Florida Gators
NCAA Southeast Region Championships
No. 3 Florida Gymnastics Team Win NCAA Southeast Region to Advance to NCAA Championships
Sunday, April 13, 2008 | Gymnastics
Solid and steady performances throughout the competition gave the No. 3 Florida gymnastics team (12-3-1, 4-2 SEC) the NCAA Southeast Region title at the meet held Saturday evening in front of a crowd of 6,032 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The Gators posted a 197.525 to claim their fourth consecutive NCAA region team title.
The win advances Florida to the NCAA Championships, set for April 24-26 in Athens, Ga. It will be Florida's 26th NCAA Championship appearance in the meet's 27-year history. No. 9 UCLA took the other advancing position at 196.625. Other team results Saturday included No. 15 Nebraska (196.10), No. 25 West Virginia (194.825), No. 21 North Carolina State (193.825) and North Carolina (191.825).
Much depends on a team's performance at the NCAA region championships. Only the top two teams will earn a spot in the NCAA Championships' 12-team field. UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn liked the way the Gators shook off the pressure to turn in the team's third-highest total of 2008.
“I thought they did an awesome job. They were very relaxed and had fun. This is probably one of the highest-pressured situations of the year,” Faehn said. “I thought they responded really well.”
A Gator took a share of each event title Saturday – a first for the UF program since the 1985 NCAA Southeast Region. Sophomore Melanie Sinclair used a collegiate-best and the top total ever by a Gator in regional competition (39.65) to claim her second all-around title of the season.
Boosting that all-around score was a pair of 9.95s, which gave her a share of the evening's vault and uneven bars titles. The bar title was shared with UCLA's Anna Li. The uneven bars win was Sinclair's second straight with the Florida season-best bar mark, as she also won a share of the Southeastern Conference title on March 28. She shared the vault title with senior teammate Ashley Reed. It was Reed's second consecutive 9.95, as she used the same score to claim a share of the SEC Championships' vault title.
| Did You Know… |
| The 197.525 is the highest score ever posted by the Gators in NCAA Regional competition. The score gave Florida its fourth consecutive regional team title and the ninth in the program's history. |
Reed used a 9.875 to take a share of the beam title – her fourth of the season. She shared the beam title with Nebraska's Tricia Woo, UCLA's Kristina Comforte and NC State's Leigha Hancock.
Five shared the region's floor exercise title at 9.90, including three Gators – Amanda Castillo, Nicola Willis and Sinclair. A pair of Cornhuskers joined them as floor winners Emily Parsons and Woo. For Castillo, the two-time SEC floor champion, it was her second consecutive regional floor title. Saturday's win was Willis first floor title since the 2008 season opener.
Throughout much of the 2007 season, Florida held the No. 1 ranking and entered the 2007 NCAA Championships sharing the top seed with Utah. After Florida finished third in the NCAA Super Six team final, the UF coaching staff thought that the 2007 Gators had peaked too early in the season. So this year, the number of regular-season meets was reduced from 13 to 10 with the hope that the Gators will peak at the right time. Sinclair said the plan seems to going well.
| Florida at NCAA Southeast Region Championships | |||||
| Name | V | UB | BB | FX | AA |
| Amanda Castillo | 9.875 | 9.9 | 9.85 | 9.9 | 39.525 |
| Courtney Gladys | 9.85 | ||||
| Corey Hartung | 9.825 | 9.825 | 9.85 | 9.875 | 39.375 |
| Tiffany Murry | 9.8 | 9.8 | |||
| Ashley Reed | 9.95 | 9.9 | 9.875 | 9.85 | 39.575 |
| Melanie Sinclair | 9.95 | 9.95 | 9.85 | 9.9 | 39.65 |
| Maranda Smith | 9.75 | ||||
| Nicola Willis | 9.85 | 9.6 | 9.9 | ||
| Rebekah Zaiser | 9.8 | ||||
| Team Totals | 49.45 | 49.425 | 49.225 | 49.425 | 197.525 |
“I feel a lot more confident this year. I feel as if we prepared ourselves a lot better this year, as far as not overworking our routines, our skills,” Sinclair said. “We peaked at the right times and are still peaking, so I feel confident going into Nationals this year.”
