GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For two events, the match-up between the nation's No. 6 and 7 ranked gymnastics teams was everything the standings would indicate.
But No. 6 ranked Utah self-destructed on the final two events and lost 197.125-196.150 to fast-rising Florida. It was Utah's second-worst score of the season and the second-best score in Gator history.
"It's the same old thing," said a disappointed Utah coach Greg Marsden, whose team dropped to 6-5. "We were coming off a very good meet and started well tonight but couldn't sustain it."
The Utes, who led after one event and trailed only slightly at the midway point, 98.625-98.600, appeared in good shape after hitting all 12 of their initial routines. That streak quickly came to an end on the floor exercise. Lead-off competitor Kylee Wagner failed to insert all of the required elements of her floor routine and stumbled to a 9.45. Veronique Leclerc also struggled, and a step out of bounds cost her a tenth of a point in a 9.60 routine. Kristen Riffanacht followed with a fall. Gritt Hofmann had things going before taking a step out of bounds. Only closers Annabeth Eberle (9.90) and Melissa Vituj (9.925) competed well.
It was more of the same on the balance beam, where a nice lead-off effort by Natalie Nicoloff (who tied her career-high with a 9.85) was negated after falls by Leclerc and Hoffman. Again Eberle and Vituj stepped up. Eberle scored a career-tying 9.95 and Vituj was sharp in a 9.925 set. Making a surprise return in the all-around lineup after missing last week's meet with a broken finger was Theresa Kulikowski. She showed no signs of rustiness with an impressive 9.95 routine.
The falls overshadowed a great effort by Utah's big guns. Eberle set a career-high in the all-around by scoring a 39.675 to finish second behind Florida's Orley Szmuch (39.725). Vituj placed third with a 39.50. Eberle tied for first on both the vault (9.975) and beam (9.95), Vituj tied for first on the floor exercise (9.925) and Kulikowski tied for first on beam with a 9.95.
Utah has one final regular season remaining, competing at Brigham Young next Friday.