Florida Gators
Arizona Triangular
No. 2 Florida Gymnasts Turn in Highest Road Score of 2006 to Defeat No. 14 Arizona and BYU
Saturday, March 4, 2006 | Gymnastics
The No. 2 University of Florida gymnastics team (13-2, 3-2 SEC) did something no other team has done this season, as the Gators ended No. 14 Arizona's (5-9, 4-2 Pac 10) five-meet home win streak (dating back to 2005) by taking the triangular win Friday in front of a McKale Memorial Center crowd of 1,096. Florida turned in its second-highest team total of the season of 196.625 to become the first visitor to win at McKale Center in 2006. Arizona turned in its season-best of 196.30 to take second, while BYU (5-7) rounded out the meet at 194.575.
The Gators were 24-for-24 for their routines Friday, but needed strong performances on the final two events to move ahead of the Wildcats. UA owned a two-tenths lead at the midway point of the meet, but Florida took a slender .15 lead heading into the final rotation after turning in its third-highest floor total of the season (49.15). The Gators used a season-best 49.375 on vault to expand its lead to the final margin of .325.
“I was extremely pleased with not only their performance tonight, but with their attitude as well,” UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said. “They were relaxed, yet aggressive from the very start of the meet. I'm really happy with how we finished up on vault. I was looking for enthusiasm and big finishes. They put a lot of heart into their performances tonight and it really showed. In past road meets, we've started out tentatively. This is our last road meet of the regular season and it shows that the gymnasts are feeling much more comfortable going out aggressively and focusing only on their performances.”
Several Gators had to step into lineup positions Friday to take the place of gymnasts sidelined with injury or illness. Junior Samantha Lutz appeared only in the bars lineup Friday due to an ankle injury suffered at the Feb. 19 meet. She was replaced on beam by junior Savannah Evans, who made her first appearance of 2006 on the event and turned in a 9.75. On floor exercise, junior Breanne King anchored the UF lineup with 9.80 as she replaced Tiffany Murry, who sat out the event due to illness.
“We had some changes in the lineup and the athletes were ready to go at a moments notice,” Faehn said. “It was great to have Savannah go up on beam for the first time all year. She nailed her routine as she stepped in for Samantha tonight. Chantelle (Tousek) has been sick for the last week and a half and she went out and did the best beam routine she's ever done. Tiffany was very sick and she could only do two events tonight. I give her a lot of credit for stepping aside on floor. Bre (King) came in at the last minute and did a great routine.”
The Gators went one-two in the all-around Friday, as freshman Corey Hartung collected her fifth all-around title of the season with a total of 39.425. Sophomore Ashley Reed, making her second all-around appearance of 2006, was runner-up with a season-best total of 39.30. Hartung thought the Gators worked well as a team Friday.
“It was good to go out there after a week off from competition. I was glad to do the all-around again,” Hartung said. “I think we worked better as a team tonight than in other road meets. We definitely cheered louder and as a team. The coaches made some changes to the lineup and I think we handled that well.”
Hartung also took top honors on beam, using a mark of 9.875 to claim her third beam title of the season. Tousek matched her collegiate-best balance beam mark of 9.85 for the eighth time of her career to share second overall with Arizona's Danielle Hicks.
Murry matched her own Gator season-high mark of 9.925 to share her eighth vault title of the season with Arizona's Jamie Holton. Every member of the Gator vault lineup Friday turned in a mark of 9.825 or above. UF's Hartung, King and Katie Rue shared third in the final vault standings with Arizona's Breanne Workman at 9.875.
Arizona's Aubrey Taylor won the uneven bars and floor exercise with identical marks of 9.90. Hartung and Reed were among a four-way tie for third in the bar standings at 9.85. Reed and Nicola Willis shared third in the final floor standings with UA's Hicks at 9.85.
After three consecutive road meets, Florida now returns home to play host to its final two meets of the regular season, beginning with a triangular featuring No. 7 LSU and No. 17 Penn State on Friday, March 10. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tickets are $4.00 for adults, while children 17 and under plus UF students with identification are admitted free. Complimentary tickets for Friday's meet are available at all Gainesville area Quality Cleaners locations.
| Final Team Standings | ||||||
| Florida at Arizona with BYU – March 3, 2006 – McKale Memorial Center (1,096) | ||||||
|
| Team | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. | Florida | 49.375 | 49.075 | 49.025 | 49.15 | 196.625 |
| 2. | Arizona | 49.225 | 49.075 | 48.80 | 49.20 | 196.30 |
| 3. | BYU | 48.60 | 49.15 | 48.575 | 48.25 | 194.575 |
