Saturday, April 1
Gainesville, FL
4 p.m.
Florida Gators
197.125
vs
NCAA Gainesville Regional
NCAA Gainesville Region all-around winner Alex McMurtry hugs Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland. The Gators won Saturday's team title and heads to St. Louis for April 14-15 NCAA Championships action.
Gators Heading to St. Louis after winning NCAA Gainesville Regional
Saturday, April 1, 2017 | Gymnastics
Boxscore Photo Gallery from Allison Curry, Michael Erdelyi & Erin Long Post-Meet Press ConferencePostmeet update
Florida advances to its 35th NCAA Championship in the meet's 36-year history.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – To borrow from the title of the classic Judy Garland musical, it is now "Meet the Gators in St. Louis."
The Florida gymnastics team is off to the NCAA Championships after winning the Gainesville Regional title, held Saturday afternoon in front of 5,214 at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The win advances Florida to St. Louis, Mo., when the NCAA Championships makes its first appearance in the Show-Me State.
Florida bounced back from an uncharacteristic opening uneven bars set, moving up the team standings as the meet progressed. By the fourth rotation, Florida passed mid-meet leader Georgia and held that position through the remainder of the competition.
The Gators turned in a 197.125 Saturday for the team's sixth consecutive NCAA Regional title. The top two teams in regional competition advance to the NCAA Championships. Georgia claimed the other berth at 196.775. Missouri was third at 196.10, followed by Penn State (195.325), North Carolina (194.425) and New Hampshire (194.175).
Junior Alex McMurtry won at least a share of four event titles, including her second consecutive all-around win. The Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year took the SEC all-around with a collegiate-best 39.70. Today's total was just off her SEC mark at 39.675.
She led a Gator sweep of the top three all-around spots, as fellow junior Kennedy Baker was second at 39.55 and freshman Amelia Hundley was third (39.375).
McMurtry took sole possession of the bars win at 9.95 and shared the beam title with Georgia's Ashlyn Broussard at 9.90. It was a three-way Gator tie for the floor exercise title, as McMurtry, Baker and sophomore Alicia Boren all turned in a 9.925.
Junior Rachel Slocum and Georgia's Sydney Snead tied for the vault win with identical marks of 9.95.
GATOR PERFORMANCE NOTES:
NOW WHAT?
The 12-team field for the NCAA Championships is determined tonight, as the top two teams in each of the nation's six regional sites advance to St. Louis, Mo., for the April 14-15 national championships.
The 12-team NCAA Championships' field competes on April 14 in two semifinal sessions of six teams each. The top three teams in each session advance to the April 15 NCAA Super Six to determine the team champion.
The Gators have advanced from the NCAA Championships semifinal competition to the NCAA Super Six team final 11 of the last 13 years (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). Florida took fourth in 2016 NCAA Super Six action.
Selection information for the 12-team field and individual event competitors will be available on NCAA.com after noon ET on Monday, April 3. The NCAA Individual Event Finals discontinued after the 2015 season. NCAA event champions are based on April 14 semifinal scores.
GATORS EARNING ALL-REGION HONORS:
The National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC) announced NCAA All-Southeast Region honors Saturday. Florida's McMurtry, who was named SEC Gymnast and Scholar-Athlete of the Year last month, claims her first NACGC Southeast Region Gymnast of the Year honor. She is the fourth Gator to claim the honor since 2010. Other Gators to be named Regional Gymnast of the Year include Ashanée Dickerson (2010, 2011), Kytra Hunter (2015) and Bridget Sloan (2014, 2016).
For the second consecutive year, regional assistant coach of the year honors went to Florida's duo of Adrian Burde and Owen Field. This is the fifth time Burde has won the honor, also sharing the 2011, 2013 and 2014 awards. Field is in his second year with the Gators.
Florida's Executive Associate Athletics Director Lynda Tealer is the NACGC Southeast Administrator of the Year. She also received the same honor in 2005.
QUOTES
Opening Statement:
"Regionals is always a challenging meet. It's something that we don't talk about as far as it's do or die, you qualify or you don't qualify. But we treat it just as any other meet.
