IOWA CITY, Iowa – The No. 6 Florida gymnastics team won its fifth straight regional title Saturday night at the University of Iowa, capturing the NCAA North Central Regional with a score of 196.775 to edge out runner-up UCLA, which finished with a score of 196.625.
The title won at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena advances Florida to the NCAA Championships April 16-18 at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. This will be Florida’s 27th appearance in the 28-year history of the championship. As the region runner-up, No. 7 UCLA also advanced.
Other team results Saturday included No. 23 Iowa State (195.65), No. 20 Denver (195.60), No. 18 Minnesota (193.775) and No. 28 Iowa (193.625).
The Gators placed four individuals among the meet’s top six all-arounders, with senior All-American Corey Hartung taking second with a season-best total of 39.525. Junior Maranda Smith was fourth at 39.325, followed by freshman Elizabeth Mahlich (5th, 39.20) and junior All-American Melanie Sinclair (6th, 39.175). Denver’s Jessica Lopez claimed the all-around title at 39.60.
“The entire coaching staff is so proud of the athletes for once again showing their passion and their fight,” Florida head coach Rhonda Faehn said. “They just fought for every little thing. This is a really tough competition because there is so much pressure to do well so that the team can advance to the NCAA Championships.”
The Gators started slowly, finishing second in the floor exercise. Next in the vault, the Gators finished third. Florida finished strong, winning both the uneven bars and beam.
“They started out a little bit rough on floor and were forced to count a small mistake,” Faehn said. “But they didn’t let that affect them and that was the true test. They did awesome on every other event and finished incredibly strong on beam. That is the best we’ve done all year on that event and that’s when the most pressure was on. That just shows how tough they really are and how much heart they are putting into this season.
“We’re excited,” she continued. “On to Nebraska!”
Florida’s opening event total of 49.075 on floor was held back by some low landings. Hartung led the Gators on the event with a 9.925 to share the meet’s floor title with Denver’s Lopez. The win was Hartung’s second regional floor title and the first since her freshman year. Junior Maranda Smith added a 9.90 to share third. Freshman Amy Ferguson posted a 9.85 – just off her collegiate-best of 9.875.
The Gators were steady in vault, using marks of 9.80 or above toward its team total of 49.225, which almost matched its season-best score of 49.275. Smith led the Gators with a 9.90 and shared third place. Sinclair posted a 9.875 and junior Courtney Gladys added a 9.85.
Three Gators – Smith, Sinclair and Hartung – led Florida on the uneven bars with marks of 9.85. They finished in a five-way tie for second overall. Florida turned in a total of 49.15 on the event.
Heading into their final event, the Gators needed 49.20 on the beam to pass UCLA but also had to be careful because they were just .80 ahead of third-place Iowa State.
“If they felt any pressure, they sure didn’t show it,” Faehn said. “They were very relaxed, they were having fun and they were very confident.”
The confidence showed as Florida went 6-for-6 on the beam to set a season beam total of 49.325. Hartung won the event with a career-best 9.95 mark after she stuck her dismount, a 2½ twist. Sophomore Alicia Goodwin, who missed the SEC Championships with a knee sprain, competed and matched her college best mark of 9.875 to tie for second overall. Gladys and Sinclair tied for fourth with 9.85 marks.
“Corey’s routine was just so wonderful to see. We were all shouting ’10’ when she was done because it was such a great routine. She just put together an absolutely perfect beam routine, right down to the landing,” Faehn said. “Alicia came back from an injury that we weren’t even sure would allow her to compete for the rest of the season. She nailed both of her routines tonight and did a phenomenal job. That was really wonderful to see.”
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The final standings in the NCAA North Central Regional Championship Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the University of Iowa campus:
Team scores: 1. Florida 196.775; 2. UCLA 196.625; 3. Iowa State 195.650; 4. Demver 195.600; 5. Minnesota 193.775; 6. Iowa 193.625.
Vault: 1. UCLA 49.425; 2. Denver 49.275; 3. Florida 49.225; 4. Iowa State 48.975; 5. Iowa 48.900; 6. Minnesota 48.825.
Bar: 1. Florida 49.150; 2. UCLA 49.125; 3. Iowa State 48.875; 4. Denver 48.775; 5. Iowa 48.750; 6. Minnesota 48.700.
Beam: 1. Florida 49.325; 2. Iowa State 48.800; 3. Denver 48.750; 4. UCLA 48.650; 5. Iowa 48.175; 6. Minnesota 47.475.
Floor: 1. UCLA 49.425; 2. Florida 49.075; 3. Iowa State 49.000; 4. Denver 48.800; 5. Minnesota 48.775; 6, Iowa 47.800.