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Maranda Smith, a two-time Junior Olympic national champion, has enrolled at the University of Florida and will join the Gator gymnastics team for the 2008 season.
She joins the team as a redshirt sophomore. Smith, who is from Placerville, Calif., competed in the first two meets of her freshman season at UCLA in 2006 before she was sidelined with a shin injury. Prior to joining the Bruins, Smith shared the 2005 Level 10 Junior Olympic Senior B floor exercise title with current Gator Amanda Castillo. Smith also collected a share of the 2004 J.O. Level 10 Junior D national vault title.
Smith trained under the guidance of Eli and Debbie Rodriguez and Mas Watanabe at Byers Gymnastics Center in Sacramento, Calif. She won the 2004 Region I all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise titles and took second in 2005 Region I all-around, vault and uneven bar competition plus successfully defended her floor title. Smith also claimed the 2003 Region I all-around title.
Florida is ranked No. 2 in the GymInfo Preseason Poll released earlier this month. The Gators open the 2007 season with a home meet versus Illinois-Chicago on Friday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $4.00 each for adults, while children 17 and under plus UF students with identification are admitted free.
http://gatorzone.com/story.php?id=13154&html=gymnastics/news/20080102044900.html&sport=gymna
Maranda Smith, a two-time Junior Olympic national champion, has enrolled at the University of Florida and will join the Gator gymnastics team for the 2008 season.
She joins the team as a redshirt sophomore. Smith, who is from Placerville, Calif., competed in the first two meets of her freshman season at UCLA in 2006 before she was sidelined with a shin injury. Prior to joining the Bruins, Smith shared the 2005 Level 10 Junior Olympic Senior B floor exercise title with current Gator Amanda Castillo. Smith also collected a share of the 2004 J.O. Level 10 Junior D national vault title.
Smith trained under the guidance of Eli and Debbie Rodriguez and Mas Watanabe at Byers Gymnastics Center in Sacramento, Calif. She won the 2004 Region I all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise titles and took second in 2005 Region I all-around, vault and uneven bar competition plus successfully defended her floor title. Smith also claimed the 2003 Region I all-around title.
Florida is ranked No. 2 in the GymInfo Preseason Poll released earlier this month. The Gators open the 2007 season with a home meet versus Illinois-Chicago on Friday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $4.00 each for adults, while children 17 and under plus UF students with identification are admitted free.
http://gatorzone.com/story.php?id=13154&html=gymnastics/news/20080102044900.html&sport=gymna