New this season is the National Qualifying Score (NQS), which determines the pairings for day one of the team competition at the NCAA Championships. The NQS is calculated by adding a team's regional qualifying score (RQS) and score from the regional meet. Teams will be ranked 1 to 12 based on the NQS. Teams 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12 will be placed in Group A; and teams 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11 placed in Group B. The NCAA Championships' host team and its corresponding group will compete in the second session on April 24. A random draw will be used to determine competition session if the host team does not qualify.
| No. 3 Florida at NCAA Southeast Region Championships – April 12, 2008 – Stephen C. O'Connell Center (6,032) | ||||||
|
| Team | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. | Florida | 49.450 | 49.425 | 49.225 | 49.425 | 197.525 |
| 2. | UCLA | 49.275 | 49.375 | 49.100 | 48.875 | 196.625 |
| 3. | Nebraska | 49.100 | 48.875 | 48.875 | 49.250 | 196.100 |
| 4. | West Virginia | 49.050 | 48.850 | 48.325 | 48.600 | 194.825 |
| 5. | NC State | 48.675 | 48.225 | 48.075 | 48.850 | 193.825 |
| 6. | North Carolina | 48.375 | 47.425 | 47.900 | 48.125 | 191.825 |
| 2008 NCAA Championship Field | |||||
| Seed | School | Region Score | RQS | NQS | Region Result |
| 1. | Georgia | 197.775 | 197.400 | 395.175 | Northeast Champion |
| 2. | Florida | 197.525 | 197.225 | 394.75 | Southeast Champion |
| 3. | LSU | 197.625 | 196.730 | 394.355 | Central Champion |
| 4. | Stanford | 197.525 | 196.770 | 394.295 | Central Runner-up |
| 5. | Utah | 196.960 | 197.255 | 394.215 | North Central Champion |
| 6. | Alabama | 197.300 | 196.870 | 394.17 | South Central Champion |
| 7. | Oregon State | 197.100 | 196.650 | 393.75 | West Champion |
| 8. | Michigan | 196.375 | 196.825 | 393.20 | West Runner-up |
| 9. | UCLA | 196.625 | 196.510 | 393.135 | Southeast Runner-up |
| 10. | Oklahoma | 195.875 | 196.450 | 392.325 | South Central Runner-up |
| 11. | Arkansas | 196.125 | 196.165 | 392.29 | North Central Runner-up |
| 12. | Denver | 195.775 | 195.955 | 391.73 | Northeast Runner-up |
| Shading denotes teams in Session I of April 24 NCAA Championship team qualifying | |||||
General NCAA Southeast Region Notes
| Advancing to the NCAA Championships (April 24-26 in Athens, Ga.) | ||
| Teams | ||
| Place | Team | Score |
| 1. | Florida | 197.525 |
| 2. | UCLA | 196.625 |
| Individual All-Arounders (top two all-arounders not on an advancing team) | ||
| 4. | Emily Parsons, Nebraska | 39.450 |
| 9. | Desire' Sniatynski, Nebraska | 39.225 |
| Individual Event (event winners not on an advancing team) | ||
| 1. | Tricia Woo, Nebraska | Balance Beam - 9.875 |
| 1. | Leigha Hancock, NC State | Balance Beam - 9.875 |
| 1. | Tricia Woo, Nebraska | Floor Exercise - 9.90 |
| Tonight's attendance was the highest for a NCAA Gymnastics Regional held in the O'Connell Center. Here's a look at all the regional crowds held in Gainesville. | |
| Year | Crowd |
| 2007 | 6,032 |
| 2005 | 3,289 |
| 2001 | 2,545 |
| 1996 | 4,117 |
| 1992 | 3,040 |
| 1990 | 3,209 |
| 1988 | 5,614 |
| 1987 | 4,122 |
| 1984 | 3,500 |
| 1983 | 2,933 |
Team Notes…
University of Florida
· Florida's average home attendance this season was 6,358, the second-largest average home attendance in school history. (6,455 in 1989)
· Florida has now advanced to the NCAA Championships 26 times in the meet's 27-year history.
