Florida Gators

The No. 6 University of Florida gymnastics team (14-3, 4-1 SEC) was handed its first loss in seven competitions Friday evening as No. 7 Georgia (13-1, 5-0 SEC) defeated UF 197.725-195.825 in front of a sell-out Stegeman Coliseum crowd of 9.951.

Florida opened the meet with a team total of 49.175 on the uneven bars. Junior Kara Waterhouse opened the set with a 9.85 and senior Lindsey Miner also turned in the same score from the third position to lead the Gators on the event Friday evening. They tied for third overall in the final bars standings. Sophomore Erinn Dooley, making her second appearance in the Gators' uneven bars lineup, posted a collegiate-best 9.825. Senior Jenny Carow also posted a 9.825 in her first competitive uneven bars of 2003. Meanwhile, the Gym Dogs posted a 49.375 on the vault, led by Chelsea Byrd's winning mark of 9.95.

On the vault, Florida was led by Dooley's 9.85, which placed fourth overall. As a team, Florida posted a 48.95. Sophomore Orley Szmuch and Miner also posted vault marks of 9.825 Friday. At the midway point of the meet, Georgia led the Gators by .525 after turning in a 49.275 on the uneven bars. UGA junior Cory Fritzinger won the uneven bars title at 9.90.

Miner led Florida on the floor exercise Friday evening, turning in a 9.925 to tie for second overall. Florida also received marks of 9.875 for Szmuch and 9.825 for Dooley. On the floor, the Gators turned in a 49.175, while the Gym Dogs posted a 49.425 on the balance beam to widen their lead to .775. UGA's Byrd picked up her second title of the evening on floor with her mark of 9.975.

The Gators were forced to count a fall for the first time on any event this season during Friday's balance beam competition. The Gators were led on the event by Szmuch's runner-up mark of 9.90. Florida turned in a season-low 48.525 on the beam Friday, while UGA posted a 49.65on floor. UGA senior Cassie Bair won the beam with a collegiate-best 9.975.

UGA's Fritzinger led a Gym Dog sweep of the all-around with a 39.60, followed by Kinsey Rowe (39.575) and Byrd (39.55). Two Gators did turn in collegiate-best all-around totals Friday – Miner (39.45) and Dooley (39.325). Szmuch also posted a 39.425 in the all-around.

"It was rough for our athletes. It was not up to their capabilities or their expectations. However, I told them that this is a learning experience. They have had a tremendous amount of success this season thus far. It is best that they take this competition where they weren't as aggressive or as focused as they normally are and use it as a learning experience so that it doesn't happen to us at SECs, regionals or nationals," UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said. "They are a really strong team. We'll go back into the gym this week and work really hard. They will rebound from it."

Up next, the Gators play host to No. 11 Auburn for Gatorade Kids Night on Friday, March 7. Meet time is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and tickets are $4.00 for adults, while children 17 and under plus UF students with ID are admitted free. Kids, 8^th grade and under, are invited to a pre-meet carnival featuring balloon artists, magicians, face painters, clowns and inflatable games.