Florida's Amanda Castillo Named SEC Gymnast of the Week
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 | Gymnastics
University of Florida sophomore Amanda Castillo (Sanford, Fla.) is the Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. This is the third SEC Gymnast of the Week honor of her career and her second of the season. Her first SEC Gymnast of the Week honor of 2008 came Feb. 19.
A Gator has picked up the honor three times this season. Melanie Sinclair was named the SEC Gymnast of the Week after the 2008 season opener.
Castillo picks up the SEC Gymnast of the Week honor after posting a collegiate-best total of 39.625 to win the all-around title at the March 14 No. 2 Utah at No. 3 Florida dual meet. Five of the competitors entered the meet ranked among the nation's top 25 all-arounders - including No. 1 Ashley Postell of Utah, No. 5 Corey Hartung of Florida, No. 7 Kristina Baskett of Utah, No. 16 Castillo and No. 17 Ashley Reed of Florida.
| Florida's SEC Gymnasts of the Week | |
| Name | Date |
| Amanda Castillo | March 18, 2008 |
| Amanda Castillo | Feb. 19, 2008 |
| Melanie Sinclair | Jan. 15, 2008 |
| Melanie Sinclair | March 20, 2007 |
| Amanda Castillo | Feb. 27, 2007 |
| Ashley Reed | Feb. 6, 2007 |
| Corey Hartung | Feb. 7, 2006 |
| Ashley Reed | March 1, 2005 |
| Savannah Evans | Feb. 1, 2005 |
| Erinn Dooley | March 16, 2004 |
| Erinn Dooley | March 2, 2004 |
| Orley Szmuch | Jan. 20, 2004 |
| Orley Szmuch | Feb. 11, 2003 |
| Orley Szmuch | Jan. 29, 2002 |
| Hilary Thompson | Jan. 30, 2001 |
| Chrissy Van Fleet | Feb. 22, 2000 |
| Chrissy Van Fleet | Feb. 15, 2000 |
Castillo's all-around title was her second of the season and the fourth of her career. She also took a share of three event titles Friday. Castillo equaled her collegiate- and UF's 2008 best of 9.95 to share her sixth floor title of the season with Hartung. Marks of 9.90 also earned her a share of the evening's uneven bars and balance beam titles. The bars win was her fourth of 2008 and the beam title was her third.
Castillo is second among the 2008 Gators with 16 event titles. In the March 17 national rankings, Castillo is No. T10 on floor (regional qualifying score: 9.90), No. T12 on beam (RQS: 9.875), No. T14 in the all-around (RQS: 39.330) and No. 21 on bars (RQS: 9.865).
Florida takes a week off from competition before heading to Duluth, Ga., for the SEC Championships. The Gators are the defending SEC champions, winning their sixth team title last year in North Little Rock, Ark. The SEC Championships are set for March 29 in the Gwinnett Center and meet time is 4 p.m. (ET). SUN Sports will air the meet tape-delayed April 7 at noon.
