Gator Gymnastics Team Wins Dodge Invitational
Saturday, January 31, 1998 | Gymnastics
The University of Florida women's gymnastics team, ranked No. 5 in the nation, used the 10th highest total in school history Friday to win the Dodge Invitational held in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 3,345. The Gators defeated Maryland 195.575-191.35 to up their season record to 1-2, while the Terrapins drop to 4-2 for the season.
Eight different Gator gymnasts stepped up on the awards stand Friday, including sophomore All-American Chrissy Van Fleet of Orlando, who won her first all-around title of the season with a total of 39.375. Van Fleet and junior Susan Hines also shared the evening's floor exercise title for the second consecutive week with identical scores of 9.925. The uneven bars title was shared by Van Fleet and senior All-American Sybil Stephenson at 9.90. UF freshman Betsy Hamm, who just over a month ago was a senior in high school in Waukesha, Wis., posted a 9.90 to claim the balance beam crown.
Hines, who is the defending NCAA vault champion, claimed top honors in that event with a mark of 9.90 for her handspring pike front with a half twist vault. Friday was the first time Hines attempted that vault in collegiate competition. A change in the gymnastics code in points for the 1998 season brought the start value of the vault Hines competed much of the last two years, a handspring front pike, down to a 9.90 from 10.0. By adding the half twist to the vault, Hines is now able to compete a vault with a 10.0 start value.
Next up, the Gators will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to meet No. 4 Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 7. Meet time is set for 8 p.m. (ET) in the Coleman Coliseum.
| Florida vs. Maryland Top 3 Finishers | |||
| All-Around | |||
| 1. | 39.375 | ||
| 2. | Gabby Fuchs, UM | 38.40 | |
| 3. | Stacy Breidenbach, UM | 39.325 | |
| Vault | |||
| 1. | Susan Hines, UF | 9.90 | |
| 2. | 9.80 | ||
| 3. | Gabby Fuchs, UF | 9.625 | |
| Jaime Graziano, UF | 9.625 | ||
| Uneven Bars | |||
| 1. | 9.90 | ||
| Sybil Stephenson, UF | 9.90 | ||
| 3. | Betsy Hamm, UF | 9.875 | |
| Balance Beam | |||
| 1. | Betsy Hamm, UF | 9.90 | |
| 2. | Teal Chiabotti, UF | 9.80 | |
| Karyn Fein, UM | 9.90 | ||
| Floor Exercise | |||
| 1. | 9.925 | ||
| Susan Hines, UF | 9.925 | ||
| 3. | Erika Selga, UF | 9.900 | |
Players Mentioned
