Carter: Top 10 Individual Performances for Gators in 2011-12 Athletic Season
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 | Scott Carter
Top 10 Individual Performances for Gators in 2011-12 Athletic Season
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – What individual performance by a Gator was your favorite in the past year?
There are ample choices, and you can let us know by clicking here to visit the official Florida Gators Facebook page.
As for me, here are my 10 top individual performances:
1. Crawford's No-Hitter
Gators sophomore Jonathon Crawford opened the NCAA Tournament with a bang for the Gators by throwing a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman in the Gainesville Regional.
Crawford struck out five and if not for one walk, he would have had a perfect game. He faced the minimum 27 batters.
Crawford's no-no was the first in the NCAA Tournament in 21 years – or since former Gator John Burke tossed one against Furman in 1991.
2. Hunter Makes History
If you simply showed up and started watching without knowing her, there is no way you would have believed Gators gymnast Kytra Hunter was a freshman.
Hunter's dynamic routines often served as a meet's highlight.
Hunter was at her best at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships in late April. She became the first UF gymnast to win the all-around national title and she did it with her boyfriend, fellow UF freshman Bradley Beal, watching in the stands.
3. Walker Goes Off
Senior guard Erving Walker picked a good time to have perhaps the finest game of his college career.
Walker scored a career-high 31 points at Arkansas in a key SEC road game in mid-February to spark a 98-68 win for Florida.
The host Razorbacks took the court that day with a 17-0 record at Bud Walton Arena. The game also marked the return of former Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey, who rejoined Billy Donovan's staff last season after five seasons at Arkansas.
4. Rainey Pours on Tennessee
In Will Muschamp's first SEC game as Florida's coach, Chris Rainey made sure the rookie head coach left The Swamp a winner.
Rainey ran for 108 yards on 21 carries and caught two passes for 104 yards, including an 83-yard reception for a touchdown that stands as the longest in school history for a running back.
Rainey accounted for 233 all-purpose yards as the Gators won 33-23 to extend their win streak over the Vols to seven.
5. Demps Does It
Shortly after announcing he was not going to pursue an NFL career but rather a professional track career, Jeff Demps blistered the track in the 60 meters at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.
Demps ran a school-record and collegiate-best 6.52 seconds to capture his third consecutive NCAA individual title in the 60 meters. His performance helped the Gators three-peat as team champions.
6. Beisel Breaks Through
Sophomore swimmer Elizabeth Beisel was an Olympian in 2008 as a 15-year-old. She became an NCAA champion in March when she won the 200-meter backstroke title.
Beisel won the Gators' first individual national title in two years by finishing in 1:50.58, the 15th-fastest time ever in the 200 back.
7. Tucker's Hit Parade
Senior outfielder Preston Tucker opened the season with a chance to set the school's all-time hits and RBI record.
Tucker didn't disappointment, finishing the season with a .321 average, 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. Along the way Tucker cranked 84 hits, setting new school records for career hits (341) and RBIs (258).
8. Gilroy's Goal Barrage
The Gators hosted No. 1-ranked Northwestern with the American Lacrosse Conference title on the line.
Florida was trying to knock off the traditional power to claim its first conference title in only the program's third season. No one expected a freshman to lead the way.
But Shannon Gilroy did just that, scoring a career-high seven goals in Florida's 14-7 win over the Wildcats, who a few weeks later would win their seventh national title in eight seasons.
9. George Saves Day
The Gators women's basketball team played one of its best games of the season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, preventing Ohio State's backcourt duo of Samantha Prahalis and Tayler Hill from taking over the game.
Still, the game was tight at Stroh Arena on the campus of Bowling Green University as a pro-Buckeyes crowd looked on in the final minute.
What they saw was Jennifer George's sweeping shot with her left hand give the Gators a four-point lead and the push they needed to get over the hump and win their first March Madness game in three years.
10. Castro's Big Swing
The game was in extra innings when Florida softball coach Tim Walton sent freshman Bailey Castro to the plate with the game tied 1-1.
Castro took a big swing against Tennessee and the ball didn't land until well past the outfield fence for a game-winning home run. The victory lifted the Gators into the SEC Tournament championship game for the first time since 2009.
Castro's swing also gave Walton his 500th career win, becoming the fastest active coach in the SEC to accomplish that feat.
