The third-ranked Florida gymnastics team opens its 2013
Southeastern Conference schedule with a dual meet against No. 8 LSU
Friday night in Baton Rouge.
UF (1-0), the 2012 NCAA
runner-up and SEC Champion, opened its regular season with an easy
196.575-190.550 win over visiting Ball State Friday in the O'Connell
Center, but should get a good early-season test from the Tigers.
“Friday
night's competition was really wonderful,” head coach Rhonda Faehn
said. “It was our first meet back in the O-Dome, and we had so many new
faces, especially with our freshmen getting out there and getting to see
what it's like to compete in the O'Connell Center but also just to
compete in collegiate gymnastics.
“We
were able to evaluate film footage Sunday, and we definitely achieved
what we were looking to for the first meet. We're excited to head to LSU
this weekend.”
Gator fans
got their first look at heralded freshman Bridget Sloan, the 2009 World
all-around champion, Friday and she did not disappoint. In her first
event, Sloan tied for the vault title with senior Ashanee Dickerson,
each with a 9.925, then she added a pair of 9.8s on the uneven bars and
balance beam before turning cheerleader for Florida's final rotation,
the floor exercise.
