Bridget Sloan set the standard on Saturday in Little Rock, Ark.
Sloan, the 2013 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, claimed a share of the all-around event title with an individual total of 39.750 as No. 1 Florida claimed its ninth SEC Championship, posting a score of 198 at the Verizon Arena.
The Gators, who tied for first on both balance beam and floor, captured their third conference title in the last four years. Alabama finished second with a score of 197.9, while LSU was third at 197.7.
“It was down to the wire. I can’t say that I love it like that. It was very stressful,” coach Rhonda Faehn said in a release. “It’s an incredible thing when it comes down to the last event.”
Bridget Sloan tied for first on uneven bars with a 9.95, and she became the second straight Gator to win the all-around title at the SEC championship meet. Kytra Hunter took the top prize in 2012. Sloan was the third UF freshman to accomplish the feat.
No Florida gymnast captured an individual event title outright on the day, but the collective performance was strong enough to ensure a conference title win.
The No. 3 Crimson Tide came within striking distance and was narrowly edged by the Gators down the stretch. Alabama fell shy of the evening’s highest score by 0.1 despite taking the first event — vault — with a 49.55 score.
But Florida responded.
Led by Sloan, the Gators countered on every event. Despite posting a 49.375 on vault — its lowest total since Jan. 18 versus Missouri — Florida rallied behind three strong events.
In the next rotation, UF posted a 49.5 on uneven bars. Mackenzie Caquatto, Marissa King and Sloan each posted scores of 9.9 or above. But due to SEC scoring, UF was forced to drop its highest score and lowest scores, including Sloan’s mark.
Florida used its second-ranked beam average to piece together a strong 49.5. Sloan hit the highest mark of any UF gymnast. Caquatto and Ashanee Dickerson anchored the score, both tallying a 9.9.
The momentum carried forward into the final event.
Barely ahead of Alabama, Florida produced its third-highest floor total this year with a 49.625. It was the highest mark since UF’s rotation registered a 49.7 against Minnesota on March 1.
Each gymnast notched a 9.9 or above for the first time in 2013, as Florida rolled on for its second consecutive SEC championship.
Freshman gymnast Bridget Sloan performs a flip on the balance beam during Florida’s 196.975-196.075 win against Kentucky on Feb. 22 in the O’Connell Center.
