GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A trio of 2017 firsts are set for the Gators on Friday, Jan. 13. Florida makes its first appearance in the newly renovated
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center for the Gators' home and Southeastern Conference opener versus Kentucky. Meet time is set for 6:45 p.m. ET
This is the 14th time since the Southeastern Conference began sponsoring gymnastics for the 1981 season that the Gators have opened home action versus a league opponent. Kentucky has been a part Gator' home openers three times (1988, 2003, 2017).
Weekend's Promotions:
It is #LightUpTheDome weekend as Florida fans are encouraged to come out to energize the O'Dome with support for each of the three Gator teams competing this weekend.
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Friday at 6:45 p.m. |
Gymnastics versus Kentucky |
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Saturday at noon: |
Men's basketball versus Georgia |
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Sunday at 1 p.m. |
Women's basketball versus Texas A&M |
To get tickets for this weekend's events, visit the
FloridaGators.com ticket site or stop by the Gator Ticket Office (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Other promotions for Friday's meet include:
- Giveaway – 7,000 Orange Glow Bracelets
- Wear Orange – Wear your best orange Gator gear as the Gators take on Kentucky!
- Post Meet Autographs – Fans can get the 2017 Gators Gymnastics poster signed by the team following the meet!;
- GIF Booth – Fans can create their very own custom GIF at the GIF Booth! Just like a photo booth, but create GIFs to text, post, and share with friends. Be sure to use #GoGators
- Student Tailgate – At Gate 3, free Mac & Cheese bar (while supplies last), orange glow body paint station, cornhole, football toss, and other games
Complete list of Florida's 2017 home promotions
Parking shuttle:
A complimentary parking shuttle will transport fans from the UF Commuter Lot on Gale Lemerand Drive to the O'Connell Center. For more information, visit
FloridaGators.com.
How to Follow the Gators:
Friday's meet streams live on
SEC Network + beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Live scoring can be on
FloridaGators.com.
In the Gators' Season Opener:
Florida used the second-highest season opening total in the program's 45-year history, 197.10, to open 2017 with a win Sunday afternoon at North Carolina State. The Wolfpack turned in a 194.925. The Gators took each apparatus title with the three Gators earning 2016 All-America honors claiming the meet titles.
Alicia Boren's 9.95 on vault was the day's high score on any event and she also used a 9.925 to win balance beam. The 9.95 is the nation's high on vault through the first week of competition.
Kennedy Baker and
Alex McMurtry won floor exercise (9.925) and uneven bars (9.90), respectively.
Baker led a Gator sweep of the all-around. Baker won at 39.50 and Boren was close behind at 39.475. Those tallies rank among the program's best for a season opener. Baker equaled two-time NCAA all-around champion
Bridget Sloan's total set last season as the top opening all-around road score, while Boren's 39.475 is third on that list.
Amelia Hundley's mark is the highest for a freshman in a road season opener. All three all-around totals stand among the nation's top 12 and UF is the only school with three among that top dozen.
About the Wildcats:
Kentucky opened the season with a 195.075-192.050 win at Eastern Michigan last Friday. Freshman Mollie Korth opened her collegiate career by taking the all-around win (39.075). She also shared the uneven bars win as the Wildcats took each apparatus title. The Wildcats took seventh in 2016 SEC Championship action and finished fourth in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.
Kentucky is No. 14 on the latest Road to National rankings, the highest position the Wildcats bring into a meeting with the Gators since holding the No. 12 spot for the Jan. 22, 2010 dual meet in Lexington, Ky.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the first
Road to Nationals poll.
UK – The Wildcats are No. 14 in the Road to Nationals poll.
About the 2017 Gators:
The Gators return four gymnasts in 2017 (
Kennedy Baker, Alicia Boren, Claire Boyce, Alex McMurtry) who own a total of 12 All-America honors. The 2017 Gators return 13 of 24 routines competed in the 2016 NCAA Championships.
The Gators' 13-member roster includes four freshmen and one newcomer. In the first meet of the season at NC State, these freshmen turned in nine routines. Three of the freshmen took part in their nation's Olympic Trials last summer.
Amelia Hundley and
Rachel Gowey both took part in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing ninth and 11th, respectively. The U.S. Senior National Team members also teamed up to help the U.S. win the 2015 Pan America Games team title.
Maegan Chant competed in the 2016 Canadian Olympic National Selection camp, taking ninth after day 2 competition. She represented Canada in 2013 and 2014 World Championships' competition and at the 2014 Pan Am Games. Freshman
Sierra Alexander was runner-up in the 2016 and 2015 Florida Level 10 vault competition. This class ranks No. 2 on the
2017 CollegeGymFans.com Top Recruiting Classes list. In the last eight years, Florida's recruiting classes have ranked No. 1 five times and No. 2 twice.
Florida also added junior
Rachel Slocum as she transferred to join UF for the 2017 season. She earned All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2016 and helped Eastern Michigan win the 2016 MAC team title. Slocum advanced the 2016 NCAA Championships' competition after sharing the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional floor exercise title.