"I felt that at the beginning of the competition we were a little tight. But once we figured out it's just gymnastics, I think everyone calmed down a bit and did what they were capable of doing and really finished strong with a fabulous job. I think this team really showed a lot of heart and that was our word of the day today. We talk about 'you know, it's not over until the last score comes in.' I'm really proud of this team." – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
On returning to the NCAA Championships:
"It's something that we work for all year long, and it's a great tribute to the team's hard work and dedication in and out of the gym. It's really what this team's about. I've said from the very beginning, the first few days of the season, I knew it was going to be a lot of fun. This team, they just gelled so quickly and they allow each other to be themselves. They have fun in the gym and make it fun for me to go to work. It's not even work I go to, we make it as enjoyable as possible. They do a great job staying focused and a great job having a good time." – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
On her vault celebration:
"When we were at the end of the vault, Alex [McMurtry] was wondering what she should do on the way back. And then the gears started turning in my head. I had to dab. So then I finished, and of course I did." - junior Rachel Slocum
On going on bars after some previous problems earlier in lineup:
"I'm normally pretty chill, but I was a little nervous that time. I haven't had to do that. It's been a while since I've fallen on bars in a meet, so I just kind of kept that in the back of my mind going into the routine." – junior All-American Kennedy Baker
On sticking her beam routine after mistake on bars:
"I was really excited and really happy that I could get back to helping my team." – sophomore Alicia Boren
On putting up a strong second half of routines after first bye:
"I think we came out from the bye super excited, and we had our home crowd behind us. We were just excited for floor and vault. We picked up some momentum there. We just had a blast on floor and vault. It was our last time this season in front of our fans. I think we did really well and built off every single score." – junior Alex McMurtry
On winning all-around twice despite dealing with back issues:
"It's definitely a confidence-booster. Here and there, I've had to take care of it and keep it warm in between events and ice it right after, but I've really figured it out. I didn't actually think I'd be able to do that. This year, I feel like I've definitely figured the whole thing out. Now we're going into nationals, and having two full meets under my belt – it's just really exciting to get all-around for us." – junior Alex McMurtry
On her vault routine:
"Me and Alex didn't get to warm up. We ran out of time, and I've never been so excited in my life. That's probably why I stuck it because I didn't have to go again. That's the most excited I've ever been for vault. It's just like an extra turn. Just being able to just go, I was super excited. [Assistant Coach] Adrian (Burde) wasn't, but I was." – junior All-American Kennedy Baker
On the importance of winning the regional although the top two teams advance to championships:
"I think it was pretty impressive that we won coming off of having a fall. We kind of just brushed it aside and moved on to the next event. You always want another win under your belt, especially going into NCAAs, so I think it was a big confidence booster for us." – junior All-American Kennedy Baker
FLORIDA IN THE RANKINGS:
Florida is No. 3 in the final regular-season Road to Nationals rankings.
NCAA GAINESVILLE REGION EVENT CHAMPIONS:
The Florida gymnastics team is off to the NCAA Championships after winning the Gainesville Regional title, held Saturday afternoon in front of 5,214 at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The win advances Florida to St. Louis, Mo., when the NCAA Championships makes its first appearance in the Show-Me State.
| Florida Event Winners Saturday | ||
| Vault: | Rachel Slocum | 9.95 |
| Uneven Bars: | Alex McMurtry | 9.95 |
| Balance Beam: | Alex McMurtry | 9.90 |
| Floor Exercise: | Kennedy Baker | 9.925 |
| Alicia Boren | 9.925 | |
| Alex McMurtry | 9.925 | |
| All-Around: | Alex McMurtry | 39.675 |
The Gators turned in a 197.125 Saturday for the team's sixth consecutive NCAA Regional title. The top two teams in regional competition advance to the NCAA Championships. Georgia claimed the other berth at 196.775. Missouri was third at 196.10, followed by Penn State (195.325), North Carolina (194.425) and New Hampshire (194.175).
Junior Alex McMurtry won at least a share of four event titles, including her second consecutive all-around win. The Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year took the SEC all-around with a collegiate-best 39.70. Today's total was just off her SEC mark at 39.675.
She led a Gator sweep of the top three all-around spots, as fellow junior Kennedy Baker was second at 39.55 and freshman Amelia Hundley was third (39.375).
