GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- About the only person in the O’Connell Center not smiling was Kytra Hunter.
Hunter paced back and forth off to the side of the mat where her teammate, Bridget Sloan, had just completed only the third perfect 10 during a floor routine in the history of the Florida.
The crowd of more than 10,000 erupted when the score was posted. Sloan’s teammates rushed to mob her as echoes of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” -- Sloan’s musical choice to accompany her floor routine -- still rattled in your ears.
Gators coach Rhonda Faehn did what coach Bela Karolyi did to her when Faehn scored a 10 on the vault at the 1987 U.S. Championships in Kansas City: she walked Sloan’s way and gave her a hug and a smile.
Meanwhile, amidst the electric atmosphere, Hunter continued to pace alone with the eye of the tiger. She could celebrate Sloan’s historic moment later.
There was work to do.
“I just knew I had to do what I do every day in practice,’’ Hunter said.
Hunter was up once a Georgia gymnast finished her turn on beam. She stepped onto the mat while the O’Dome’s speakers came alive.
Finally, a grin splashed across Hunter’s face when she finished her first tumbling pass. She knew. Faehn did, too. Ditto for Sloan.
Hunter was after her perfect 10.
What a way to conclude their first home meet since helping the Gators win the program’s first national title last April in Los Angeles.
Georgia led Florida after each of the first three rotations, but couldn't hold on as the Gators rallied to win in the final rotation 198.050-196.700.
No. 7 Alabama vs. Arkansas
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- In front of a sold-out crowd of 15,075 dressed mostly in pink, Alabama beat Arkansas 197.125-196.100 in the Crimson Tide's 10th annual Power of Pink meet.
Senior Sarah DeMeo led the way for the Tide after scoring a 39.400 to take second in the all-around, less than a tenth of a point behind Arkansas' Katherine Grable, the nation's No. 1 ranked all-arounder.
The Tide finished the night off with a 49.225 on the floor exercise led by senior Kim Jacob's 9.900. The Tide also got matching 9.875s from freshman Aja Sims and sophomore Lauren Beers.
No. 9 Nebraska vs. Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Nebraska used multiple top-notch performances, to capture its first Big Ten win against the Hawkeyes on Friday night 196.450-193.250. The Huskers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) swept all events on the evening and tied a season-best team score on vault (49.250).
Senior Emily Wong paced the Huskers capturing four titles including the all-around crown with a 39.550 which ties her season-high score. Wong notched three other season-highs on vault (9.90), bars (9.90) and beam (9.875). Wong now has eight titles to her name this season.
Note: No. 2 LSU vs. Auburn has been rescheduled to Saturday afternoon due to the weather conditions.
