Florida Gators

The No. 10 University of Florida gymnastics team (12-10, 2-3 SEC) was edged 196.75-196.525 by No. 2 Utah Saturday evening in front of a Subway Shamrock Showdown crowd at 2,530 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. George Washington (195.00) and North Carolina (192.275) took third and fourth, respectively. The Gators' team total was their second highest of the season.

"We gained some momentum back that we'd thought we had lost in the last few meets," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "Vaulting was by far the best effort of the season."

The evening began with an emotional ceremony say farewell to seniors Gabby Fuchs and Teal Chiabotti. Both were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the University of Florida, both athletically and academically. They were presented with roses and traditional letterman's blanket.

"We just decided to go out and have fun tonight," Chiabotti said. "Both Gabby and I wanted it to be the most fun, and it was."

For the first time this season, each Gator gymnast attempted a 10.0 start value vault. Chiabotti claimed her fourth vault title of the season with a collegiate best 9.925. Fuchs and Kylee Wagner of Utah shared second place with scores of 9.875.

Five athletes took the podium for the uneven parallel bars. Fuchs, Devin McCalla (George Washington), and Theresa Wolf (Utah) all shared third place at 9.85. Second place was awarded to Utah's Shannon Bowles, 9.875, and Utah also claimed first place with Theresa Kulikowski's 10^th uneven bars title of the season at 9.90. The Utes swept the beam event, with Kulikowski claiming her sixth beam title of the season with a mark of 9.95.

Florida's Hilary Thompson shared her fifth floor title of the season with Utah's Bowles. Both turned in marks of 9.925. Thompson also took second in the all-around, turning in her second-highest collegiate total of 39.425. Bowles took the all-around title at 39.525.

The Gators look to take tonight's confidence boost into next week's Southeastern Conference Championships held in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday, March 23.

"We definitely needed that momentum boost. I really think we did that," Thompson said. "Overall, it was a good day. Of course, we haven't accomplished everything so far, but that's good. We don't want to peak too soon."

Team Totals