Florida Gators

The No. 3 University of Florida gymnastics team (16-2, 4-2 SEC) knew that to defeat perennial power and current No. 2 Utah (10-2), it would take a top team effort. UF did just that, turning in its season-best score to take the St. Patrick's Day dual meet title. Florida's team total of 197.325 ranks as the fifth-highest in school history. The Utes turned in its third-highest total of the season, 196.675, Friday evening in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 2,883. The win Friday was only UF's fifth in the two team's 29 all-time meetings, but the third since Rhonda Faehn took over the Gator program for the 2003 season.

Florida held a lead, albeit slender at some times, throughout the meet. The Gators opened the meet with its second-highest vault total of the season, 49.325, while the Utes turned in it highest event total of the evening, 49.30, on the uneven bars. A season-best of 49.25 was tallied by the Gators on the uneven bars, while Utah earned a 49.20 on the vault. Florida built on its slender .075 midway point lead with its second-highest balance beam total of the season (49.30) while Utah earned a 48.975 on floor. The Gators closed the meet with a season-best floor exercise total of 49.45 while Utah earned a 49.20 on beam.

“We strive to be aggressive in every event so that we don't have as much pressure on the floor. I'm just really proud of how they did tonight. They competed not only so aggressively, but they really looked confident,” Faehn said. “I think we are peaking at the right time heading into SECs.

“It's exactly what we were hoping for,” she continued. “We've been building and building and we hoped this would be the last test before the championship season. Utah's a national powerhouse, and they have a lot of titles in their history. I can see it in our team's eyes that they sincerely believe that they are this good. We have to keep doing what we are doing and keep hitting our events.”

Utah sophomore Ashley Postell collected three individual titles Friday, which includes leading a Ute sweep of the all-around with her season-best total of 39.65. Postell posted marks of 9.925 to win both Friday's vault and uneven bars titles.

When she stuck her balance beam dismount, junior Samantha Lutz accentuated her salute with an extra fist pump, as she knew it was a strong routine. She was right, as her mark of 9.925 is a collegiate best and gave her a share of her second beam title of 2006.

“I had four hit routines in front of me, and I had nothing to lose going up there. When I landed, I knew it was a good one,” Lutz said. “I was happy just to help the team in a meet this important against a team like Utah.”

Utah's Nicolle Ford also turned in a 9.925 in Friday's balance beam competition to earn her third title of 2006.

The Gators used two marks of 9.925 or better toward its season-best floor total. The evening's floor crown went to sophomore Nicola Willis, who matched the Gators' season-best of 9.95 to take her second floor win of 2006.

“It was really exciting. I've been practicing really hard. The team was behind me, and it was great to get my highest score,” Willis said. “It was an awesome feeling to have the crowd behind me. It was really amazing.”

Runner-up was freshman Corey Hartung at 9.925, marking her seventh floor score this season of 9.90 or above.

Leading the Gators in the vault was sophomore Ashley Reed, who took second with her season-best of 9.90. Junior Savannah Evans and sophomore Tiffany Murry shared third in the vault at 9.875. Four gymnasts turned in uneven marks of 9.875 Friday – UF's Reed and Lutz and Utah's Kristina Baskett and Nicolle Ford.

Friday was also Senior Night for Gator gymnastics and seniors Beth Kleiman and Sherie Owens plus team manager Angie Story were honored in a post-meet ceremony.

Florida now moves to the Southeastern Conference Championships on Saturday, March 25. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. (ET) in the Birmingham (Ala.) Jefferson Convention Complex.