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Thursday, March 28, 2024
<p>Sophomore Mackenzie Caquatto returned to UF’s bar rotation last Friday.</p>

Sophomore Mackenzie Caquatto returned to UF’s bar rotation last Friday.

 When Mackenzie Caquatto sprained and tore ligaments in both of her ankles last September during the final selection camp for the 2011 U.S. world team, her dreams also snapped.

After Caquatto landed short on her double-pike dismount on balance beam, she suffered a bilateral ankle sprain, taking her out of the running to make the U.S. team for the 2011 World Championships and Pan American Games.

The U.S. roster, which Caquatto would have likely made if she could have remained healthy, was announced two days after her injuries occurred.

“I was obviously aiming to make the world team,” Caquatto said. “Not only did my ankles hurt, but I actually hurt inside because of all of the work I put in that summer. I had expectations and they kind of all just went away in the blink of an eye.”

Because of all the pain and swelling she felt in her ankles, Caquatto said she couldn’t sleep for three weeks.

Throughout that period, she couldn’t walk and was forced to remain in a wheelchair.

Florida’s coaching staff was worried that Caquatto, who was a key contributor on beam and uneven bars for the Gators last year as a freshman, could possibly miss the majority of the 2012 season.

“When you have severe ligament tears in both ankles, it’s worse than a break,” coach Rhonda Faehn said.

Caquatto rehabbed with her athletic trainer three times a day and took part in physical therapy sessions twice a week. She also visited her chiropractor weekly.

When not in rehab or physical therapy, she wore two protective boots.

On a scale of 1-10, Caquatto said her desire to get back to competing was at a “12.”

“It was killing me that I couldn’t be out there,” she said. 

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After she made significant progress in her rehabilitation, Caquatto made her season debut on the bars against Kentucky last Friday, recording a solid 9.775.

“It was a great return for her,” Faehn said. “She still was a little tentative on the landing, so she didn’t necessarily go for the stick, which is fine.”

When No. 8 Florida hosts its first quad meet of the season against No. 1 Arkansas, No. 24 Maryland and Bridgeport on Friday night, Caquatto will compete on bars again.

Also, Faehn said Caquatto would join the beam lineup within the next month and return to performing her floor exercise toward the end of the season.

While Caquatto averaged an exceptionally high 9.86 on both bars and beam last season, she said she sees herself returning back to prime form by year’s end.

“Hopefully, by the end of the season, I’ll get back up there,” Caquatto said.

Sophomore Mackenzie Caquatto returned to UF’s bar rotation last Friday.

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