When
the Gators signed Bridget
Sloan the news received the kind of hoopla you might expect when a
former World Champion gymnast decides to compete in college as her Olympic
career nears an end.
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Bridget Sloan’s 39.60
topped the all-around competition in NCAA Championships’ competition. She is
the second consecutive Gator to win the NCAA all-around. Kytra Hunter was the
first to win the title in 2012.
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We're
not talking NFL Draft hoopla or Florida-Florida State week, but in gymnastics
circles, Sloan's arrival at UF made headlines. People understood the possible
ramifications on Florida's program.
No
one had to tell Gators coach Rhonda
Faehn what Sloan could mean to the Gators, national runner-up by a fraction
to Alabama a year ago and still seeking to join Alabama, Georgia, Utah and UCLA
as the only programs to win national titles.
"I
was beyond thrilled that she came to Florida,'' Faehn said Friday.
You
can see why after what Sloan did Friday.
Sloan
helped the Gators advance to the Super Six for the seventh time in eight years,
winning the NCAA Gymnastics Championships first semifinal with a score of
197.775. Second-place LSU scored 197.325 and third-place Georgia finished with
a 197.150.
The
SEC trio advances to Saturday's Super Six here at Pauley Pavilion to compete
for the national title.
Florida's
return back to the Super Six didn't start off as planned. The Gators opened
Friday's competition on the floor routine. Soon that was literally the case.
Sophomore
Kiersten
Wang led off and on her second tumbling pass, Wang slipped and fell.
The mistake was eerily reminiscent of two years ago in Cleveland when the
Gators, considered a favorite to win the title, could not overcome two falls on
the beam on their first rotation of the meet. The deficit was too much for
Florida to overcome and it could not capture a Super Six berth.
The
No. 1 overall seed in the 2013 field, the Gators had no such issues Friday, not
with Sloan following Wang on floor.
Sloan
scored a 9.900 after Wang's 8.825, quickly re-energizing the Gators.
"I
loved how the team responded to that challenge,'' Faehn said.
"It
really kind of brought us back to where we were when we were in warm-up -- just
having fun and doing what we do,'' added Gators junior Mackenzie
Caquatto. "We got a little bit nervous after Kiersten's routine.
Obviously that's not how we wanted to start off. [Bridget] brought it right
back and everyone after her followed and did exactly what they were supposed to
do."
After
Sloan's performance appeared to settle the nerves, the Gators stepped on the
floor and one by one knocked out their routines in strong fashion. Ashanée
Dickerson scored 9.825, Marissa
King matched Sloan's 9.900, Kytra
Hunter posted a 9.875, and Bridgette
Caquatto finished with a 9.825, negating any chance of Wang's fall
hurting the team's score.
"It
was very uncharacteristic of Kiersten,'' Faehn said. "She has been a rock
for us all year long. What I love is that Bridget didn't even hold back. She
just nailed this gorgeous routine, one of the best she's done all year."
Sloan
finished the first day of the meet with an all-around score of 39.600, tops in
the Semifinal I field. She answered another potential trouble spot when
sophomore Rachel
Spicer wobbled to lead off the beam.
Spicer's
difficulties cost on the scoreboard. She finished with a 9.400.
Instead
of feeling more pressure, Sloan followed with another 9.900 score to stabilize
the Gators.
Sloan
enjoyed her moments to shine Friday, her first trip to California since an
elbow injury cost her any chance of making the U.S. Olympic Team last summer in
San Jose at the Olympic Trials.
She
shed tears that day, knowing her final shot at the Olympics was over. She was
all smiles and giggles after Friday's meet.
"Going
up there and hitting that routine [on beam], it definitely feels good,'' Sloan
said. "I was happy the spotlight was put on me. It was kind of a test but
it was a good test. It was a test to see how much I wanted it and how much my
team wanted it.
"We
definitely are hungry for that national championship, but we realize that it's
all going to come to us. If we can do our routines, then the outcome is going
to be great for us no matter what."
The
SEC Freshman of the Year performed like the veteran she is Friday, helping the
Gators move on and proving why her arrival received so much ballyhoo.
Sloan
is as comfortable on the big stage as Jack Nicholson courtside at a Lakers
game.
"Her
personality is so charismatic and everyone feeds off of it,'' Faehn said.
"Most importantly I think what she brings is that really fun, light
attitude, which is great to have around."
As
the second semifinal began, the Gators departed Pauley Pavilion for some food
and laughs at a nearby restaurant.
No
doubt Sloan's performance was a topic of conversation.
"When
I went out there for floor, I really wasn't too concerned,'' she said. "I
knew that if I went out there and did what I had been training, it wasn't going
to be a problem. I had the same faith in my team.
"It's
not necessarily a situation I want to be in, but if I am put in that situation,
you kind of have to go with it."
Go
with it she did, taking the Gators back to the Super Six with her.
