Florida’s vault routine highlighted its 197.65-196.025 victory against Auburn on Friday night.
Four gymnasts registered a score of 9.9 or above as the Gators pieced together a 49.625 — the second-highest vault score in program history.
As a result, UF recorded a season-high 197.65 to seal its third victory of the year.
“[Friday’s] lineup was probably the strongest one we’ve had,” freshman Bridget Sloan said. “I know this is only our fourth meet but it was definitely a great lineup.”
UF topped its 49.375 mark set against LSU on Jan. 18 and fell shy of the program record by .025.
Coach Rhonda Faehn has yet to set a permanent lineup, but Friday’s vault rotation was undoubtedly the Gators’ best ensemble this season.
Heading into Friday’s meet against No. 18 Auburn, Florida was averaging 49.342 on its vault routine. However, the Gators pinned a 49.625.
Faehn employed a lineup consisting of Sloan and All-Americans Ashanee Dickerson, Marissa King and Kytra Hunter. The four combined for a score of 39.75 — the highest mark set by four Florida gymnasts this season.
It was only the second time that all four — King, Hunter, Dickerson and Sloan — were featured on vault together. Faehn used an almost identical rotation against LSU as UF posted a then season-high 49.375 on vault.
“We definitely picked up more stuck landings, and it showed,” Faehn said. “It made a difference in the overall energy because everyone feeds off of that.”
Florida’s ability to produce high vault scores has certainly fueled higher final scores. Against Missouri, Florida registered a 49.325 vault score, leading to a season-high 197.3.
Friday night was no different.
Florida built upon the energy of sophomore Kiersten Wang, whose 9.875 score was her season-best mark.
King nailed her first stuck landing of the season on vault, landing a Tsukahara layout with a full twist for a 9.925.
Faehn was satisfied with King’s performance and suggested that repetitions would eventually help the seven-time All-American.
“[King] finally put one in which was great because the first couple of meets it was just a matter of getting used to doing [vault] again in competition season,” Faehn said.
Sloan and Dickerson followed up with scores of 9.925. The score matched Sloan’s collegiate-best set on Jan. 4 against Ball State. Dickerson, who has been a mainstay in the vault rotation, posted a near perfect 9.975 on Jan. 18 against Missouri.
As Florida neared the end of its rotation the scores improved.
Hunter stuck her landing for a near-perfect score of 9.975. It was the second consecutive meet that a Gator recorded such a score.
Faehn may not have decided on a set lineup so early in the season, but Friday night’s rotation has been Florida’s best this season.
“They [coaches] are very smart about who they put in the lineup,” Sloan said. “They always look at our previous practices and then they’re going to put the best people in at that point in time.
Gymnast Marissa King does a Gator Chomp during Florida’s 197.65-196.025 win against Auburn on Jan. 25 in the O’Connell Center.
