SEC sweeps Session I of NCAA Gymnastics Championships

LINCOLN, Neb. | The wait was agony.

With her team already finished in Session I of the NCAA Championships, University of Florida gymnastics coach Rhonda Faehn could only sit and watch the final rotation, knowing that that there was a real chance the Gators’ season might already be over.

Finally, she got up and started walking toward the tunnel on the other side of the Bob Devaney Sports Center where her team was waiting, and after looking up and seeing the crucial change on the scoreboard went into a sprint.

Florida was in.

“I’m almost speechless,” Faehn said after the celebratory shrieks finally subsided. “It’s unbelievable.”

Despite a slow start Thursday, Florida improved as the meet progressed with the crucial closing score on balance beam holding up (49.275), helping give the Southeastern Conference a session sweep into the Super Six.

Led by Courtney Kupets’ amazing 39.8 all-around score, thanks to a 10 on beam, four-time defending champion Georgia handily topped the afternoon field (197.45), to edge Florida (196.375).

LSU came back from its second-worst performance of the season on beam in the first rotation, and Kayla Rogers’ floor routine without music (she still scored 9.85) to score 49.45 on vault and eventually edged Stanford by less than .1 (196.3 to 196.225) for the final spot.

No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Alabama, No. 7 UCLA, No. 8 Oregon State, No. 10 Arkansas and No. 11 Illinois were all in the evening session to complete the field.

“I was just overwhelmed with emotion, I got tears in my eyes,” said junior Maranda Smith, who posted an all-around score of 39.45 to lead UF. “With everything we went through this season and to come in second today, going to the Super Six tomorrow is more than an achievement for us, that was just like a win.”

The final rotation had its fair share of drama, even for Georgia.

Stanford, on floor, needed 49.1 to tie Florida; LSU, on bars, needed 49.2; and surprise Penn State on vault needed 49.375.

If the pressure wasn’t enough, Georgia’s leadoff on beam, Hilary Mauro, fell, reminding Coach Suzanne Yoculan of the recent SEC Championship, when the Gym Do

gs’ poor performance in the event opened the door for Alabama’s conference title.

But this time Georgia came through, with Grace Taylor scoring 9.95 to set up Kupets, following by Courtney McCool’s closing 9.95.

“They were on fire,” Yoculan said about senior Tiffany Tolnay and Kupets, whois attempting to win her third NCAA all-around title.

“She looks like an angel with wings when she dismounts. Effortless.”

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.

Team scores

Session I

Georgia 197.45

Florida 196.375

LSU 196.3

Stanford 196.225

Penn State 196.1

Oklahoma 195.825