No. 2 Seed Florida Gymnasts Compete Thursday in NCAA Championships
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 | Gymnastics
A challenging field of teams awaits the No. 2 seeded University of Florida gymnastics team (15-2, 5-1 SEC) for NCAA Championship semifinal competition, set for April 22 at 7 p.m. (ET) in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Here's how it breaks down. The NCAA Championships' 12-team field is split into two six-team sessions for Thursday's semifinal round. The top three teams from each of Thursday's two sessions advance to the NCAA Super Six team final on Friday, April 23 at 6 p.m. (ET) where the national team champion will be crowned.
“I don't think there's any question that all 12 teams that are here feel very fortunate,” Utah co-head coach Megan Marsden said. “More and more, I think once you're here, you feel like you've been one of the very lucky ones.”
Florida competes in Session II, Thursday's night session. The teams in Session II include No. 2 seed Florida, No. 3 seed Alabama, No. 6 seed Stanford, No. 7 seed Arkansas, No. 10 seed Missouri and No. 11 seed Michigan. Competition will be stiff for each of the three advancing positions as five of the teams have appeared among the nation's top 10 during the course of the 2010 season.
Session I contains No. 1 seed UCLA, No. 4 seed Oklahoma, No. 5 seed Utah, No. 8 seed Oregon State, No. 9 seed LSU and No. 12 seed Nebraska.
UCLA coach Valorie Field likened the championship to a homecoming, since the Bruins won their first national championship in Gainesville.
“There are a lot of little things that have gone into UCLA getting back here,” said Field.
This is the third time Florida has played host to the NCAA Championships (1997 and 1986) and is
the team's 28th appearance in the meet's 29-year history, as the Gators missed only the 2000 event.
“This team is really special from all of the teams that I've coached in that they don't really look at all of the outer (elements) that they can't control and that don't really concern them,” UF coach Rhonda Faehn said. “They just go out, have fun, do their job and it's really exciting.”
The NCAA Super Six format began in 1993 and Florida has advanced to the team final round eight times (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 1997, 1998, 1994), recording its highest NCAA finish of second in 1998. This is the final year for the Super Six format as just four teams will advance to the team final beginning in 2011.
The Gators advanced to the national stage with their win at the April 10 NCAA North Central Regional, the sixth consecutive regional team title for Florida. The Gators were led once again by freshman Ashan?e Dickerson, who picked up at least a share of four event titles, which came in all-around (39.70), uneven bars (9.90), balance beam (9.95) and floor exercise (9.90). At the regional's award ceremony, it was announced that Dickerson was the NCAA Southeast Region Gymnast of the Year, a first for the Gator program. Among those tying for first on bars were teammates Amanda Castillo and Maranda Smith. Smith also was among a seven-way tie for first on floor.
Live scoring can be found at www.GatorZone.com and www.NCAASports.com and live meet updates can be viewed at www.Twitter.com/GatorZoneGym. Friday's NCAA Super 6 airs tape-delayed on CBS on May 8 at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets for the 2010 NCAA Gymnastics Championships are on sale now
- on-line at GatorZone.com
- at the Gator Ticket Office (located at Gate 1 of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium)
2010 NCAA Championships
Competition Rotations
Session I - Thursday, April 22 @ 1 p.m. (ET)
| Rot. | V | Bye | Bars | Beam | Bye | Floor |
| I | Oklahoma | UCLA | Oregon St | Nebraska | LSU | Utah |
| II | Utah | Oklahoma | UCLA | Oregon St | Nebraska | LSU |
| III | LSU | Utah | Oklahoma | UCLA | Oregon St | Nebraska |
| IV | Nebraska | LSU | Utah | Oklahoma | UCLA | Oregon St |
| V | Oregon St | Nebraska | LSU | Utah | Oklahoma | UCLA |
| VI | UCLA | Oregon St | Nebraska | LSU | Utah | Oklahoma |
Session II - Thursday, April 22 @ 7 p.m. (ET)
| Rot. | V | Bye | Bars | Beam | Bye | Floor |
| I | Alabama | Florida | Arkansas | Michigan | Missouri | Stanford |
| II | Stanford | Alabama | Florida | Arkansas | Michigan | Missouri |
| III | Missouri | Stanford | Alabama | Florida | Arkansas | Michigan |
| IV | Michigan | Missouri | Stanford | Alabama | Florida | Arkansas |
| V | Arkansas | Michigan | Missouri | Stanford | Alabama | Florida |
| VI | Florida | Arkansas | Michigan | Missouri | Stanford | Alabama |
