No. 3 Florida faces No. 11 Georgia gymnasts Friday in O’Connell Center
Friday, January 30, 2015 | Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two of the six programs that have won NCAA Championships team titles in the 33-year history of the event – Florida and Georgia – meet Friday in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center for Southeastern Conference dual meet action. All 2015 Gator home meets will start at 6:45 p.m.
| Friday's Meet Info: | |||
| No. 3 Florida (2-1, 1-1 SEC) versus No. 11 Georgia (2-2, 2-0 SEC)
Date & Time: Friday, Jan. 30 at 6:45 p.m. ET Site: Stephen C. O'Connell Center (10,126); gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Television: meet airs live on SEC Network (Gainesville/Ocala Cox cable channel 68 or 1068) at 7 p.m.
Series Record (all-time): UGA leads 91-45-1. Last meeting, Florida tied for the NCAA title at 198.175 and Georgia finished fifth at 197.05
Internet: live video stream available at SEC Network +; live stats available on GatorZone.com
Tickets: $5 for adults; children 17 & under and UF students with Gator1 card admitted free. Check the Florida Ticket Office site for more information.
Parking Shuttle: A complimentary parking shuttle transports fans from the UF Commuter Lot on Gale Lemerand Drive to the O'Connell Center. More information at GatorZone.com/Gameday
Meet Promotions: Light-up Sunglasses - first 500 fans will receive light-up sunglasses UF Dance Marathon (DM) Attendance Challenge - UF Dance Marathon participants will have an opportunity to earn spirit points and a prize for their organization. Organizations encouraged to attend with their DM partner #GatorAllAround - are you an 'All-Around' fan? UF students, take your photo at each meet using #GatorAllAround and post your photo on twitter or Instagram for a chance to win prizes all season long! Students with perfect attendance at all home Gymnastics meets are entered to win Apple TV Visit the Gator Promotions page for all promotions for Friday's meet | |||
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| @UFCoachRhonda (Rhonda Faehn) | |||
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Friday's meet is Florida's third consecutive live appearance on the SEC Network. The dual featuring two-time defending NCAA champion Florida and Georgia is one of 10 live events set to air on the SEC Network in the 2015 gymnastics season.
The first 500 fans Friday receive a light-up sunglasses. O'Connell Center gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults while children 17 and under and UF students with a Gator1 card are admitted free. Purchase tickets that night at the O'Connell Center or avoid the lines by purchasing in advance either at the University Athletic Association Ticket Office (located between gates 1 & 2 of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) or on-line.
Last Florida-Georgia dual meet:
When the two teams met for Florida's 2014 home opener, the Gators took a 198.05-196.70 win versus then No. 6 Georgia. It was a tight competition through the opening three rotations and the Gators trailed by 0.075 heading into the final rotation. Florida's school-record floor exercise team total of 49.875 surged the Gators to the win. To compute that record floor score, each of the five contributing scores were collegiate highs, including back-to-back 10.0s from Bridget Sloan and Kytra Hunter. Rachel Spicer was just off the school-record mark with her 9.975 and the Caquatto sisters (Bridgette and Mackenzie) each turned in 9.95s.
Sloan and Hunter shared the all-around win at 39.70. Then senior Mackenzie Caquatto used a 9.95 to collect the balance beam win and Sloan took the vault win at 9.925.
Gators' in their last meet:
Florida is coming off its first loss of the season, dropping a 197.40-196.80 decision at then No. 7 Alabama last Friday in front of Coleman Coliseum crowd of 13,778. The two teams turned in identical event totals for vault and floor exercise. Although Florida didn't count a fall, wobbles and breaks hurt the Gators' event totals on uneven bars and balance beam. Senior All-American Kytra Hunter took three event totals. Season-high marks of 9.975 gave her the vault and floor exercise wins. She also picked up her third consecutive all-around title with a season-high 39.55. The all-around win, her 15th, moves her into sole possession of eighth on the Gators' career all-around wins list. Sophomore Claire Boyce claimed her third career balance beam title with a 9.90.
Georgia's last competition:
Georgia is coming off its season-best team total, set in its 196.975-194.225 win Saturday versus then No. 14 Kentucky. It was the first meet of 2015 UGA didn't count a fall toward its team total. The GymDogs claimed every event title versus the Wildcats. Ashlyn Broussard and Brandie Jay shared the vault win at 9.90. Jay also used a 9.925 to win the floor exercise title. Brittany Rogers turned in a season-high 9.975 on uneven bars. The balance beam win (9.875) went to Mary Beth Box.
Always a top competition when Gators & GymDogs meet:
This is 45th consecutive meeting between Florida and Georgia that both teams bring a top-12 national ranking into the competition. That is every meeting between the two programs since Rhonda Faehn took over Florida's coaching duties for the 2003 season.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the Jan. 26 GymInfo rankings. The current rankings are based on total season average.
Georgia – The Bulldogs are No. 11 in the GymInfo rankings.
