Updated 3/17 @ 8:22 a.m
The No. 2-ranked Utah gymnastics team lost for the first time this season when No. 3 Florida defeated them 197.70-196.875 Friday in Gainesville, Fla. The Gators (8-2) fielded the top four all-around performers in the meet and five of the top six while Utah (10-1) was forced to play catch-up all night.
Ashley Postell failed to extend her streak of seven all-around victories this season. Her score of 39.425 fell behind Florida’s Amanda Castillo (39.625), Melanie Sinclair (39.575), Corey Hartung (39.50) and Ashley Reed (39.450). Nicola Willis finished sixth in the all-around competition for the Gators with a score of 39.40.
Utah fell behind early while performing the uneven bars as Florida competed on the vault. The Red Rocks were not able to make up the 0.325 deficit despite a strong vaulting lineup. Postell won her seventh vaulting title of the season with a 9.95.
Florida was on from start to finish and was unrelenting in its quest for victory. The Gators posted season highs on the bars and the floor routine with a 49.40 and 49.60, respectively.
Utah did show good recovery from injuries in the loss. Nina Kim, who fractured her foot five weeks ago warming up for a meet against Washington, performed the vault and beam for the second straight week. Kyndal Robarts showed that her knee is feeling better by tying her career high vault score of 9.90 and posting a solid 9.85 floor routine. The freshman first experienced soreness in her knee after Utah’s Feb. 22 meet against Utah State and Southern Utah.
Friday’s meet is Utah’s second straight score below 197.00. Before its March 7 meet against Oregon State, Utah reeled off four straight scores above that same mark.
Utah turns right around to face more stiff competition this week. Fourth-ranked Michigan is awaiting a home date on Mar. 22 with the Utes. Michigan placed first in a four team meet on Saturday with a 196.100.
Note: Utah and Florida flip flopped in the rankings after Friday’s meet. Michigan and LSU round out the top [email protected]