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Thursday, March 28, 2024
<p>Florida senior gymnast Amy Ferguson scored a season-high 9.875 on floor against LSU last weekend.</p>

Florida senior gymnast Amy Ferguson scored a season-high 9.875 on floor against LSU last weekend.

With the 2012 season at its midpoint, coach Rhonda Faehn plans on giving her  top gymnasts some much-needed rest tonight.

When No. 2 Florida (7-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) takes on No. 17 Auburn (3-8, 0-4 SEC) in Auburn Arena at 8 p.m., the Gators’ supporting cast will see more action with most of their all-arounders taking a break from at least one event.

After tonight’s meet, UF will round out its regular-season schedule with a difficult stretch featuring three top-10 teams  — No. 4 Georgia, No. 9 Nebraska and No. 1 Utah.

“What continually goes through my head is that everybody needs to be healthy and strong and fresh, mentally and physically,” Faehn said. “That’s what I’m focused on. Not the overall product, which I know will be there toward the end of the year.”

Faehn said junior Marissa King will likely sit out vault and floor exercise at Auburn, while junior Ashanée Dickerson, who has won two all-around titles in UF’s past three meets with totals of 39.60, will take a break from floor. 

Kytra Hunter, who won her third SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Week honor for her performance last Friday against No. 13 LSU, might also skip out on floor.

Florida’s only all-arounder will likely be sophomore Alaina Johnson, who has taken part in all four events only twice this season.

With its most productive gymnasts resting in some events, UF hopes the supporting cast will carry momentum from last week.

Against LSU, the role players helped UF post a stellar 197.85, the fifth-highest team total in program history.

Last Friday, senior Nicole Ellis recorded a 9.875 on both vault and uneven bars, while junior Randy Stageberg scored a career-high 9.9 on floor.

Senior Amy Ferguson also tallied a season-high 9.875 on floor, her specialty event, and freshman Rachel Spicer scored a 9.85 on both balance beam and floor. 

In addition, sophomore Mackenzie Caquatto won her third consecutive bars title with a 9.9. Even little-used senior Elizabeth Mahlich posted a 9.825 on bars.

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“We have at least seven or eight solid routines on each event,” Ferguson said. “We always have people who are ready and willing to step in. We are prepared if we have four all-arounders or three or two or one.”

Faehn said she believes her team’s supporting cast is the key to winning an NCAA championship this year.

“You need the heavy hitters, those hitting the four events consistently, but the 1-6 (on each lineup) has to be top,” Faehn said. “[The role players] are going to do a great job once again. They’re going to step up and really utilize that opportunity to shine.”

Florida senior gymnast Amy Ferguson scored a season-high 9.875 on floor against LSU last weekend.

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