Florida sweeps Nebraska in season opener, unveils new faces
By ALLISON BANKO | Jan. 7, 2011The bejeweled blue leotards that hugged the Gators gymnastics squad weren’t the only things that shined on the Stephen C. O’Connell Center mats.
The bejeweled blue leotards that hugged the Gators gymnastics squad weren’t the only things that shined on the Stephen C. O’Connell Center mats.
A glittering sign that reads, “what are U made oF?” dangles in the Ted Crom Gymnastics Studio, just above the countdown clock for tonight’s meet against No. 10 Nebraska.
Maranda Smith has been through a lot in her college career, which was thought to have ended in April.
The Super Six appeared to be dead, but the NCAA resurrected it.
Twenty-four hours after having the worst all-around performance of her career, Florida freshman Marissa King had a historic day for the Gators.
All week, the coaches at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships spoke about parity in the sport.
It didn’t start out pretty for the second-seeded Gators on Thursday night, but that didn’t stop them from reaching their fifth-consecutive Super Six.
Reaching the top of the college gymnastics world is a no easy feat. Only four teams have won the national title in the sport’s previous 28 years — Utah, Georgia, Alabama and UCLA.
For senior Maranda Smith, the pain is always there. It’s just a matter of how much it hurts.
Florida didn’t get off to the start it wanted to in the NCAA North Central Regional, much like its rough start at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
Heading into their final event of the NCAA North Central Regional, the Gators needed at least a 48.825 to surpass No. 10 Utah, which went into the rotation as the meet’s leader on the scoreboard.
If Florida hopes to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 28th time in the event’s 29-year history, the Gators will have to get past a couple of familiar foes Saturday.
All season, the No. 4 Gators have talked about how if the team hopes to win a national title, then the gymnasts need to peak at the right time.
Senior Rebekah Zaiser describes herself as a perfectionist — both on the gymnastics floor and in the classroom — and it shows.
JACKSONVILLE — The Southeastern Conference Championships didn’t start out exactly how the Gators had hoped, but the meet certainly ended the way they wanted it to.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Southeastern Conference Championships didn’t start out exactly how the No. 4 Gators had hoped, but it certainly ended the way they wanted it to.
It was mid-February, and No. 4 Florida was hosting then-No. 7 Georgia, the five-time defending national champions.
It won’t exactly be a home meet for No. 4 Florida, but it will be a homecoming for freshman Ashanée Dickerson when the Gators travel to Jacksonville for the 2010 Southeastern Conference Championships.
Corey Hartung came to UF not knowing what she wanted to do after she finished her collegiate gymnastics career and got her degree.
On Senior Night in the O’Connell Center, a freshman stole the show for the Gators.