Joe: When the Gators reflect on their two national titles in gymnastics and men’s outdoor track and field during the 2012-13 season, one word will come to mind: milestone.
Rhonda Faehn led the Florida gymnastics team to its first national title after a heartbreaking second-place finish at the NCAA Super Six in 2012, and Mike Holloway’s Gators nabbed their second straight outdoor crown and fifth team national title since 2010.
Additionally, both squads dealt with significant adversity with NCAA championships on the line.
The track Gators entered the final day of competition in 11th place, and the gym Gators stumbled on balance beam to begin the Super Six. Neither wavered.
When forced to choose between the two, I’m going with the dominant gymnastics team. I’m not taking anything away from Holloway’s club, but Texas A&M flopped like a Ryan Reynolds star vehicle in the 4x400 relay to help Florida earn a share of the crown.
Adam: Although Florida had two title-winning teams this year, I’m going to have to go with something out of left field.
The Gators softball team started the season ranked 14th and was predicted to finish fourth in the division. Not fourth in the Southeastern Conference, fourth in the SEC East.
Injuries, dismissals and graduation decimated the Florida roster before the season even began. 2013 was going to be a rebuilding year to allow inexperienced freshmen to get their feet under them.
Instead, the Gators bowled over their competition. They started the season with a bang — beating No. 13 Arizona, No. 5 Oregon and No. 3 California in the first weekend — and never stopped, finishing with a 58-9 record.
Florida swept the SEC regular season and tournament titles and made the trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series for the fifth time in program history.
The Gators were like Jeff Bridges — they put in a top performance, even as others floundered around them.
Joe: There’s no denying the phenomenal performance by Tim Walton’s club in 2013. A WCWS berth was a great achievement for that team and a promising precursor to another championship run in 2014.
However, those Gators were not weighed down by the burden of expectation that they will face in a few months.
The Florida gymnastics team began 2013 under the spotlight with a No. 3 ranking in the NCAA Coaches Poll after adding 2009 World All-Around champion Bridget Sloan and 2011 Pan American All-Around champion Bridgette Caquatto to an already deep roster of elite gymnasts, including All-Americans Kytra Hunter and Ashanée Dickerson.
Alabama may have been No. 1, but it was title or bust for Florida. The Gators met expectations head on and delivered, claiming the ultimate prize.
But I can’t blame you for warming up to the softball team’s ability to defy the odds. After all, your beloved Yankees are trying to make a playoff run with Lyle Overbay batting cleanup.
Adam: Trying and succeeding, kind of. Fourth place isn’t so bad, especially when the disabled list has a better roster.
But while the gymnastics team has a stacked roster, the softball team had to make do with several players who were off the radar before the season, such as Taylor Schwarz, Briana Little and Kirsti Merritt.
They joined well-known players like Hannah Rogers, Lauren Haeger and No. 2 national recruit Kelsey Stewart to form a juggernaut.
The softball team had few, if any, stars.
Rogers had a great season, but she wasn’t unbelievably dominant. She finished 35th nationally in ERA.
Stewart was a great addition at the top of the order, but she finished outside the top 100 in average.
Without one player who absolutely dominated the league, the Gators needed to do better than the sum of their individual parts.
And they did, to the tune of an .866 winning percentage.
It’s a story that could warm even your heart, which has been left cold by two Yankee triumphs over your Braves in the Fall Classic.
Joe: Well played, Adam. I find it cruel and unusual for you to bring back those painful memories, but I’ll soldier onward.
I’m going to conclude my argument here with some math.
The UF softball team compiled an .866 winning percentage. Gymnastics won at an .882 clip. Advantage: gymnastics.
Softball had two All-Americans. Six gymnasts tied a Florida record with a combined 16 All-America honors. Advantage: gymnastics.
Both teams won SEC championships. Draw.
Gymnastics won the national championship. Also, Sloan won individual NCAA titles in all-around and beam while Alaina Johnson nabbed the uneven bars crown. Advantage: gymnastics.
I admire your effort to argue on the softball team’s behalf. Those Gators had a great season and deserve recognition.
But saying there was a Florida team better than Faehn’s national championship squad during the 2012-13 season is as hopeless as: A.) A-Rod actually finishing out his contract with the Yankees, B.) Zack Snyder making a good “Justice League” movie, C.) William and Kate naming their baby “North,” D.) All of the above.
Take it away, Maino!
Adam: Gymnastics had 14 meets and lost twice. Softball played more than 60 games and lost nine times.
If Florida gymnastics replicated those results for 60 meets, they lose eight. I think that’s pretty even.
Also, gymnasts can earn multiple All-American awards in different events. Rogers isn’t about to win any accolades with the bat. Gymnastics was supposed to win and did. Softball was supposed to lose and didn’t.
But both teams were really good, unlike B.J. “The Lesser” Upton. But at least I don’t have to watch A-Rod play. Upton is in the lineup every night.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org. Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Kelsey Horton (20) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Florida celebrates its victory at the NCAA Championships on April 20 in Los Angeles. The Gators became the fifth gymnastics program to win a national title.
