AUBURN, Ala. – Freshman Ashanee Dickerson picked up her fifth all-around title Friday night as the No. 4 Florida gymnastics team posted its second-highest point total of the season in its 196.800-195.700 victory before 4,019 fans at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
The Gators (6-2 overall, 5-1 SEC) swept the four event titles, led by Dickerson (39.35) and fellow freshman Marissa King (39.275). Auburn fell to 2-5 overall, 2-4 in the SEC. Florida coach Rhonda Faehn credited her team’s strong start in setting the tone for their performance.
“They came out on bars and were immediately aggressive – hitting handstands and really going for the stuck landings,” Faehn said. “I think that really started the momentum that we carried through on vault and throughout the whole competition. I thought they were aggressive but calm, and at the same time, they created a lot of energy themselves. This is the first time on the road that we’ve seen this team have this much energy.”
Florida opened with a season-best 49.325 on the uneven bars. That score was boosted with the top bar marks of the meet of 9.875 from Florida’s final three competitors – Elizabeth Mahlich, Amanda Castillo and Maranda Smith. That mark is a collegiate-best for Mahlich and matches Castillo’s and Smith’s season-bests.
The Gators also swept the top three spots in the evening’s vault competition. Senior Courtney Gladys nailed her Yurchenko half twist off, front layout vault for a season-best 9.90 to collect her second vault win of 2010. Smith and Dickerson anchored the Gators’ vault marks of 9.875 to share second.
Florida posted a 49.075 in the evening’s floor exercise competition. There was a miss in the Gator lineup, but Faehn like the way the gymnasts following performed.
“Our athletes responded really well to a miss,” Faehn said. “Ashanée did one of her best floor routines of the year – she does amazing routines every time – but it was phenomenal for her and Maranda (Smith) to go up after a miss not holding back.”
Dickerson picked up fourth floor title of the season with Friday’s mark of 9.875. Florida’s Amy Ferguson and Marissa King shared third at 9.825 with Auburn’s Toi Garcia and Kylie Shields.
The Gators finished the meet with an event score of 49.10. Gladys shared her second event title of the evening with freshman teammate Liz Green at 9.85.
No. 4 FLORIDA 196.800, No. 16 AUBURN 195.700
At Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, Auburn, Ala.
Vault: Florida 49.300 (1. Courtney Gladys 9.900; T2. Maranda Smith 9.875 and Ashanee Dickerson 9.875; 4. Marissa King 9.850; T5. Dali Lemezan 9.800; 11. Nicole Ellis 9.725), Auburn 48.800 (T5. Maya Mickus 9.800; T7. Kyle Shields 9.750, Krissy Voss 9.750, Allyson Sandusky 9.750 and Toi Garcia 9.750; 12. Petrina Yokay 9.000).
Uneven Parallel Bars: Florida 49.325 (T1. Elizabeth Mahlich 9.875, Amanda Castillo 9.875 and Maranda Smith 9.875; T4. Marissa King 9.850 and Alicia Goodwin 9.850; 10. Ashanee Dickerson 9.800), Auburn 49.150 (T4. Kylie Shields 9.850 and Petrina Yokay 9.850; 9. Allyson Sandusky 9.825; 11. Krissy Voss 9.775; 12. Kendall Swartz 9.700.
Balance Beam: Florida 49.100 (T1. Courtney Gladys 9.850 and Liz Green 9.850; T4. Randy Stageberg 9.800, Rebekah Zaiser 9.800 and Ashanee Dickerson 9.800; T8. Marissa King 9.750), Auburn 48.775 (3. Krissy Voss 9.825; T4. Allyson Sandusky 9.800; T8. Katie Hurley 9.750 and Kylie Shields 9.750; 11. Lauren Brzostowski 9.650; 12. Rachel Inniss 9.600).
Floor Exercise: Florida 49.075 (1. Ashanee Dickerson 9.875; T3. Amy Ferguson 9.825; T3. Marissa King 9.825; 7. Maranda Smith 9.800; T8. Liz Green 9.750; 12. Randy Stageberg 9.100), Auburn 48.975 (2. Rachel Inniss 9.850; T3. Toi Garcia 9.825 and Kylie Shields 9.825; T8. Krissy Voss 9.750; 10. Katie Hurley 9.725; 11. Lauren Brzostowski 9.700.
All Around: 1. Ashanee Dickerson (F) 39.350; 2. Marissa King (F) 39.275; 3. Kylie Shields (A) 39.175; 4. Krissy Voss (A) 39.100.
Records: Florida 6-2, 5-1 SEC; Auburn 2-5 overall, 2-4 SEC.
Next meet: Friday, March 5 Florida vs. North Carolina (6-3) and Ball State (5-6) at Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, 7 p.m.