McMurtry took sole possession of the bars win at 9.95 and shared the beam title with Georgia's Ashlyn Broussard at 9.90. It was a three-way Gator tie for the floor exercise title, as McMurtry, Baker and sophomore Alicia Boren all turned in a 9.925.
Junior Rachel Slocum and Georgia's Sydney Snead tied for the vault win with identical marks of 9.95.
GATOR PERFORMANCE NOTES:
- The four titles for McMurtry tonight gives her 20 event wins for the season. She is among the 14 on Florida's Career Event Titles list with 40 or more for their career.
- This is the second consecutive NCAA Regional event win for Slocum. Last year while with Eastern Michigan, she shared the NCAA Ann Arbor Region floor exercise title. That win advanced her to the NCAA Championships as an individual competitor. This year, she will join the Gator team at the 2017 NCAA Championships. It was the 10th vault title of her career and seventh with the Gators.
- The regional all-around title has gone to a Gator each of the past eight seasons – Ashanée Dickerson (2010, 2012), Alaina Johnson (2011 & 2014), Kytra Hunter (2013), Bridget Sloan Sloan (2015, 2016) and McMurtry (2017).
- Baker's share of the floor win is her sixth title on the event in her seven 2017 appearances. The seventh performance was a 9.95 to take second at Alabama.
- Boren picks up her fourth floor win of the season tonight. It was the second consecutive for McMurtry, as she also shared the SEC floor win with Baker.
- The win ups Florida's regional team titles total to 17 (1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- In the NCAA Championships' 36-year history, Florida has now advanced to the national championships 35 times, missing only the 2000 event.
NOW WHAT?
| 2017 NCAA Gymnastics Championships – April 14-15 | ||
| Chaifetz Arena – St. Louis, Mo. | ||
| Date | Competition | Time (ET) |
| Friday, April 14 | Semifinal I | 1 p.m. |
| Semifinal II | 8 p.m. | |
| Saturday, April 15 | Super Six Team Final | 9 p.m. |
The 12-team NCAA Championships' field competes on April 14 in two semifinal sessions of six teams each. The top three teams in each session advance to the April 15 NCAA Super Six to determine the team champion.
The Gators have advanced from the NCAA Championships semifinal competition to the NCAA Super Six team final 11 of the last 13 years (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). Florida took fourth in 2016 NCAA Super Six action.
Selection information for the 12-team field and individual event competitors will be available on NCAA.com after noon ET on Monday, April 3. The NCAA Individual Event Finals discontinued after the 2015 season. NCAA event champions are based on April 14 semifinal scores.
GATORS EARNING ALL-REGION HONORS:
| 2017 NACGC Southeast Region Gymnastics Awards |
| Gymnast of the Year: Alex McMurtry, Florida |
| Coach of the Year: Vicki Chliszczyk May , Towson |
| Assistant Coaches of the Year: Adrian Burde & Owen Field, Florida |
| Administrator of Year: Lynda Tealer, University of Florida |
For the second consecutive year, regional assistant coach of the year honors went to Florida's duo of Adrian Burde and Owen Field. This is the fifth time Burde has won the honor, also sharing the 2011, 2013 and 2014 awards. Field is in his second year with the Gators.
Florida's Executive Associate Athletics Director Lynda Tealer is the NACGC Southeast Administrator of the Year. She also received the same honor in 2005.
| 2017 NCAA Regional Results | |||
| Seed | School | Region Total | Region |
| 1 | Oklahoma | 198.075 | Seattle |
| 2 | LSU | 197.450 | Lincoln |
| 3 | Florida | 197.125 | Gainesville |
| 4 | Utah | 197.150 | Fayetteville |
| 5 | UCLA | 196.800 | Champaign |
| 6 | Alabama | 196.625 | Morgantown |
| 7 | Michigan | 197.350 | Morgantown |
| 8 | Oregon State | 196.150 | Champaign |
| 9 | Denver | 197.050 | Fayetteville |
| 10 | Georgia | 196.775 | Gainesville |
| 13 | Washington | 196.550 | Seattle |
| 14 | Nebraska | 196.625 | Lincoln |
| Shading denotes regional champions | |||
QUOTES
Opening Statement:
"Regionals is always a challenging meet. It's something that we don't talk about as far as it's do or die, you qualify or you don't qualify. But we treat it just as any other meet.
