UF gymnastics has memorable night

Florida ended its regular season on Friday night the way it hopes to end the postseason: With a championship-worthy performance.

The third-ranked Gators will enter the postseason riding a wave of momentum following a 197.700 to 196.875 win over No. 2 Utah in their regular-season finale as 4,274 fans looked on in the O'Connell Center.

"I don't know if we could be any better than we were tonight," Gators coach Rhonda Faehn said. "We put everything together. We wanted this kind of meet heading into the SECs to see where we stand. We looked fresh. We looked sharp."

It was Florida's second-highest score this year. The Gators posted a 197.925 on Feb. 15 against LSU in the O'Connell Center.

"They were on fire," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "I don't know if they could have done any better than they did tonight."

The Gators will now take a week off before competing in the SEC Championships on March 29 in Duluth, Ga. That will be followed by the NCAA regionals on April 12 while the NCAA Championships begin on April 24.

If Florida puts up the kinds of scores they did Friday, they are likely to have a memorable postseason.

"It was amazing," said Florida's Amanda Castillo, who captured her fourth career all-around with a collegiate-best 39.625. "I feel great heading into the postseason. We're peaking at the right moment. Hopefully we can stick it out until the end."

Florida used five gymnasts in the all-around Friday, the most the Gators have used in one meet in 14 years. Senior Nicola Willis was a late addition to the vault, which gave the Gators five all-arounders. Castillo's all-around title extended Florida's streak of all-around titles to 10 this season. She was followed closely behind in second by classmate Melanie Sinclair, who finished second with a score of 39.575 and junior Corey Hartung, who was third with a total of 39.500.

"That shows how strong the core of our team is," Faehn said. "Any time out, any of them can win the all-around."

The Gators and Utes split in two meetings last year. Florida defeated Utah on March 9 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. But Utah took second place at the 2007 NCAA Championships, also at the Huntsman Center, finishing just 0.025 points ahead of the Gators. The teams appear destined to meet in the NCAA Championships next month.

"I think we're on the right track this year," Hartung said. "We're feeling great and every meet we're getting better and better."

Utah's 15-time All-American, Ashley Postell, won the vault title with a 9.950. There was a three-way tie for the bars title where Sinclair, Castillo and Utah's Kristina Baskett each scored 9.90. Castillo and teammate Ashley Reed tied for the beam title with a 9.90.

Hartung and Castillo tied for the floor title with scores of 9.950. Sinclair, Willis and Tiffany Murry tied Postell for third with a score of 9.90. Hartung's score was a collegiate best.

The Gators honored their three seniors following the meet. Video clips of Reed, Willis and Murry were shown on the video board and the three gymnasts were honored with family members.

"What a way for the seniors to go out," Faehn said.