Florida Gators

The No. 16 University of Florida gymnastics team (6-3, 2-0 SEC) used its season-best team total to edge No. 5 Louisiana State University (3-3, 1-1 SEC) 194.925-194.75 for the Gatorade Fabulous 50's Night team title, held Friday in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 2,389. The .175 margin of victory marked the seventh time in the last 24 meetings that two-tenths or less separated the two teams.

Florida freshman Orley Szmuch led a Gator sweep of the all-around with her UF season-best total of 39.50 – matching the highest all-around total ever by a Gator freshman. The win was also her second consecutive, as she won the Kentucky dual title last Friday in Lexington with a then season-best total of 39.25. Florida's All-Americans Hilary Thompson and Kara Waterhouse took second (39.00) and third (38.90), respectively in Friday's all-around.

Szmuch also collected two event titles Friday. She used collegiate-best marks of 9.90 to

claim both the uneven bars and balance beam crowns Friday. Her beam title was also her second consecutive of the season. Another Gator freshman, Erinn Dooley, also won an event title, as she used a 9.875 on the vault to take her first collegiate crown. LSU's Nicki Arnstad took the evening's floor exercise title with a 9.90. Three shared the Gators' high floor mark Friday, as Szmuch, Jenny Carow and Kelly Hesbeens shared third with LSU's Lauren Companioni at 9.85.

"This is the best score of the season, so we can be happy with that," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said, "but we are hoping to get in the 195 and 196 range sometime soon this season. We have so much more to achieve. That is exciting, knowing that we can still improve tremendously."

Next up, the Gators begin a two-meet road stint by meeting No. 11 Michigan on Friday, Feb. 1 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Team Totals