Gymnastics season has not even started, but some Gators are already sidelined.
Coach Rhonda Faehn confirmed two injuries for juniors Jamie Shisler and Kiersten Wang on Monday during her first press conference of the 2014 season.
Wang battled a torn groin throughout the fall semester, Faehn said. Even though Wang had made strides to heal her injury, she reinjured her groin during Winter Break.
"If she does make it back … it would be in the March time period, I would estimate," Faehn said.
This time frame projects Wang to compete in just two regular-season meets and only one meet in the O’Connell Center.
The Gators will feel Wang’s absence. Last season, she racked up season bests of 9.90 on floor and vault and 9.775 on uneven bars and balance beam.
She was a key contributor to Florida’s title run last year, suiting up for the Gators in all but two meets in 2013. As a freshman, Wang also competed in all but two meets.
Faehn hopes Shisler will have a speedier return and expects her to compete in about a month.
Last season, the Naples native set a career-best vault mark of 9.825 against Ball State on Jan. 4, 2013.
Faehn said Shisler, who is recovering from a foot surgery she underwent in the fall, is back to training.
"I’m looking right now at the health of our team, and it’s very strong," Faehn said.
"It’s a very long season … we try to balance out the athletes so that they can remain as healthy as possible and then be as strong as possible toward the latter part of the season."
While Shisler and Wang are ailing, another Gator is looking to return to the floor.
Sophomore Bridgette Caquatto is familiar with being out of the lineup before the season even begins.
In her first season as a Gator, Caquatto was recovering from shoulder and knee injuries, as well as multiple stress reactions in her shins.
"That really kind of put her behind the eight ball," Faehn said.
She ended up not competing in half of the team’s meets last year. However, Faehn expects Caquatto to make up for lost time in 2014.
"Bridgette Caquatto is doing really really well so far, and look to see her competing a lot," Faehn said.
"Now she has had the whole summer to train … and has trained really hard all far.
"She will absolutely be competing in three events for us."
Follow Erica Hernandez on Twitter @ericaalyssa
Kiersten Wang performs on the uneven bars during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb 22, 2013.
