Florida Gators

The No. 5 University of Florida gymnastics team (9-2, 5-1 SEC) finished out its 2010 regular-season slate with a 197.55-196.50 win over No. 9 Utah (10-3) in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 4,859. The score, the eighth-highest in school history, matches the Gators' season-best set in their last meet on March 5.

A Gator claimed each of the evening's event titles, including freshman Marissa King using a collegiate-best total of 39.575 to pick up her second consecutive all-around title. King set or matched collegiate-best scores in each of the four apparatus Friday. She's registered collegiate-best marks (including the four events and all-around) a total of 12 times in the last four meets. In that span, she's raised her all-around total three times.

For King, her performance is validation that practice is paying off.

“I am just really pleased with myself. It proves that all of the things that I am working on in the gym actually are working,” King said. “To go out there and hit those routines is a really, really good feeling and I hope it continues in the future.”

Utah senior Daria Bijak was runner-up in the all-around at 39.525 and UF freshman Ashan?e Dickerson matched her second-highest total of 39.475 to take third.

Four different Gators set or matched collegiate-bests to pick up event wins Friday. Sophomore Nicole Ellis upped her collegiate-best to 9.925 to claim her second vault win of the season. King shared second with Utah's Kyndal Roberts when King equaled her collegiate-best of 9.90.

Senior All-American Amanda Castillo equaled her collegiate-best uneven bars mark of 9.95 for the first time since the 2008 season. The mark gave Castillo her third consecutive bar win and fourth of the season. Junior All-American Alicia Goodwin nailed her double-front dismount to match her collegiate-best of 9.925. She shared second in the final bar standings with Utah's Bijak.

King raised her balance beam best to 9.90 Friday to claim her first beam win of 2010. She has picked up at least one event title in every apparatus this season. Senior Rebekah Zaiser shared second at 9.85 with Utah's Annie DiLuzio and Bijak.

Dickerson used a collegiate-best 9.95 to pick up her sixth floor exercise title of 2010. She is the fourth freshman in UF's 38-year history to turn in a floor mark of 9.95. Utah's Annie DiLuzio and Bijak also shared second in the final floor standings at 9.90.

For the second meet in a row, the Gators upped their season-best bar total. Friday's total of 49.525 is the second-highest total in the nation this season and ranks as the sixth best in school history. Florida was just 0.025 off its season-bests for vault (49.40) and floor exercise (49.425) on Friday.

Florida Head Coach Rhonda Faehn likes the progress she has seen from this team.

“It's wonderful, because it is something we have been looking for with this team. We knew we would have a lot of young athletes and it would take a little while for them to gel, find their place and get their confidence up,” Faehn said. “In the past month, we feel we have finally found that.  It's a good feeling knowing that in the last two or three competitions they have fed off of that and continued to get better.  Sometimes you come back from an off week and the athletes are hesitant or rusty.  They didn't have any of that tonight.  They were aggressive and looked like they hadn't missed a beat, which was great to see.  The perfectionist in me says we can do better, but we were pleased with how the season how played out so far.”

Friday was Senior Night and Florida's five-member class consisting of Castillo, Courtney Gladys, Ashley Kerr, Maranda Smith and Zaiser were celebrated in a post-meet ceremony. The seniors enjoyed the video salute to their careers.

“It was a lot of fun and we came out with a lot of energy. I am just really proud of this team,” Castillo said. “I gave it my all in the gym and I had an amazing career and it was really emotional at the end to watch the senior tribute.”

Florida begins the championship portion of its season next Saturday. The Southeastern Conference Championships make its first appearance in Jacksonville , Fla., on March 27. Start time is set for 4 p.m. at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Ticket prices are $13 for adults and $8 for children. Group ticket purchases of 25 or more are also available at a discounted rate. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster, directly at SECsports.com or by calling the arena directly at (904) 630-3900. The meet will air April 4 at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.