"I felt that at the beginning of the competition we were a little tight. But once we figured out it's just gymnastics, I think everyone calmed down a bit and did what they were capable of doing and really finished strong with a fabulous job. I think this team really showed a lot of heart and that was our word of the day today. We talk about 'you know, it's not over until the last score comes in.' I'm really proud of this team." – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
On returning to the NCAA Championships:
"It's something that we work for all year long, and it's a great tribute to the team's hard work and dedication in and out of the gym. It's really what this team's about. I've said from the very beginning, the first few days of the season, I knew it was going to be a lot of fun. This team, they just gelled so quickly and they allow each other to be themselves. They have fun in the gym and make it fun for me to go to work. It's not even work I go to, we make it as enjoyable as possible. They do a great job staying focused and a great job having a good time." – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
On her vault celebration:
"When we were at the end of the vault, Alex [McMurtry] was wondering what she should do on the way back. And then the gears started turning in my head. I had to dab. So then I finished, and of course I did." - junior Rachel Slocum
On going on bars after some previous problems earlier in lineup:
"I'm normally pretty chill, but I was a little nervous that time. I haven't had to do that. It's been a while since I've fallen on bars in a meet, so I just kind of kept that in the back of my mind going into the routine." – junior All-American Kennedy Baker
On sticking her beam routine after mistake on bars:
"I was really excited and really happy that I could get back to helping my team." – sophomore Alicia Boren
On putting up a strong second half of routines after first bye:
"I think we came out from the bye super excited, and we had our home crowd behind us. We were just excited for floor and vault. We picked up some momentum there. We just had a blast on floor and vault. It was our last time this season in front of our fans. I think we did really well and built off every single score." – junior Alex McMurtry
On winning all-around twice despite dealing with back issues:
"It's definitely a confidence-booster. Here and there, I've had to take care of it and keep it warm in between events and ice it right after, but I've really figured it out. I didn't actually think I'd be able to do that. This year, I feel like I've definitely figured the whole thing out. Now we're going into nationals, and having two full meets under my belt – it's just really exciting to get all-around for us." – junior Alex McMurtry
On her vault routine:
"Me and Alex didn't get to warm up. We ran out of time, and I've never been so excited in my life. That's probably why I stuck it because I didn't have to go again. That's the most excited I've ever been for vault. It's just like an extra turn. Just being able to just go, I was super excited. [Assistant Coach] Adrian (Burde) wasn't, but I was." – junior All-American Kennedy Baker
On the importance of winning the regional although the top two teams advance to championships:
"I think it was pretty impressive that we won coming off of having a fall. We kind of just brushed it aside and moved on to the next event. You always want another win under your belt, especially going into NCAAs, so I think it was a big confidence booster for us." – junior All-American Kennedy Baker
FLORIDA IN THE RANKINGS:
Florida is No. 3 in the final regular-season Road to Nationals rankings.
NCAA GAINESVILLE REGION EVENT CHAMPIONS:
| All-Around | Alex McMurtry | Florida | 39.675 |
| Vault | Rachel Slocum | Florida | 9.950 |
| Sydney Snead | Georgia | 9.950 | |
| Bars | Alex McMurtry | Florida | 9.95 |
| Beam | Alex McMurtry | Florida | 9.900 |
| Ashlyn Broussard | Georgia | 9.900 | |
| Floor | Kennedy Baker | Florida | 9.925 |
| Alicia Boren | Florida | 9.925 | |
| Alex McMurtry | Florida | 9.925 |
| No. 3 Florida at NCAA Gainesville Region Championships Final Team Totals |
|||||
| April 1, 2017 – Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (5,214) | |||||
| Team | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| Florida | 49.475 | 48.975 | 49.225 | 49.450 | 197.125 |
| Georgia | 49.325 | 49.200 | 49.075 | 49.175 | 196.775 |
| Missouri | 49.075 | 49.125 | 48.875 | 49.025 | 196.100 |
| Penn State | 48.800 | 49.050 | 48.800 | 48.675 | 195.325 |
| North Carolina | 48.775 | 48.275 | 48.575 | 48.800 | 194.425 |
| New Hampshire | 48.675 | 48.325 | 48.700 | 48.475 | 194.175 |
 |
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