Florida Gators

The No. 7 University of Florida gymnasts team (23-3, 5-1 SEC) matched the second-highest total in school history with a 197.125 for the second consecutive meet in their win over No. 6 Utah (196.150) in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 3,358. With tonight's win, Florida finished 11-0 at home, the first perfect home record since 1989. The win also was the first victory over Utah since the 1998 NCAA Championships.

Florida broke the 197.00 mark for the fourth time this season, after reaching the 197.00 mark only twice prior to this year.

"I'm extremely pleased with their performance tonight," Florida head coach Rhonda Faehn said. "Our word for the night was passion. They definitely competed with passion out there. They fought for every little tenth, every little possible deduction, and they enjoyed what there were doing tonight. It was exciting to see it end at our home on that note. It was great, especially for our seniors that we are going to lose, unfortunately."

Florida opened the meet with a team total of 49.20 on vault, the third best total this season. For the second consecutive meet, sophomore Orley Szmuch reset her career best with a 9.975 vault performance. Szmuch's score ties for the second-best vault score in school history. She shared the event title with Utah's Annabeth Eberle at 9.975.

The Gators edged Utah 49.425-49.250 on bars. Szmuch and junior Kristen Stucky shared event honors with a 9.925. Utah's Kim Allan placed third with a 9.90. Senior Lindsey Miner posted a collegiate-best 9.875, which was second best on the team and fourth overall.

Florida had an impressive performance on the balance beam, as the Gators turned in a 49.425, the second highest total in school history and the second best total this season. UF set the beam school record with a 49.50 on Feb. 14. Miner improved her collegiate best with a 9.95 and shared event honors with Utah's Annabeth Eberle and Theresa Kulikowski. Szmuch had a 9.90, which was the second-highest score in the beam competition. Florida won the beam event 49.425-48.975, as Utah was forced to count a fall.

Led by Szmuch's 9.925, the Gators won the floor competition 49.075-48.575. Szmuch shared event honors with Utah's Melissa Vituj. Three other Gators posted a 9.80 or better—redshirt sophomore Erinn Dooley (9.875), senior Jenny Carow (9.80) and freshman Amanda Stroud (9.80).

Szmuch earned her fifth all-around title of the season with a collegiate-best 39.725, the third highest total in school history. Szmuch had a solid night with a 9.90 or higher in all four events.

"In the last couple of meets, she had little mistakes here and there," Faehn said. "She is a strong competitor, so I was prepared for her to do an amazing job, but she more than excelled at that. She did phenomenal. I'm just really happy that we get her for another two years."

Tonight's meet was the last home meet of the season, and UF's four seniors—Carow, Miner, Kelly Hesbeens and Jacqui Williams were honored after the meet.

Up next, the Gators compete at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Birmingham, Ala., on March 29.