TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Florida gymnastics team took fifth Saturday evening in the Second Annual Super Six Challenge, held in front of a Coleman Coliseum crowd of 9,418. The meet title ended in a tie, as preseason No. 2 Georgia and No. 5 Alabama tied for first at 195.35. Preseason No. 7 Stanford was just behind the team leaders, taking third at 195.30. Preseason No. 3 Michigan was fourth at 194.475, just edging the No. 10 Gators to fifth at 194.425. No. 9 Penn State rounded out the field in sixth at 193.30.
"All in all, it was a good start to the season," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "Losing
Erinn Dooley in the warm-ups hurt our scoring ability a bit, but we are hopeful that she will be back later this season. The gymnasts that stepped in her place did a good job.
"I was very encouraged by what I saw from this team tonight – they were strong and focused. I think we are going to get better from here. The freshmen that competed tonight,
Kara Waterhouse and
Erin Pendleton, performed very well. I am excited for this season."
The Gators drew the Olympic rotation for Saturday's competition. UF opened the meet with a 48.35 set on the vault, led senior
Teal Chiabotti's 9.75. Florida struggled a bit on its next event, as the team was forced to count a fall in its event total of 48.375. Freshman
Kara Waterhouse turned in the Gators' top bars mark of 9.875 to tie for third overall, while senior
Gabby Fuchs posted a 9.825 to tie for eighth overall.
They bounced back with a strong set on the balance beam, turning in the evening's second-highest beam team total of 48.825. Junior
Hilary Thompson and Waterhouse shared the Gators' best score for the event, as each turned in a 9.825 to tie for fifth in the overall standings. On their final event, the Gators turned in a solid floor exercise set of 48.875, as the team gave away some fractions due to steps out-of-bounds. Chiabotti and Thompson turned in UF's top floor marks Saturday, tying for 11
th overall at 9.825.
Georgia's Kristi Lichey claimed the vault (9.925) title and shared the evening's beam crown at 9.85 with Michigan's Karina Senior and Stanford's Lindsay Wing and Lisa Leville. Alabama's Andree Picken's won the evening's all-around (39.45), uneven bars
UF freshman
Erinn Dooley, a four-time member of the U.S. National Team, suffered a sprain to her right knee during the pre-meet floor exercise warm-ups. Dooley was scheduled to compete as an all-arounder Saturday evening. UF doctors will examine her when the team returns to Gainesville.
The Gator gymnastics team returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 13 when they meet No. 2 Georgia in Athens, Ga., at 7:30 p.m.
Team Totals
| |
|
Vault |
Bars |
Beam |
Floor |
rank |
Total |
| Georgia |
48.975 |
48.325 |
48.900 |
49.150 |
1 |
195.350 |
| Alabama |
48.725 |
49.125 |
48.400 |
49.100 |
1 |
195.350 |
| Stanford |
48.825 |
49.075 |
48.775 |
48.625 |
3 |
195.300 |
| Michigan |
48.600 |
48.875 |
48.375 |
48.625 |
4 |
194.475 |
| Florida |
48.350 |
48.375 |
48.825 |
48.875 |
5 |
194.425 |
| Penn State |
48.575 |
48.275 |
47.400 |
49.050 |
6 |
193.300 |
