Sports | Gymnastics - The Independent Florida Alligator

Rachel Spicer performs on the balance beam during Florida’s 198.05-196.70 home win over Georgia on Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Perfect scores overshadow junior

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 27, 2014

Rachel Spicer didn’t perform her floor routine during Florida’s 2013 title run.

Bridget Sloan and Kytra Hunter celebrate following Florida’s match against Georgia on Jan. 24 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Sloan, Hunter perfect on floor

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 26, 2014

When sophomore Bridget Sloan finished her floor routine Friday night, a crowd of more than 10,000 fans who gathered to see Florida (3-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) compete against Georgia erupted.

Bridget Sloan performs a flip on the balance beam during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb. 22, 2013, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Sophomore looks to build on decorated freshman season

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 21, 2014

Bridget Sloan’s 2013 campaign ended with the Southeastern Conference Freshman Gymnast of the Year award.

Mackenzie Caquatto sticks a dismount in a quad meet Jan. 27, 2012. Caquatto struggled in UF’s season opener, but the senior rebounded Friday night to help Florida knock off Auburn.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Caquatto rebounds off poor performance to help UF earn second win

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 18, 2014

Two weeks into the 2014 gymnastics season and Florida has already begun the uphill battle towards improvement. The Gators improved their record to 2-0 after a road win against Auburn on Friday night. An .850 margin allowed UF (197.075) to defeat Auburn (196.225).

Junior Kytra Hunter performs her beam routine in a dual meet against Ball State on Jan. 4, 2013, in the O’Connell Center. Hunter claimed first place in all-around and floor in the Gators’ season-opening meet against UCLA in the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida squeezes out win at UCLA in opener

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 12, 2014

No. 1 Florida defeated No. 4 UCLA on Saturday — but just barely.

Bridget Sloan performs on vault during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb. 22, 2013. Florida opens the season against UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators return to site of 2013 championship to open season

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 9, 2014

Florida ended the 2013 season in Los Angeles ranked No. 1 in the country after finishing .200 points better than Oklahoma in the NCAA Super Six.

Kiersten Wang performs on the uneven bars during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb 22, 2013.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Lingering injuries ail Gators gymnasts

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 6, 2014

Gymnastics season has not even started, but some Gators are already sidelined.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnast to have skill named after her

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Oct. 7, 2013

Silvia Colussi-Pelaez has been a Gator for fewer than two months, but she is already making world history.

Sophomore Kytra Hunter performs her floor routine during the NCAA Regionals on April 6 in the O’Connell Center. Florida won its first national championship on Saturday in Los Angeles.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators excel on floor in national title meet

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 22, 2013

The 2012 NCAA Championships came down to the final routine for the Gators in Duluth, Ga.

Florida celebrates its victory at the NCAA Championships on April 20 in Los Angeles. The Gators became the fifth gymnastics program to win a national title.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Faehn-tastic: UF wins first title

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 21, 2013

The Gators were not finishing second again this year.

Bridget Sloan celebrates during the NCAA Regionals on April 6 in the O’Connell Center. Florida won the meet with a score of 198.4. Sloan posted a 9.925 on uneven bars at the NCAA Championships Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida earns bid to NCAA Super Six

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 19, 2013

At the close of each gymnast’s routine, there was no giddy celebration.

Bridget Sloan performs her floor routine during Florida’s 198.1-196.85 win against Alabama on Feb. 8 in the O’Connell Center. Sloan won uneven bars (9.95) and all-around (39.675) against the Crimson Tide.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

A New Chapter: Freshman overcomes injury at Olympic trials

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 18, 2013

Inside the HP Pavilion center in San Jose, Calif., Bridget Sloan was vying for a spot on the U.S. Gymnastics team at the Olympic trials on June 28, 2012.

Florida freshman gymnast Bridgette Caquatto performs her floor routine during the NCAA Regionals on April 6 in the O’Connell Center. Caquatto has filled in for injured starters this season.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida overcomes injuries, prepares for championships

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 17, 2013

Florida’s ability to adapt under any circumstance has fueled another successful season.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Freshmen pivotal in Florida’s NCAA Regional championship

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 9, 2013

Freshman Bridgette Caquatto was held together by tape all summer long.

Junior Alaina Johnson performs her routine on the balance beam during Florida’s 196.575-190.55 victory against Ball State on Jan. 4 in the O’Connell Center. Johnson competed for the first time since Jan. 18 at the NCAA Regionals on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF gymnastics wins NCAA Regional

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 7, 2013

When All-American Alaina Johnson stuck her first vault routine in 85 days, the Gators were relieved.

Sophomore Kytra Hunter performs her beam routine in a dual meet against Ball State on Jan. 4 in the O’Connell Center. Hunter won the all-around title at the NCAA Regionals on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators clinch berth in NCAA Championships

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 6, 2013

The pressure of performing in another NCAA Regional Championship didn't crack Kytra Hunter.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators looking to continue home monmentum

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 4, 2013

When No. 1 Florida (15-2, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) hosts the 2013 NCAA Regionals on Saturday, history will be on its side.

Bridget Sloan performs on vault in UF’s 196.975-196.075 win against UK on Feb. 22. Sloan and Kytra Hunter were the only Gators to stick their landings in vault at the SEC Championships on March 23.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators focusing on sticking landings

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 3, 2013

Sophomore Kytra Hunter, with her body balanced in preflight, stuck her vault routine to round out Florida’s rotation at the Southeastern Conference Championships on March 23.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Junior battling nagging back injury

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Mar. 28, 2013

No. 1 Florida’s Alaina Johnson has been cleared to participate in gymnastics after missing eight meets because of a stress fracture and stress reaction in her lower back. However, Johnson’s availability as Florida tries to claim its first national title under coach Rhonda Faehn is still in question.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Freshman key to SEC championship win

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Mar. 25, 2013

One day after the Southeastern Conference named Bridget Sloan Freshman of the Year, she reached even greater heights.