Florida Gators
</B>Dodge Premiere</B>
No. 7 Florida Gymnastics Team Wins Dodge Premiere
Saturday, January 25, 2003 | Gymnastics
The No. 7 University of Florida gymnastics team (7-2, 2-0 SEC) opened its home season by winning The Dodge Premiere quadrangular meet Friday evening in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 2,289. Florida turned in a 195.975, followed by No. 17 Minnesota (193.45), No. 23 Kentucky (192.20) and Bowling Green State (189.20).
The Gators won each event but the vault Friday evening, including a 1-3 sweep of the all-around. Both of the Gators' top two all-arounders turned in collegiate-best totals Friday, as senior Lindsey Miner was runner-up with a total of 39.40 and sophomore Orley Szmuch matched her top total of 39.50 to claim her second consecutive all-around crown. Junior Kara Waterhouse was third at 38.70.
"It was an OK performance," Szmuch said. "I still want to improve, and I have a long way to go. I'd still like to get better."
Florida swept the top three places on both uneven bars and balance beam Friday, marking the second consecutive week that the Gators have swept those events. Florida's uneven bars total of 49.375 matched its season best set at the Super Six Challenge on Jan. 11. Szmuch and junior Erin Pendleton shared the uneven bars title as each turned in UF season-best mark of 9.925. Junior Kristen Stucky, making her first competitive appearance in the O'Connell Center, was third after matching her collegiate-best bars mark of 9.875. Stucky missed most of her first two seasons due to knee injuries, but has been a member of UF's competitive bars lineup since the 2002 Southeastern Conference Championships.
"I think we're strong (on bars). We have a lot of confidence," Szmuch said. "We've worked so hard in preseason. We know we can be so clean in that event, in all of our events, really."
Stucky shared the first event title of her collegiate career with Miner, as each posted mark of 9.875 on the balance beam. Sophomore Erinn Dooley and Szmuch shared third on beam at 9.85. Miner also shared her second title of the night on floor exercise, this time with Szmuch, as each earned marks of 9.90. It was the second consecutive week the two had shared the floor title. Szmuch led the Gators on the vault with a 9.825 to take second overall. Kentucky's Melanie Zaharias used a 9.875 to win the vault title.
"For tonight, I'd say a B," UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said when asked to grade her team's performance. "For the season, I'd say B+ or A-.This team has so much potential. The mistakes they made tonight were on new things and that's ok. There is time to correct them."
"They are phenomenal (on bars)," Faehn continued. "I think they're one of the best teams in the country on bars."
The Gators continued their homestand next Friday when they play host to George Washington, Rhode Island and Washington on Jan. 31. Meet time is set for 7:00 p.m. in the O'Connell Center and admission is $4.00 for adults, while children and UF students with ID are admitted free.
| The Dodge Premiere * Jan. 24, 2003 * Gainesville, Fla. | ||||||
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| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | rank | Total |
| Florida | 48.750 | 49.375 | 48.900 | 48.950 | 1 | 195.975 |
| Minnesota | 48.525 | 48.250 | 48.400 | 48.275 | 2 | 193.450 |
| Kentucky | 48.725 | 48.500 | 48.275 | 46.700 | 3 | 192.200 |
| BGSU | 47.550 | 47.050 | 46.325 | 48.275 | 4 | 189.200 |
