No. 6 Florida and No. 8 Alabama Gymnastics Teams Meet Friday in O'Connell Center
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | Gymnastics
The No. 6 University of Florida gymnastics team (4-2, 2-2 SEC) plays host to No. 8 Alabama (3-3, 2-3 SEC) on Friday, Feb. 20. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Stop by a participating area Wendy's restaurant to pick up a complimentary admission pass good for two adults for Friday's meet. The first 1,000 fans at Friday's meet receive a light wand courtesy of Gatorade. The Marvel comic book character Spider-Man will be at Friday's meet and you can get your photo taken with him at O'Connell Center gate 4 between 5:30-9 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to take the parking shuttle from the Lemerand Drive Commuter Lot Friday. The bus will let fans off at O'Connell Center gate 2 for easy access to the gymnastics meet or the Florida-Louisville baseball game. The shuttle starts at 5:30 p.m. and will run until a half hour after the event that ends last.
| Friday's Meet Info |
| Meet: No. 6 Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) versus No. 8 Alabama (3-3, 1-3 SEC) Date: Friday, Feb. 20 @ 7 p.m. ET. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Television: airs tape-delayed on SUN Sports March 1 at 10:30 a.m. GatorVision: none WWW: live scoring & commentary available at GatorZone.com. Series Records (all-time): UA leads UF 57-29-1 - last meeting, UF defeated UA 196.70-196.125 in the 2008 NCAA Super Six team final (4-24-08) Tickets: $4.00 for adults; children 17 & under plus UF students with ID are admitted free. Meet Promotions: Gatorade Light Wand giveaway - first 1,000 fans receive a light wand courtesy of Gatorade; Wendy's Free Admission Coupons - stop by participating Wendy's restaurants to pick up free admission passes; Spider-Man - the comic book character will be available for photos between 5:30-9 p.m. at O'Connell Center gate 4; UF Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night - free admission passes for two adults have been distributed to UF faculty/staff members; UF Student Night - first 300 UF students receive free pizza beginning at 6:15 p.m.; KTK/Gainesville Sun Kids Club Night - Gator Kids Club members can RSVP for a free admission pass for their parent/guardians. Members can RSVP to 352-375-4683, 6648. For a complete list of promotions for Friday's meet, please visit the Gator Outlook. |
Alabama is the fourth top-10 team faced by Florida this season (Jan. 9 - then No. 10 Oklahoma, 196.50-195.075 win; then No. 4 Auburn, 196.50-196.25 win; Jan. 23, at then No. 8 Arkansas, 196.375-195.425 loss). Alabama is UF's third 2009 opponent that advanced to the 2008 NCAA Championships and the second that reached the 2008 NCAA Super Six. In their last meeting, Florida was fourth in the 2008 NCAA Super Six team final while the Tide took sixth 196.125 while Florida was fourth at 196.70.
Florida used a season-best 196.85 to take a Valentine's Day win at Michigan State (194.775). A Gator took at least a share of four of the day's event titles, including senior Corey Hartung using a 39.45 to earn the 14th all-around title of her collegiate-career and her second of 2009. Junior Maranda Smith used a collegiate-best 9.925 to take her second floor title of the season. Smith, appearing in only her second all-around since April of 2005, was second overall at 39.35. Freshman Elizabeth Mahlich and junior Courtney Gladys each turned in season-best vault marks of 9.85 to share that event title. It was the first collegiate event win for both. Sophomore Alicia Goodwin posted a 9.90 to claim her second uneven bars title of 2009.
Alabama (3-3, 2-3 SEC) is coming off a rare home loss, dropping a 196.625-195.75 loss to LSU last Friday. UA turned in its season-best team score of 197.025 on Feb. 6 in its home win versus Denver. Junior Ricki Lebegern set the Tide's top all-around score of 39.425 in that meet. Junior Kassi Price, who was a club teammate with several Gator gymnasts at Orlando Metro, shares UA's season-best of 9.90 on floor. Sarah Patterson is in her 31st season as UA's head coach.
Alabama owns a 57-29-1 all-time advantage over UF, but the last nine wins registered by the Gators came under head coach Rhonda Faehn. This is the 22nd consecutive time that both Florida and Alabama bring a top-10 ranking into a meeting.
Tickets are $4.00 for adults, while children 17 and under plus UF students with identification are admitted free. Live scores and commentary can be found at www.GatorZone.com. Friday's meet airs tape-delayed on SUN Sports March 1 at 10:30 a.m.
