The No. 4 Gators had their best showing of the season as they claimed first place in the NCAA North Central Regional Championship. With a score of 197.675, fifth-highest in school history, Florida punched its ticket back to Gainesville for the NCAA Championships next week at the O’Connell Center.

After a somewhat slow start on the floor exercise in Salt Lake City, the Gators regrouped and posted a 49.50 on vault, a season high for the event. Florida then took first in the remaining two events, bars and beam, to secure their victory. The final three events also saw a number of Gators post individual collegiate or season-bests, including Ashanée Dickerson, Liz Green, Courtney Gladys, Elizabeth Mahlich and Marissa King.

On the balance beam, Dickerson took first place with a collegiate-best 9.95. She and teammate Maranda Smith tied for first on the floor exercise, both turning in a 9.90. Dickerson and Smith also shared first place on the uneven bars with fellow Gator Amanda Castillo. Dickerson took her seventh all-around title of the season with a 39.70, a collegiate-best and fifth-best in Gator history by a freshman.

The awards for Ashanée Dickerson continued as she was named the NCAA Southeast Region Gymnast of the Year, a Gator first. The post-meet ceremony again saw Gator coach Rhonda Faehn named NCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year, her fourth such honor since coming to Florida in 2003.

Florida will now look forward to hosting the NCAA Championships in Gainesville from April 22-24. The No. 2 seed Gators will compete on Thursday, April 22 in Session II against SEC foes Alabama and Arkansas, along with Michigan, Missouri and Stanford. The top three teams from both sessions will then advance to the Super Six on Friday where the national team champion will be crowned.

By: Brandon Green

Courtesy of GatorZone.