FORT WORTH, Texas – Make that three NCAA titles this weekend for Florida senior Kytra Hunter.

She opened NCAA Championship action Friday by tying with UCLA’s Samantha Peszek for the NCAA all-around title. Then Saturday, she helped the Gators win their third consecutive NCAA team title. She finished the weekend – and her collegiate career – with a stellar routine Sunday to claim the NCAA floor exercise crown.

It was quite a weekend for Hunter and her Gator teammates, as the 2015 NCAA Championships came to a close Sunday at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena.

Hunter’s winning mark of 9.9625 gives Florida its second NCAA floor champion. It was the Gators’ first since Maria Anz won Florida’s first NCAA title in any event when she claimed the 1985 NCAA floor title.

Junior teammate Bridget Sloan just missed stepping to the top of the podium in the two events she performed Sunday. Sloan was second in both the vault (9.925) and uneven bars (9.95) final standings.

Hunter and freshman Alex McMurtry also made their first appearances in the NCAA balance beam final. Hunter was fifth (9.875) and McMurtry tied for eighth (9.825.).

Joining Hunter in Sunday’s floor final was freshman Kennedy Baker and junior Bridgette Caquatto. Both had a miscue during their routines, as Baker took 12^th (9.775) and Caquatto (9.3375).

GATOR NOTES:

• With her floor exercise title today, Hunter is now the Gators’ career leader in NCAA individual event titles with four. She also won the 2012 all-around and vault titles.
• With Hunter’s win, the Gators have claimed at least one NCAA event title every season since 2011.

QUOTES:

On today’s performance by the Gators:

“For Kytra - Wow! She was just a complete model of consistency and it was so amazing to see her enjoy every moment out there today. She’s the first Gator since Maria Anz in 1985 to win a floor title. I think that’s extra special. She’s always been known for her explosive power and her tumbling, but she’s really worked hard over the last four years on showcasing, performing and showing the dance. It all came together for her today. I couldn’t be more proud. She’s represented Florida with such class and integrity. She will certainly be missed.

“Bridget [Sloan] did great on the two events she qualified for. She has said many times that she didn’t even expect to be here. Such strong performances for her on both events.

“Bridgey (Caquatto) - she performed the heck out that routine. I’m proud of her for qualifying into the event finals and becoming an All-American. Often times there are mistakes on finals day because the athletes are so tired, but I commend her for everything she’s done up to this point. Through the championship weekend, she did a great job.

“What a huge learning experience for our freshmen Kennedy [Baker] and Alex [McMurtry]. This is their first opportunity to be a part of this. To make event finals is really special. I thought they, along with everyone else, did great.” ”– Florida head coach Rhonda Faehn

On closing her career:

“It’s always definitely bittersweet. It’s definitely an exclamation point on my ending of my collegiate career. Honestly…I mean I couldn’t be any prouder of myself just because I have worked so hard to keep my team together and I have tried to step out of my boundaries and show a different leadership role. At the beginning of the season, we did lose Bridget Sloan and she is the core of our team. I know I keep talking about that, but honestly it made me realize and it made me mature a lot more. It made me able to grow up and bring a team together and just be a different kind of leader. I think that, of course, all of our hard work has definitely paid off. I’m just really excited.” – senior All-American Kytra Hunter

On if there is an element of pride for winning a championship all four years:

“It definitely shows a little bit of pride and I do feel pride too. Also being able to have the opportunity to do gymnastics for the University of Florida is what I definitely cherish the most. I’m just really excited that I was recruited and I was able to be a part of a prestigious university. It honestly means a lot to me and to be able to come close with my teammates and my coaches. It’s definitely a home away from home. Just having that comfort and knowing what I do is for the Gators and that I’m contributing to that success.” – senior All-American Kytra Hunter

2015 NCAA EVENT CHAMPIONS:

The NCAA Individual Event Finals signaled the end of the 2015 NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The 2016 NCAA Championships return to the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena and the dates are April 15-17.