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Friday NCAA wrap: Arkansas sets two records, Florida's Kytra Hunter is dominant

So, here's a rundown of what happened in NCAA women's gymnastics Friday night: 
 
Arkansas vs. LSU: Arkansas 197.225, LSU 196.325. The 10-year-old Arkansas program set a new school record, and did so in front of a record crowd at home (5,537 people turned out to watch this meet. Red-hot Katherine Grable (originator of a truly unique skill on uneven bars) led the way with an enormous 39.725 in the all-around. She tied for first on vault (9.925, with LSU's Rheagan Courville) and floor (9.95, with teammate Jaime Pisani), while winning beam all by herself (9.925). Pisani won uneven bars with a near perfect 9.95. (Arkansas Razorbacks)
 
Kentucky vs. Florida: Florida 196.275, Kentucky 194.075. Florida opened its SEC season the way it wanted to, but how about that Kytra Hunter? Hunter not only won the all-around title again (39.475) for the Gators, she also took home the best scores on vault (9.925) and beam (9.85), while tying teammate Marissa King for first on bars (9.875). King and Ashanee Dickerson shared the floor title (9.85). It's another strong start for Florida this season, that's for sure. (Florida Gators)
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Iowa State vs. Nebraska: Nebraska 195.775, Iowa State 193.925. Wow, Nebraska -- the surging Cornhuskers had four all-arounders (Jessie DeZiel, Lora Evenstad, Jamie Schleppenbach and Emily Wong) in the 39s, with Evenstad taking the title Friday with 39.45. Wong and DeZiel posted the top scores on vault (9.875 apiece), Janelle Giblin won bars (9.9), DeZiel beam (9.9) and Evenstad floor (9.9). No wonder they were the top-ranked team in the nation last week. (Nebraska Cornhuskers
 
Cal vs. ASU: ASU 195.25, Cal 194.05. The Cal women scored a season high, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Sun Devils. ASU's Beate Jones took the all-around title (39.3), won vault (9.875) and tied Cal's Mariesah Pierce for first on floor (9.875), while Sun Devil Madison Snowden won beam (9.825) and Kahoku Palafox was the champion on bars (9.85). (Cal Bears
 
BYU vs. Southern Utah: BYU 194.8, Southern Utah 194.05. BYU may have won the team title, but SUU's Alyssa Click made sure her team didn't go leave their arena without some accolades. Click won the all-around (39.4), as well as floor and bars (9.875 apiece). BYU's Megan Bain won vault (9.9), and teammate Krysten Koval put up the high score of the meet to take the beam title (9.95). (BYU Cougars)
 
Sacramento State vs. Boise State: Boise State 196.175, Sacramento State 191.875. Aside from Sacramento State's Kalliah McCartney's victory on beam (9.825), this meet was all Boise State: all-around champion Brittany Potvan-Green (39.35) also won vault (9.875). Her teammates Amanda Otuafi, Lindsay Kazandjian and Kelsey Morris also won event finals, with Otuafi taking first on floor (9.9), and Morris and Kazandjian tying for the title on bars (9.85). (Boise State Broncos)
 
Oregon State vs. Arizona: Oregon State 194.825, Arizona 194.375. These two Pac-12 schools are well matched, but OSU gained the edge on the strength of solid performances from top all-arounder Leslie Mak (39.4), who also won balance beam (9.95). Arizona's Deanna Graham won vault and floor (both 9.925), while Nastia Liukin lookalike (and former WOGAette) Katie Matusik took the title on uneven bars (9.875). (Oregon State Beavers)
 
Georgia vs. Auburn: Georgia 195.975, Auburn 195.6. The Gymdogs were flying high following their astounding week one performance against Denver where they scored 196.525. This week's matchup with Auburn (at Auburn) might have brought them back to earth a bit, but the score was still in their favor. The individual results, however, were split: Georgia freshman Chelsea Davis shared the beam title with Auburn freshman Kylie Shields (9.875), who also won the all-around (39.25). Auburn veteran Allyson Sandusky won bars (9.875), while Georgia's Kat Ding was the boss on vault (9.9). Auburn's Brianna Guy was the titleist on floor (9.9). (Georgia Bulldogs)
 
Missouri vs. Denver: Missouri 194.725, Denver 194.625. It came down to a tenth, but Missouri got the upset, partly thanks to freshman Rachel Updike, who took top honors on floor (9.925), beam (9.8) and vault (9.875). MU's Allie Heizelman won bars (9.8), while Denver's Melodie Pulgarin and Simona Castro went 1-2 in the all-around (38.9 and 38.8, respectively.) (Missouri Tigers)
 
Seattle Pacific vs. San Jose State: San Jose State 193.675, SPU 190.3. Seattle snow kept the Falcons from arriving in San Jose until the morning of their meet, but the team was pleased to be able to compete at all. SPU's Sherah Vernon made the trip worth it for them by winning floor exercise (9.875), while SJSU powerhouse Thomasina Wallace won everything else (38.9 AA, 9.85 vault, 9.825 bars, 9.85 beam). (Seattle Pacific Falcons)
 
Kent State vs. Eastern Michigan: Kent State 194.15, Eastern Michigan 191.05. Kent State, which shocked the gymnastics nation by qualifying a team to the NCAA Championships last year, is off to another strong start. Freshman Whitnee Johnson led the Golden Flashes in the all-around (38.8), while teammate Rachel Goldenberg won vault (9.85) and floor (9.9). Rachel Guida took the title on bars (9.775), while beam was won by Eastern Michigan'sShawna Ciaramella (9.775). (Kent State Golden Flashes)
 
Maryland vs. Alaska and Bridgeport: Maryland 193.95, Bridgeport 192.6, Alaska 185.9.Maryland's Ally Kirkorian was the top finisher on vault (9.825) and also tied for first on floor (9.85, with teammate Katy Dodds). Maryland's Stephanie Giameo won beam (9.75), and Bridgeport's Emily Turik took home the uneven bars title (9.8). Bridgeport's Monica Mesalles won the all-around (38.95). (Maryland Terps)
 
Penn vs. Rutgers: Penn 191.975, Rutgers 191.925. It was nearly a draw between the two schools, with Penn edging in for the win on the basis of a stronger uneven bars rotation and being able to drop a 7.95 on floor. Rutger's Danielle D'Elia won the all-around (38.8) and tied for first on floor with teammate Alexis Gunzelman and Penn's Kristen Strausbaugh (9.75s all around). D'Elia and Strausbaugh also tied for the bars title (9.775), and Rutgers' Alyssa Straubwon vault (9.725). Penn's Amanda Schlaefer was the top gymnast on balance beam (9.725). (Penn Quakers)

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Blythe Lawrence is a freelance writer from Seattle. Contact Blythe.

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