· Florida's score (197.525) was its highest in NCAA Regional competition – previous high of 197.325 set at 2007 NCAA Northeast Regional in Ann Arbor, Mich.
· Tonight was the third individual title for senior Ashley Reed in a NCAA Regional competition, winning both the all-around and uneven bars in 2005.
· Tonight was the second individual title for sophomore Amanda Castillo, winning floor in 2007.
· Tonight was the second individual title for Nicola Willis, winning uneven bars in 2007.
· Florida posted its second-highest total on bars this season with a score of 49.425
· Senior Ashley Reed's score of 9.900 on bars marked a season-high.
· Sophomore Melanie Sinclair tied her season-high with a 9.95 score on bars. It was her third time this season, the other two coming on 2/15/08 and 3/29/08. It is also tied for third best score in school history. Also tied her season-high with a 9.900 on the floor.
· Sinclair tied a career-best with a 9.950 vault score (set collegiate-best 2-15-08)
· Florida's team score of 49.450 on the vault was the second-highest total this season and the sixth best in school history.
· Senior Ashley Reed's score of 9.950 on the vault tied a career-best.
· Ashley Reed's all-around score of 39.575 was a season-best for the senior.
· Melanie Sinclair's all-around score of 39.650 was a career-best for the senior and is tied for seventh best in school history.
· The total team score of 197.525 is the eighth best score in school history.
· This is the first time since 2005 Florida has hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional.
· UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn was coached in college by UCLA Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field
· UF Assistant Coach Adrian Burde was a Nebraska assistant coach for five seasons before joining the UF staff in the summer of 2006.
· Tonight was the first time since transferring from UCLA after completing the 2006 fall semester that Gator sophomore Maranda Smith has competed against her former team.
UCLA
· Kristina Comforte finished first on the balance beam for her fourth individual title this season, her second on the beam.
· Comforte tied her season best on the uneven bars with a 9.90, which earned her a third-place finish. Comforte went on to capture sixth on the vault.
· Ariana Berlin has now competed in 41 straight meets.
· UCLA tied its third-highest season total on vault with a 49.275.
· The Bruins surpassed their season averages in every event to finish second with a 196.625
· Anna Li captured her 18th title of the year and seventh on the uneven bars. Li finished sixth in the all-around.
· Tasha Schwikert finished third on the vault, sixth on the uneven bars, fifth on the balance beam and fourth for the all-around.
University of Nebraska
· Sabrina Long tied her season-best on the vault with a 9.60.
· Nebraska tied its third-highest score on beam this season with a 49.100
· Nebraska tied its second-highest score on the uneven bars with a 49.100
· Emily Parsons captured her 29th individual title of the season and ninth on the floor. She also finished third in the vault competition, fifth on the balance beam and fourth for all-around.
· Parsons was also a recipient of the South Central Region Award for Gymnast of the Year.
· Tricia Woo earned two individual titles at the Regional, which brought her total to 10 on the year. She gained her seventh on the balance beam and third on the floor.
· Woo (floor and beam) and Parsons (floor) booked themselves tickets to the NCAA Championships.
University of North Carolina
· This is North Carolina's seventh straight trip to the NCAA Southeast Regional.
North Carolina State University
· Heather Zolton tied her second-highest total on the floor exercise this season with a 9.800
· Brittney Hardiman score of 9.750 on the uneven bars is her second-highest of the season.
· Brittany Vontz's score on the uneven bars (9.750) is also tied for her second-highest of the season
· Leigha Hancock captured her 19th individual title of the season with her first-place finish on the balance beam
· NC State made its 19th appearance in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships.
· Hancock took home the Southeast Region Award for Gymnast of the Year. While, Mark Stevenson earned Coach of the Year and Karen Pleasants received Assistant Coach of the Year.
