At the close of each gymnast’s routine, there was no giddy celebration.
After three dual meets, it all seemed routine as No. 1 Florida (15-2, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) advanced past the NCAA Semifinals in Los Angeles with a 197.775 in a relatively low-scoring competition.
After dealing with numerous injuries throughout the season, the Gators recouped and refocused its attention to the first round of the NCAA Championships. Florida, along with fellow SEC teams LSU and Georgia, will advance to the NCAA Super Six on Saturday. It is the 11th time in Florida’s history that it advanced to the final round.
Florida’s score was its highest score in the NCAA Championships, followed by No. 5 LSU at 197.325 and No. 4 Georgia with a 197.150. Minnesota (196.375), Illinois (195.700) and Stanford (194.700) rounded out the group.
The Gators stared at the scoreboard at the conclusion of the first round on Friday, but the build-up to that moment was challenged by several setbacks.
Sophomore Kiersten Wang began competition Friday on Florida’s first event – floor – in a leadoff role generally assumed by Randy Stageberg. But in the wake of an injury to Stageberg, Wang has filled the void.
In her routine, Wang took a fall during her first pass. Her score of 8.825 put the Gators at a disadvantage early. No gymnast scored higher than a 9.90 on the apparatus. It was Florida’s lowest score since recording a 49.15 versus Georgia on Feb. 16.
But Florida regrouped and refocused on its second rotation – vault.
All-American Mackenzie Caquatto led off the lineup with a 9.825. Neither Bridget Sloan nor Marissa King fared any better, posting scores of 9.875. But the Gators recovered. Three consecutive gymnasts – Ashanee Dickerson, Alaina Johnson and Kytra Hunter – notched a 9.90.
Failing to capitalize on a signature event on the previous event was put by the wayside, as Florida separated itself from second-place Georgia by .300. And by the third rotation, the Gators were ahead of the pack.
It took two rotations for a Florida gymnast to score higher than a 9.90, and it came at the hands of Sloan. Sloan, the SEC Freshman of the Year, scored a 9.925 on uneven bars. Her routine gave way to Johnson’s 9.925 and was capped off by Caquatto’s 9.95 – her third highest individual score of the year.
Florida’s 49.475 total put it nearly half a point ahead of SEC rival LSU heading into its final rotation on balance beam.
But in the final event, the Gators faced adversity before exhausting a sigh of relief. Sophomore Rachel Spicer produced a relatively low score of 9.4 as a few wobbles counted against her performance. But the bleeding would stop there.
A strong showing on the backend of the lineup from Caquatto, King and Sloan gave Florida posted a 49.475, more than two points above its season average.
And with it UF secured another bid to the NCAA Super Six held on Saturday. Florida will be competing against LSU and Georgia beginning at 5.
Bridget Sloan celebrates during the NCAA Regionals on April 6 in the O’Connell Center. Florida won the meet with a score of 198.4. Sloan posted a 9.925 on uneven bars at the NCAA Championships Friday.
