No. 3 Florida and No. 6 LSU Gymnasts Compete Friday in 2nd Annual Gators Link to Pink Meet
Friday, February 15, 2008 | Gymnastics
The No. 3 University of Florida gymnastics team (5-1, 3-1 SEC) plays host to No. 6 LSU (8-1, 3-1 SEC) on Friday, Feb. 15 for the Second Annual Gators Link to Pink competition. School colors will be set aside for Friday's meet as both teams will wear pink (but different shades) in the meet that is dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. This meet is part of a Southeastern Conference-wide initiative. This is the third breast cancer awareness competition that Florida has appeared in (2006 at Alabama, 2007 at Georgia, 2007 versus Kentucky).
All fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support in the fight against breast cancer. The first 1,000 fans receive a hot pink t-shirt courtesy of Sun Sports. Free admission coupons for Friday's meets are being distributed per video rentals at participating Blockbuster Stores.
| Meet Information Meet: No. 3 Florida (5-1, 3-1 SEC) versus No. 6 LSU (8-1, 3-1 SEC) Date: Friday, Feb. 15 @ 7 p.m. (ET) Site: Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla. Television: meet airs tape-delayed on SUN Sports Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. GatorVision: live, streaming video of the meet is available on GatorVision. More information available at www.GatorZone.com WWW: live scoring available at http://www.gatorzone.com. Series Records (all-time): UF leads LSU 48-28 (last meeting, UF won the 2007 SEC Championships with a total of 197.325, LSU was fourth at 196.25) Tickets: $4.00 for adults; children 17 & under and UF students with ID are admitted free. Meet Promotions: Link to Pink T-Shirt Giveaway – The first 1,000 fans receive a free bright pink t-shirt courtesy of Sun Sports; Blockbuster Promotion – Fans can pick up coupons for free general admission for two adults to the meet. One coupon per rental; Dora the Explorer – The famous Nickelodeon character will be on hand greeting fans and taking photos. FanFoto will take photos from 5:30-8 p.m. at Gate 2. Wristbands will be distributed to fans for photo times to allow fans to both enjoy the meet and to get photo. Dora's Picture Times: 5:30-6 p.m. (blue wristband #s 1-40); 6:20-6:50 p.m. (green wristbands #s 51-91), 7:10-7:40 p.m. (red wristbands #s 101-141), 8-8:30 p.m. (orange wristbands #s 151-191), 8:50-9:15 p.m. (blue wristbands #s 201-241); Gators Link to Pink - Pledge Cards distributed prior to and the night of the meet (or reached at this link) and American Cancer Society representatives will be on hand to collect pledge forms.. A guest speaker will address the crowd pre- and post-meet |
Both teams faced multiple opponents last weekend. Florida was on the road for two dual meets, opening the weekend with a 196.35-193.15 win at Kentucky. Then the Gators turned in their top road score and the second-highest total of the 2008 campaign Sunday with its 196.85-190.825 win at Pittsburgh. Both of Florida's all-around winners this weekend picked up the 10th title of their collegiate careers. Senior Ashley Reed used her season-best total of 39.325 to take the win at Kentucky and junior Corey Hartung earned her 10th win with a total of 38.675 in front of her home crowd at Pittsburgh. Eight Gator gymnasts have 10 or more all-around wins during their collegiate careers in the 36-year history of Florida gymnastics.
LSU used a season-high score of 197,05 to take a home triangular-meet win over league opponent Auburn (195.475) and West Virginia (192.750). LSU junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney captured her fifth all-around title of the season at 39.65 Friday in the Maravich Assembly Center.
Meets between these two teams are traditionally close contests. Last year, Florida took a slender 197.20-197.05 win at LSU. Since 1995, 17 of the UF-LSU meetings have been decided by less than half a point.