West Virginia University
· This is West Virginia's 25th appearance and fifth straight year appearing in a NCAA Regional.
· The Mountaineers have now qualified for the postseason in 30 of the last 31 years.
· WVU has advanced to the NCAA Championships three times in school history (1995, 1999, 2000)
· Sophomore Chelsi Tabor tied Jaime Gold for the second-highest vault score of the season for WVU with a 9.900.
· Mehgan Morris recorded the third-highest bar score for the Mountaineers this season with a score of 9.875. She now holds the top two scores for WVU in bars.
Quotes from advancing teams
University of Florida
Head Coach Rhonda Faehn
Thoughts on the meet:
“I thought they did an awesome job. They were very relaxed and had fun. This is probably one of the highest-pressured situations of the year. I thought they responded really well.”
On the record-setting crowd:
“It's unbelievable, the crowd. It's awesome. We were so excited when the doors opened and we saw people just piling in. Then we knew it was going to be a great crowd. I am just thrilled to see that we have so much support here, especially when there were so many things that were going on today in Gainesville.”
Florida Sophomore Amanda Castillo
On how the rotation helped them today
“I think it prepared us mentally for the competition and we've been competing all season. Before we came out to compete we had that strength. We shouldn't be scared now, we've done it all season, we know how to do it, we do it everyday in the gym so really what routine that we start on shouldn't matter.”
On how she feels about going to the National Championships
“I'm excited, my body feels great. I feel like I'm full of energy and I think that the rest of the team feels the same way.”
Florida Sophomore Melanie Sinclair
On how they got off to a great start after starting on bars
“I think it's always important to start out well in the first event that you compete, it builds your confidence going into all the other events and we definitely did that today, start off with a bang”
On how she feels about going to the National Championships
“I feel a lot more confident this year. I feel as if we prepared ourselves a lot better this year, as far as not overworking our routines, our skill. We peaked at the right times and are still peaking, so I feel confident going into Nationals this year.”
UCLA
Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field
Opening Statement:
“I was proud of them because it wasn't a smooth meet for us overall. They kept fighting and that's what it's all about. It's never over until the fat lady sings. It's hard to go to an event like beam and have your first person fall, especially when she's been your rock all season. I was really proud that the athlete that followed her was a walk-on freshman. So that was awesome for her to hit the way she did with that type of confidence. It's great to see our team fight from event to event to event and not give up. They're warrior tested and battle ready. We've got four days of training before we leave for nationals. They're planning out each day of training and figuring out what it's going to take to win a national championship.”
On going back to Nationals:
“This is the most nerve-wracking meet for all of us. This is the one that gets you in the big dance, and we're excited to be going to the big dance.“
On seeing former UCLA gymnast Maranda Smith compete for the Gators:
“We love Maranda. She's been awesome. She's been a great cheerleader of ours and we've been a great cheerleader of hers. There is absolutely no animosity. I told her when she left, 'The door will always be open for you.' She came in yesterday when my girls were training on beam and they all ran over to her and hugged her. We're just thrilled for her. She's a wonderful, wonderful young lady.”
On the effects of traveling across the country for the meet:
“It affects us in trying to get the kinks in the body out, whether it's the kinks in the back or the neck. That's adversity and if a team can't overcome adversity, they're not going to win a championship. We've won three national championships where our first person up fell. We've won another national championship where we had to go to balance beam and average a 9.900 in Georgia with 10,000 screaming Bulldogs. Georgia was going to vault which was their best event, but we won. We know how to coach through adversity and they know how to persevere through adversity. Right now they're leading the team meeting in the locker room figuring out how they're going to win a championship this year.”
UCLA Sophomore Anna Li
On tonight's performance:
“We were very confident after each rotation. We started to get together and gain confidence and refresh on each event. It was really exciting throughout the whole competition. We're pumped up for nationals.”
UCLA's Tasha Schwikert
“We're honestly glad that we got through as a team, came out healthy. We had a lot of mistakes, small details here and there that we need to practice and perfect, but other than that our goal was to make nationals.”
