Gator Gymnastics Team Advances to NCAA Super Six

Thursday, April 16

Los Angeles, CA

10:00 p.m.

Florida Gators

NCAA Semifinal II

Gator Gymnastics Team Advances to NCAA Super Six

Thursday, April 16, 1998 | Gymnastics

By: UF Communications

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Florida gymnastics team used its highest score ever posted in national championships competition to advance to Friday's NCAA Super Six competition. Florida finished second in Thursday's second session with a team total of 196.75, finishing just behind meet host and defending NCAA champion UCLA at 196.925. Also advancing to the Super Six from the second session was Utah, who took third at 196.20. Florida, UCLA and Utah will join the top three teams from Thursday's first session (Georgia, 197.825; Alabama, 196.475; Arizona State, 195.45) in Friday's Super Six competition where the national team champion will be determined. Competition begins Friday, April 17 at 10:30 p.m. (ET) in UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.

This is Florida's second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Super Six and third since the national gymnastics championships moved to a two-day team competition format in 1993. The Gators finished fifth in the 1997 NCAA Super Six competition held in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center with a score of 196.425. The Gators drew the optimal Olympic rotation for the 1998 NCAA Super Six, starting competition on vault and ending on floor exercise.

"I'm proud of how we competed tonight," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "We had a few problems on beam, but I think we did a good job of not letting those problems snowball. We are looking forward to the Super Six because this is what we've been working toward all year."

Florida's top all-arounder Friday was freshman Betsy Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., who finished fourth overall with a 39.45. She earns a spot on the All-America first team for her fourth-place finish and her all-around total is the second-highest ever posted by a Gator at the NCAA Championships, just behind Kristen Guise's 39.475 set at the 1994 NCAA Super Six. In addition, Hamm qualified for three individual event finals, set for Saturday, April 18 at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Hamm's scores of 9.875 for balance beam and collegiate-best marks of 9.90 for uneven bars and 9.925 for floor exercise moved her into Saturday's final. She is the first Gator gymnast to qualify for three NCAA event finals in a single year. Georgia's Kim Arnold successfully defended her all-around title with a total of 39.725 in Thursday's Session I, while teammate Karin Lichey was runner-up at 39.70.

Another highlight for the Gators Friday was junior Susan Hines' perfect 10.0 mark in the vault competition. Hines, the defending NCAA vault champion, was the only gymnast to score a 10.0 mark in either of Thursday's sessions. She will look to defend her vault title in Saturday's individual event finals. Hines also qualified for the floor exercise final with her mark of 9.90 Thursday. Hamm and Hines earn All-America first-team honors for each of the events in which they advanced to Saturday's finals.

1998 NCAA Gymnastics Championships
Results from Session II - only
Thursday, April 16, 1998

Session II Team Standings (Top 3 Advance to Super Six)

*Place*	*Team*	*Vault*	*Bars*	*Beam*	*Floor*	*Total*
1	UCLA	49.45	49.375	48.95	49.150	196.925
2	Florida	49.25	49.30	48.925	49.275	196.750
3	Utah	48.75	49.45	48.975	49.025	196.200
4	Washington	48.95	49.075	48.10	49.325	195.450
5	Louisiana State	48.725	49.025	48.75	48.80	194.300
6	Penn State	48.45	49.125	48.425	48.625	194.625

Session I Team Standings (Top 3 Advance to Super Six)
*Place*	*Team*	*Vault*	*Bars*	*Beam*	*Floor*	*Total*
1	Georgia	49.30	49.575	49.35	49.60	197.825
2	Alabama	49.10	49.20	48.875	49.30	196.475
3	Arizona State	48.85	49.10	48.475	49.025	195.450
4	Michigan	49.15	49.40	47.725	49.15	195.425
5	North Carolina State	48.30	48.075	48.825	48.925	194.125
6	Brigham Young	47.90	48.725	47.95	48.825	193.40