No. 2 seeded Florida Gymnastics Team Competes in Thursday's NCAA Championships Opening Session
Thursday, April 24, 2008 | General
The first step in the No. 2 seeded University of Florida gymnastics team (12-3-1, 4-2 SEC) quest to become the fifth team to win a national title begins Thursday. The Gators compete in Session I of the April 24 NCAA Championships' team qualifying round, set for 1 p.m. (ET) in the University of Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum.
The six-team field for Session I includes No. 2 Florida, No. 3 LSU, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Oregon State, No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 11 Arkansas. The field for Thursday's Session II includes No. 1 seed and three-time defending NCAA champion Georgia, No. 4 Stanford, No. 5 Utah, No. 8 Michigan, No. 9 UCLA and No. 12 Denver. The top three teams from each of Thursday's sessions advance to the next day's NCAA Super Six team final, where the national team champion is determined.
Florida's advanced to the NCAA Super Six (team final) three of the last four years and matched its second-highest finish ever of third in 2007. The NCAA Super Six format began in 1993 and Florida's advanced to the team final round six times (2007, 2006, 2004, 1997, 1998, 1994), recording its highest NCAA finish of second in 1998.
This is Florida 26th NCAA Championships appearance in the meet's 27-year history, missing only the 2000 event. The Gators advanced to the national stage with their win at the April 12 NCAA Southeast Regional - the fourth consecutive regional team title for UF. Florida is seeded No. 2 for the third time in the team's 26 NCAA Championship appearances (also No. 2 in 1998 and 1984).
“We have been training very well since our regional meet,” UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said. “Physically and mentally, we are as fresh as we have been all year, which is change from years past, and we feel ready.”
Three Gators are have turned in all-around bests this season that rank among the nation's top 20 all-around scores. All of Florida's representatives turned in collegiate-bests totals to earn their spot on the list - No. T10 Corey Hartung (39.70), No. T13 Melanie Sinclair (39.65) and No. T19 Amanda Castillo (39.625). Florida's fourth all-arounder, Ashley Reed, owns a season-best of 39.575 which is close to appearing among the 2008 top 20 scores. Florida's three equals Georgia for the largest number of individual gymnasts on the list, but UGA's Courtney Kupets suffered a season-ending injury in early March.
| Meet Information | |
| Meet Schedule Thursday, April 24 Team Qualifying Session I (start event) – 1 p.m. (ET) Alabama (Beam) Arkansas (Bars) Florida (Bye before bars) LSU (Bye before floor) Oklahoma (Vault) Oregon State (Floor) Session II – 7 p.m. (ET) UCLA (Bars) Denver (Vault) Georgia (Beam) Michigan (Bye before floor) Stanford (Floor) Utah (Bye before bars) Friday, April 25 @ 6 p.m. (ET) NCAA Super Six (team final) Saturday, April 26 @ 6 p.m. (ET) Individual Event Finals | Thursday's Live Scores: Session I: Live stats Session II: Live stats Streaming video: Session I & II Click here for the NCAA Gymnastics Meet Site. |
