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Fort Worth, Texas • Second place has never hurt so much or felt so good for Utah's gymnastics team.

Take your pick of emotions, for the Utes were feeling both Saturday after barely losing the NCAA Gymnastics title to the Florida Gators at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Florida claimed its third straight title with a 197.85 while the Utes finished second with a 197.8.

It was Utah's best placing since a second-place showing in 2008.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more from this team," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "I'm so proud of them. We left it all out on the floor tonight."

The championship wasn't decided until the final routine of the night from Florida, which ended its competition on the uneven bars while Utah was on the vault.

Utah posted a 49.55 on the vault, led by a 9.975 from Georgia Dabritz, to momentarily stand atop the leader board while Florida had three gymnasts to go.

It was the last two who pushed the Gators ahead, with both Bridget Sloan and Alex McMurtry earning 9.95s.

When McMurtry's score went up, the Gators jumped into celebration while the Utes looked at the scoreboard stunned and tearful.

However, the tears didn't last long as the Utes realized they had given their best.

"We did everything we could," Dabritz said. "I'm so proud how this team competed tonight, there wasn't much more that we could have done."

Ever since last year's disappointing seventh-place finish, the Utes made it a goal to reach the Super Six. However, few imagined they could do it after losing team leader Tory Wilson to season-ending injuries in the Pac-12 Championships.

The Utes barely qualified out of regionals, entering the NCAA meet as the 12th seed.

But there they were on Saturday, going toe-to-toe with mighty Florida, which joins Utah (1982-86) and Georgia (2005-09) as the only teams to win three or more titles in a row.

"No one expected us to be in this at all and we had a great night," Utah senior Corrie Lothrop said. "This is so much better than last year. I'm so proud of the way we performed."

Dabritz led the way for the Utes, scoring her second 10 in as many nights in addition to earning 9.975 on the vault, 9.9 on the floor and 9.825 on the balance beam.

But there were plenty of others who had huge efforts, too, including Tiffani Lewis' season best of 9.9 on the bars, Becky Tutka's 9.925 on the floor and the 9.925s from Kari Lee and Kailah Delaney on the vault.

"This group has fought so hard all season, there isn't anything more I could have asked of them," Marsden said. "To come here and be within reach of beating Florida, I'm so proud of this team. They never gave up hope."

Utah put itself in position to win by opening the night with a 49.575 on the uneven bars, the highest score the Utes have scored on the event at the NCAA Championships.

That effort put the heat on Florida, which opened with a 49.3 on the beam then went well ahead with a 49.65 effort on the floor.

But the Utes never gave up, conquering the beam with a 49.25 then totaling a 49.425 on the floor.

That last effort set up the final drama, where Florida went into bars holding a 148.4-148.25 advantage.

The Utes' 49.55 was good enough to push Utah ahead, but not keep it there.

"You don't really see the scores when you are out there, you just try and do the best you can and that is what we did," Tutka said. "It was a great performance we had tonight. We couldn't have done any better."

Twitter: @LyaWodraska —

Storylines

• Utah has one of its best performances at the NCAAs to claim second.

• Alex McMurtry scores a 9.95 in the last performance to give Florida the win.

• Georgia Dabritz becomes the first gymnast in NCAA history to earn a 10 in the prelims and Super Six on the uneven bars. —

Super Six scores

Florida 197.85

Utah 197.8

Oklahoma 197.525

Alabama 197.275

Stanford 197.25

Auburn 195.625