Florida Gators
NCAA Southeast Regionals
Florida Gymnasts Advance to NCAA Championships
Sunday, April 8, 2001 | Gymnastics
The No. 12 University of Florida gymnastics team turned in its season-best team total of 196.65 to take the runner-up position at the NCAA Southeast Region Championships, held in front of a Stephen C O'Connell Center crowd of 2,545. No. 2 Georgia claimed the meet title with a 197.775. Both teams advance to the NCAA Championships, set for April 19-21 in Athens, Ga. The Gators will be making their 19th appearance in the NCAA Championships.
Other competing schools Saturday included the University of Maryland (195.850), George Washington University (194.675), No. 14 University of Iowa (193.85), and North Carolina State (193.500).
"We did awesome tonight. I'm was so proud of us," UF's Hilary Thompson said. "We started out great on vault and I think we carried the energy all the way through, all the way to the end on floor. If anything happened, any little mistake, we were great as a team and we pulled together and we handled it well."
Thompson matched her collegiate-best all-around total of 39.45 to take second overall. Florida senior Gabby Fuchs also turned in a collegiate-best all-around total of 39.425 to take third. Georgia's Kristi Lichey took the all-around crown with a total of 39.625.
On vault, first place was awarded to Georgia's Lichey with a score of 9.950. There was a three-way tie for second place, as Georgia's Suzanne Sears and Chelsa Byrd and North Carolina State's Kelli Brown all scored 9.925. Also, although she didn't place, Florida's Thompson saw a career-best score of 9.875
The uneven parallel bars had a host of winners. Georgia's Eileen Diaz placed first, scoring 9.925. Four shared the runner-up position at 9.90. Florida's Erin Pendleton and Gabby Fuchs and Georgia's Kathleen Shrieves and Byrd all placed second. Florida's Krissy Dreger turned in a collegiate best 9.875 to share sixth with Georgia's Lichey.
The balance beam also provided tonight's meet with seven winners. But first place went to Georgia's Cory Fritzinger (9.925). Georgia's Cassie Blair, Marline Shephens, and Lichey who scored 9.90 shared second place. With a 9.875, Florida's Fuchs and Lindsey Miner, as well as individual competitor Maddy Curley from the University of North Carolina, tied for fifth place. Florida's Dreger collected her second collegiate-best mark of the evening with a 9.825.
The floor presented Florida's Hilary Thompson and Georgia's Sears with first place titles, scoring 9.950. With a score of 9.90, Iowa's Alexis Maday placed third.
"This is the craziest meet because it always feels like you want to escape this meet. Yes, you can gain a berth to NCAA's, but when you're ranked number two in your region and it's at home, I think the overriding feeling is that you have a lot to lose," Florida Head Coach Judi Markell said. "I think, for me, this is the most pressure filled meet of the season."
Up next, the Gators travel to Athens, Ga., for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The University of Georgia plays host to the meet, which is set for April 19-21.
NCAA Southeast Region Team Totals
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Rank | Total | ||
| Georgia | 49.500 | 49.425 | 49.475 | 49.375 | 1 | 197.775 | |
| Florida | 49.075 | 49.225 | 49.250 | 49.100 | 2 | 196.650 | |
| Maryland | 49.025 | 48.950 | 48.875 | 49.000 | 3 | 195.850 | |
| GWU | 48.300 | 48.700 | 48.550 | 49.125 | 4 | 194.675 | |
| Iowa | 48.800 | 48.550 | 47.450 | 49.050 | 5 | 193.850 | |
| NC State | 48.600 | 48.275 | 48.725 | 47.900 | 6 | 193.500 | |
2001 NCAA Championships Qualifiers
(results from April 7 Region Competitions)
| Seed | Name | Region Score | Region |
| 1. | Alabama | 198.000 | Central |
| 2. | UCLA | 197.775 | West |
| 2. | Georgia | 197.775 | Southeast |
| 4. | Michigan | 197.225 | Northeast |
| 5. | Stanford | 196.725 | Northeast |
| 6. | Florida | 196.650 | Southeast |
| 7. | Nebraska | 196.200 | South Central |
| 8. | Arizona State | 195.950 | Central |
| 9. | Oklahoma | 195.225 | South Central |
| 10. | Utah | 194.075 | North Central |
| 10. | Oregon State | 194.075 | West |
| 12. | Denver | 193.900 | North Central |
