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#1 Florida Edges #4 UCLA in Stunning Season Opener

#1 Florida Edges #4 UCLA in Stunning Season Opener

Jan 11, 2014 by Anne Phillips
#1 Florida Edges #4 UCLA in Stunning Season Opener


It wasn't pretty, but the #1 ranked Florida Gators won 2014's most anticipated season opener at #4 UCLA. In a dramatic 196.650-196.625 finish, the Gators handed the Bruins their very first defeat in a season opener at home. 

With surprising falls and slip ups throughout the competition, it was a tight race coming down to the final routine. After uncharacteristic falls on vault and floor earlier in the night, Florida senior Mackenzie Caquatto delivered a 9.90 on beam in the anchor position to secure her team's first victory of the season. 

Florida junior Kytra Hunter won the all around title with a 39.375. She also won the floor title with a 9.925 thanks to her powerful tumbling including a massive double layout opening pass. Gator sophomore Bridgette Caquatto broke into the lineup on three events tonight and tied for the uneven bars title with UCLA's Olivia Courtney (9.90).  Courtney also won vault after stucking her yurchenko layout full for a meet high 9.975 (watch here). The competition was also highlighted by the return of 2008 Olympian Samantha Peszek. After sitting out the entire 2013 season with an achilles tear, Peszek returne on three events tonight and won the beam title with a 9.925 (watch here). 

The highlight routine of the night, however, had to be Danusia Francis' daring beam routine for the Bruins. Francis made NCAA history by becoming the first gymnast to compete a unique dismount combination, a standing aerial sideways across the beam right into a back layout with a full twist. Francis was awarded a 9.90 and a standing ovation from many impressed fans inside Pauly Pavilion (watch here). 

If you haven't seen her daring dismount yet, watch it below:

Watch more video of 2014 NCAA Gymnastics Season Openers on Gymnastike

Watch video interviews from the event: 
AA Champ Kytra Hunter, Florida
Bridget Sloan, Florida
Coach Rhonda Faehn, Florida
Olivia Courtney & Danusia Francis of UCLA
Funny behind the scenes moment: Bridget Sloan interviews UCLA team members Olivia Courtney & Danusia Francis
Former Bruin Alyssa Pritchett reveals she's still training!



2014 UCLA at Florida Meet Results

Team Standing
Place  Team Score 
1  Florida 196.650 
2  UCLA 196.625 

 

UCLA  (Top)
Head Coach:  Valorie Kondos Field
 Gymnast Vault  Bars  Beam  Floor  AllArr 
 Sadiqua Bynum 9.725     9.850  
 Angi Cipra 9.850     9.850  
 Olivia Courtney 9.975 9.900   9.900  
 Ellette Craddock   9.775 9.575    
 Sophina DeJesus   9.850 9.475    
 Danusia Francis   9.850 9.900 9.875  
 Dana McDonald 9.775     9.800  
 Hallie Mossett   9.750 9.775    
 Samantha Peszek 9.850 9.875 9.925    
 Sydney Sawa 9.900   9.250 9.900  
 Team Totals 49.350  49.250  48.650  49.375  196.625

 

Florida  
Head Coach:  Rhonda Faehn
 Gymnast Vault  Bars  Beam  Floor  AllArr 
 Claire Boyce     9.850 9.825  
 Bridgette Caquatto 9.750 9.900   9.750  
 Mackenzie Caquatto 9.150 9.875 9.875 8.400 37.300
 Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto   9.875      
 Kytra Hunter 9.900 9.800 9.750 9.925 39.375
 Alaina Johnson 9.800 9.875 9.800    
 Bridget Sloan 9.925 9.875 9.225 9.850 38.875
 Rachel Spicer 9.600   9.825 9.825  
 Team Totals 48.975  49.400  49.100  49.175  196.650

 

Vault Results  
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Olivia Courtney  UCLA 9.975 
2  Bridget Sloan  Florida 9.925 
3  Sydney Sawa  UCLA 9.900 
3  Kytra Hunter  Florida 9.900 
5  Angi Cipra  UCLA 9.850 
5  Samantha Peszek  UCLA 9.850 
7  Alaina Johnson  Florida 9.800 
8  Dana McDonald  UCLA 9.775 
9  Bridgette Caquatto  Florida 9.750 
10  Sadiqua Bynum  UCLA 9.725 
11  Rachel Spicer  Florida 9.600 
12  Mackenzie Caquatto  Florida 9.150 

 

Uneven Parallel Bars Results
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Olivia Courtney  UCLA 9.900 
1  Bridgette Caquatto  Florida 9.900 
3  Samantha Peszek  UCLA 9.875 
3  Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto  Florida 9.875 
3  Bridget Sloan  Florida 9.875 
3  Mackenzie Caquatto  Florida 9.875 
3  Alaina Johnson  Florida 9.875 
8  Danusia Francis  UCLA 9.850 
8  Sophina DeJesus  UCLA 9.850 
10  Kytra Hunter  Florida 9.800 
11  Ellette Craddock  UCLA 9.775 
12  Hallie Mossett  UCLA 9.750 

 

Balance Beam Results  
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Samantha Peszek  UCLA 9.925 
2  Danusia Francis  UCLA 9.900 
3  Mackenzie Caquatto  Florida 9.875 
4  Claire Boyce  Florida 9.850 
5  Rachel Spicer  Florida 9.825 
6  Alaina Johnson  Florida 9.800 
7  Hallie Mossett  UCLA 9.775 
8  Kytra Hunter  Florida 9.750 
9  Ellette Craddock  UCLA 9.575 
10  Sophina DeJesus  UCLA 9.475 
11  Sydney Sawa  UCLA 9.250 
12  Bridget Sloan  Florida 9.225 

 

Floor Exercise Results  
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Kytra Hunter  Florida 9.925 
2  Olivia Courtney  UCLA 9.900 
2  Sydney Sawa  UCLA 9.900 
4  Danusia Francis  UCLA 9.875 
5  Sadiqua Bynum  UCLA 9.850 
5  Angi Cipra  UCLA 9.850 
5  Bridget Sloan  Florida 9.850 
8  Claire Boyce  Florida 9.825 
8  Rachel Spicer  Florida 9.825 
10  Dana McDonald  UCLA 9.800 
11  Bridgette Caquatto  Florida 9.750 
12  Mackenzie Caquatto  Florida 8.400 

 

All Around Results  
Place  Gymnast  Team Score 
1  Kytra Hunter  Florida 39.375 
2  Bridget Sloan  Florida 38.875 
3  Mackenzie Caquatto  Florida 37.300 

Results link