North Little Rock, Ark. -- The No. 1 University of Florida gymnastics team (15-0-1, 5-0-1 SEC) used steady performances throughout Saturday's competition to claim its first Southeastern Conference team title since 1989 and sixth overall. Since UF last claimed the SEC title, the league championships have been dominated by Georgia and Alabama. Georgia (2006, '05, '04, '02, '01, '99, '98, '97, '96, '94, '93, '92, '91) and Alabama (2003, '00, '95, '90) have claimed the league crowns from 1989-2006.
Florida used its highest team score ever in SEC Championship competition (197.325) to claim the title. Two-time defending NCAA champion Georgia was second at 197.175, followed by Alabama (197.00) and LSU (196.25). Rounding out the results of Saturday's meet held in front of an Alltel Arena crowd of 5,134 was Arkansas (194.55), Auburn (194.475) and Kentucky (194.00).
The Gators and the GymDawgs were in a battle throughout the meet, exchanging the lead after in the first two events, but the score was deadlocked after three events. Florida finished on floor, posting its highest road floor total of 2007 (49.45). The Gators watched the final rotation, knowing the GymDogs were capable of matching or bettering that mark on UGA?s final event of the uneven bars. But UGA tallied a 49.30 on the event to give UF its winning margin of .15.
UF's Rhonda Faehn was named the SEC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. The Gator gymnastics team has held the No. 1 ranking for all but one week of the 2007 season. Amanda Castillo is the SEC Freshman of the Year, becoming the third Gator to win the award (Orley Szmuch, 2002, Betsy Hamm 1998). Castillo also won the evening?s floor exercise title at 9.95. She is the first Gator to win an SEC event title since Chrissy Van Fleet (balance beam) in 1999 and the first to claim the floor crown since Melissa Miller and Pam Titus shared the 1989 title.
Florida opened the meet by matching its second-highest vault team total (49.30) for the fourth time this season. UF was led by a pair of 9.90s from Corey Hartung and Ashley Reed. The mark was a collegiate-best for Hartung, who was making just her fifth vault appearance of the season.
The Gators used marks of 9.80 or above to post a team total of 49.275 on the uneven bars. Castillo and Melanie Sinclair anchored the UF lineup with a pair of 9.90.
The first five Gators turned in hit balance beam routines, as Florida tallied a 49.30 on the event. Senior Breanne King and Reed each posted 9.875, while Katie Rue, Sinclair and Hartung each posted marks of 9.85.
Florida led all schools with its 49.50 floor score to finish the meet. Castillo led UF with her 9.95 to claim the title. Hartung posted a 9.90 and the Gators received a 9.875 from both Rue and Reed.
Next up, the Gators await Monday's announcement by the NCAA of team assignments for the six NCAA Regional sites. The NCAA Regional Championships are set for April 14. The top two teams at each of the six sites will advance to the NCAA Championships, set for April 26-28 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Florida 197.325 2. Georgia 197.175 3. Alabama 197.000 4. LSU 196.250 5. Arkansas 194.550 6. Auburn 194.475 7. Kentucky 194.000
SEC GYMNASTICS AWARDS
SEC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Katie Heenan, Georgia
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Amanda Castillo, Florida
SEC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Julie Dwyer, Auburn
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR Rhonda Faehn, Florida
2007 ATTENDANCE 5,134
2006 Attendance at BJCC Arena: 7,607 2005 Attendance at The Arena at Gwinnett Center: 7,518 2004 Attendance at The Arena at Gwinnett Center: 8,570 Two Year Average at The Arena at Gwinnett Center: 8,044 All-Time Attendance Figures at Bartow Arena: 2003: 6,322 2002: 7,023 2001: 7,456 Average: 6,934
QUOTES
Florida Head Coach Rhonda Faehn
"It was just unbelievable the way our athletes competed with so much heart and determination tonight. We made mistakes here and there, but it was just unbelievable to see that they didn't let any of those get to them. They just kept fighting back and fighting back. There was just so much passion. We proved that this team has the heart and the determination to win. They came back, even though the made mistakes, and they just didn't give in."
"Tonight was probably one of our rougher competitions, but the pressure here is much greater than what it will be at nationals. Its just amazing though that they showed more energy than they have all year, and that's one of the things that we've been striving for."
"We're really proud of representing the University of Florida. We obviously think its the best school, and its just something sweet for these seniors. They all signed on the dotted line and took a chance. They want to be the fifth conference school to win a national title and make a statement that we're here. This couldn't be better for these seniors."
Samantha Lutz
"I don't think its sunk in yet. Its amazing, especially for these seniors. We knew we had a shot at it, and we came out here and did our job. We stayed cool and we kept our energy up. This is the greatest feeling I've felt in gymnastics."
NOTES
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU