The Gators' season-best team total gave the No. 9 University of Florida gymnastics team (4-2, 2-2 SEC) a 196.85-194.775 win Saturday at Michigan State (5-9) in front of a Jenison Field House crowd of 1,222.
A spirited Florida team turned in steady performances in each event Saturday to tally its high total of 2009. No falls were counted toward Florida's final total.
Senior All-American Corey Hartung was just a fraction away from her season-best total to claim her 14th career all-around title on the 14th day of February. She posted a 39.45, while junior Maranda Smith was second overall with a collegiate-best total of 39.35. It was the second all-around performance of Smith's career and her second in eight days.
“I was really happy for Corey for winning the all-around. She went for everything and performed aggressively. On her bar routine, she hit every handstand and that's what we were talking about – going aggressively for everything. It was the same for her beam,” UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn said. “I was also really proud of Maranda for stepping in and doing the all-around again. She hit that beam routine today and her floor was gorgeous. It is no surprise that we did better as a team and those two were on top of the all-around awards podium. They have been working so hard in the gym to help lead this team to the type of performance we are cable of. I think today's performance will give the team confidence as we go forward.”
Florida swept the standings in its first two events Saturday. Sophomore Alicia Goodwin stuck her double front dismount to earn a 9.90. The mark gave Goodwin her second uneven bars title of her Gator career. Three Gators shared second at 9.875 – Amanda Castillo, Smith and Hartung. Florida's total on bars, 49.325, stands as UF's second-highest of 2009.
The day's vault title was shared by UF freshman Elizabeth Mahlich and Courtney Gladys at 9.85. Each earned their first collegiate vault victory Saturday and it was a season-best score for both. Mahlich is from Mason, Mich., a town just 15 miles north of East Lansing, Mich. The presence of her family and friends were evident Saturday, as many brought signs to cheer Mahlich for her return home.
“It was so fun to see my family and friends in the stands. They were very loud,” Mahlich said.
Her performance came after limited vault training due to a slight ankle injury she suffered in last week's meet at LSU.
“It was kind of a pleasant surprise,” Mahlich said. “It was really exciting. I haven't gotten that score before.”
Smith used a collegiate-best 9.925 to win her second floor exercise title of the season. She has been a top floor performer for the Gators, finishing in the top two in four of her five floor competitions this season. Hartung shared second overall at 9.875 with MSU's Katlyn Roggensack and Emily Lopatofsky.
Florida turned in its second-highest 2009 balance beam total with its total of 49.175 on Saturday. Hartung led UF on the event with her third consecutive 9.90 on the event. She took second overall, as the day's beam title was claimed by sophomore Kelsey Morley with her MSU record mark of 9.975. Sinclair and Mahlich shared third overall at 9.875.
Faehn liked what she saw overall today from the Gators.
“It was definitely a marked improvement from the past competitions. We did a much better job with our consistency and fighting for every little tenth,” Faehn said. “We did have some little mistakes, but we are definitely moving in the right direction, especially with the limited number of athletes we are dealing with it. But they all are putting everything they have into it. That is exciting to see.”
Florida returns home to play host to No. 5 Alabama (3-3, 2-3 SEC) next Friday for the Gators' only home meet for the month of February. Meet time is at 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Feb. 20. The first 1,000 fans receive a light wand, compliments of Gatorade. Spiderman will be at Friday's meet and fans can have their photos taken with him between 5:30–9 p.m. at gate 4 of the O'Connell Center. Tickets for Friday's meet are $4.00 for adults, while children 17 & under plus UF students with identification are admitted free. Free passes to the Florida-Alabama meet are available at all area Wendy's restaurants. For a complete list of promotions for Friday's meet, please visit the Gator Outlook.
| Final Team Standings |
| No. 9 Florida at Michigan State– Feb. 14, 2009 – Jenison Field House (1,222) |
| | Team | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. | Florida | 49.125 | 49.325 | 49.175 | 49.225 | 196.85 |
| 2. | Michigan State | 48.775 | 48.15 | 48.775 | 49.075 | 194.775 |
