GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Staying small and standing tall.

Such is Rebekah Zaiser's world when it comes to gymnastics.

The Mars resident and University of Florida sophomore has been involved in the sport since she was 5. Now she's the leadoff performer on the balance beam for the third-ranked Gators women's gymnastics team.

"My mother did gymnastics when she was growing up,"Zaiser said. "She's only 5-foot-3 and my father is 5-4, so they figured I would be pretty short, too.

"They got me started in a sport that would improve my strength and flexibility, figuring that would help if I chose a different sport later on. But I've just stayed with gymnastics."

Zaiser's father wrestled at Bucknell University while her mother has done marathons and triathlons. Her younger brothers are gymnasts as well.

Aaron Zaiser, 18, is a freshman gymnast at the Air Force Academy and Ben, 15, is a Level 10 gymnast.

Still standing only 5-1Z\x, Rebekah Zaiser became a Level 10 gymnast herself at X-Cel Gymnastics in Cranberry Township. She was homeschooled while fine tuning her craft to the national level.

She was the uneven bars champion at the 2005 Level 10 Junior Olympic National Championships and was heavily recruited by colleges.

"We knew about her before JO nationals, but her performance there really piqued our interest,"Florida coach Rhonda Faehn said. "We went after Rebekah pretty hard."

The Gators weren't alone. Zaiser also considered Michigan, Utah, Alabama and Penn State before deciding on Florida. She is majoring in biology and pre-med.

"I loved the coaches, the girls meshed well together — and the warm weather didn't hurt,"Zaiser said of her decision to attend Florida.

Zaiser lost her chance to defend the Junior Olympics national title in 2006 when she tore ligaments in an ankle.

"That was a major setback," Zaiser said. "My ankle was so swollen. ... I was out for about five months. I couldn't work on any of my skills."

Her ankle was still weak in the fall of her freshman year, but that never deterred Faehn from following through with the scholarship offer.

"Not at all," the coach said. "Most of the athletes we sign have had some sort of major injury. Torn ACLs, ankles, broken bones — unfortunately, that's part of the sport."

Zaiser suffered a severe ankle sprain during the fall and was sidelined for eight weeks.

While her teammates were learning and honing their routines, Zaiser was reduced to the role of spectator for the first half of the season.

"It pretty much wiped out her first year with us,"Faehn said. "In a sense, this is her freshman year now, even though she's a sophomore.

"She's adjusting to Division Igymnastics and all that goes with it."

In the Southeastern Conference, that's a lot.

Last year, four of the top six ranked teams in the nation were in the SEC. Three-time defending national champion Georgia, which is ranked No. 1 again this season, is in the league.

Florida's lone loss this season is a 196.85-196.82 decision to the Bulldogs at home in front of 10,855 fans. The Gators (6-1) have competed in front of more than 5,000 fans four times this year.

"The fan support in the SECis loud and involved," Zaiser said. "The first time I stepped on the floor in front of a big crowd, I was intimidated. All eyes are on you and that takes some getting used to."

Zaiser has adapted just fine. She had a personal-best score of 9.875 on the beam Feb. 1 against Arkansas in winning the event. She matched that score Feb. 15, when she finished second overall against LSU.

She's competed in floor exercise this year as well, posting a career-best 9.80 against Arkansas.

Faehn appreciates Zaiser's efforts as her leadoff balance beam performer the most, however. That was Faehn's role as a member of the United States national team a few years back.

"It's a huge role because you want your team to get off to a solid start,"Faehn said. "Rebekah has been consistent and aggressive. She's coming into her own."

Only four schools — Alabama, Georgia, Utah and UCLA — have won the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship.

"It's an exclusive club, but it's one we can join,"Faehn said. "We had a legitimate shot last year and this year, we're even stronger and more talented.

"Having a healthy Rebekah Zaiser is a big part of that."