAA semifinals will almost be a rematch of the SEC Championships.
“It’s great motivation that we’ve won before,” Hunter said. “But like I said, it’s a new meet, new day.
“All of the girls have the same mindset that we want to win, but we’re all staying humble as a team. I think that’s what’s helping us stay on top.”
