Kiersten Wang finally got her opportunity to shine Saturday.
With senior Nicole Ellis sitting out vault with a hip injury, coach Rhonda Faehn needed to find someone who could step into Ellis’ No. 2 role.
Faehn decided to roll with Wang, a freshman who trained well at UF’s regional practice session.
“I didn’t know I was competing until training day,” Wang said. “They wanted to see if me or Jamie (Shisler) would be the better pick for our team. I was lucky to get the opportunity to compete. I was in shock.”
For No. 1 Florida, Wang’s performance was a pleasant surprise. On the biggest stage of her young collegiate career, she recorded a season-best 9.875 on vault. Her score was a key factor in the Gators’ impressive vault total of 49.55 at NCAA Regionals.
“It was a different experience,” Wang said. “Honestly, all I thought about was what I have been doing in practice, which is to pay attention to the good layout before you twist. At the end, I thought about what Rhonda’s been telling me about the solid landing and keeping my hips flat, so I would catch the landing.”
Wang’s moxie on vault motivated Florida’s four all-around competitors.
Junior Ashanée Dickerson and sophomore Alaina Johnson shared the event title (9.95) after sticking their landings.
Junior Marissa King (9.875) and freshman Kytra Hunter (9.9) also hit their vault routines.
“To see her go out and hit her vault like she’s done in the gym was exciting,” Dickerson said. “It gave me a boost of energy to do the same.”
Before Saturday, Wang had not performed on vault since Jan. 20 exhibition against Kentucky. Her last non-exhibition competition was a week earlier. In two lineup appearances and one exhibition on vault in January, she averaged a 9.72.
“I know she struggled a little bit at the beginning of the season just with her body feeling tired,” King said. “She wasn’t used to the conditioning and the numbers we do here.”
Injuries also hindered Wang’s progress early this year. In February, she pulled her left quad, which kept her out of vault training for almost a month.
After her quad began feeling better, she suffered a sprained left ankle a week before the Southeastern Conference Championships.
“She’s kind of had a rough go of it this year. It’s been a big transition for her,” Faehn said. “For her within a week and a half to transition into the vault lineup and perform really well, I’m proud of her not giving up.
“She competed the way she was training. She didn’t let the pressure or being on the regional stage make her more nervous.”
Faehn said Tuesday that she doubts Ellis will see action at vault during the NCAA Championships on April 20, although the decision will be based on the results of an MRI on her hip.
If Ellis is a no-go, Faehn said Wang would likely see vault again when the Gators compete in Duluth, Ga.
“I hope Nicole comes back, but it would be awesome for Kiersten to do a vault, too,” King said. “It’s a debate, and whoever goes in, we’ll support them 100 percent.”
Freshman Kiersten Wang scored a career-high 9.875 on vault in the NCAA Regionals — her first time competing in the event since Jan. 20.
