Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gator gymnastics team makes its second trip of the month to the Tar Heel State, this time to face North Carolina on Friday, Jan. 20. Meet time is set for 7 p.m. ET in the Carmichael Arena. Admission is free for all UNC home gymnastics action.
 
This is the second time Florida makes two trips to the state of North Carolina in a single season. Florida opened the 2017 season with a 197.10-194.925 win at North Carolina State. UF returns 12 days later to face North Carolina for a dual meet in Chapel Hill. The Gators also competed twice in the Tar Heel State in 2012, with both meetings at North Carolina State. UF opened that season with a dual meet win versus the Wolfpack and returned in April to win the NCAA Raleigh Regional.
 
Here's how to follow the Gators:
The meet will be carried live on FloGymnastics beginning at 7 p.m. To access, the subscription cost is $19.97 monthly or $147 yearly. Visit the FloGymnastics Events Page for complete information.
 
Follow @GatorsGym to get rotation scores and standings.
 
In Last Friday's Home Opener:
In Florida's home and Southeastern Conference opener last Friday in front of 7,693 at the renovated Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, the Gators took a 197.60-196.95 win over then No. 14 Kentucky. It was the third-highest home opening total in Florida's history and currently the nation's fourth-highest total of 2017. A Gator collected at least a share of each event title. Junior transfer Rachel Slocum made her O'Connell Center debut memorable, posting a collegiate-best 9.95 to win with her front handspring pike-front half twist vault. Her mark is the highest ever for a Gator making their vault debut (previous high: 9.925 by Bridget Sloan Jan. 4, 2013). That event also saw another big score, as Alex McMurtry was second at 9.925 with her collegiate debut of her Yurchenko layout with double twist.
 
McMurtry then used a season-best 9.95 to take her second-straight uneven bars title. A pair of Gators matched their season-bests of 9.925s (Alicia Boren-balance beam; Kennedy Baker-floor exercise) to take their second-consecutive event wins. Baker also shared the all-around win with a season-best 39.575.
 
About the Tar Heels:
North Carolina opened the season Saturday by taking third (192.30) in the four-team competition at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational in Washington, D.C. Sophomore Morgan Lane used a 9.85 to win floor exercise and also took the all-around at 39.15. The Tar Heels took fourth in 2016 East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championships, but UNC did not advance to NCAA Regional Championships.
 
National High:
Both of Florida's team totals (No. 4 197.60 / Jan. 13; No. 6 197.10 / Jan. 8) rank among the nation's top six totals of 2017.
 
Totals put up by the three Gator all-arounders this season rank among the nation's top 20 high of 2017:
 

T7	Kennedy Baker	1-13-17	39.575
T14	Kennedy Baker	1-8-17	39.50
T14	Amelia Hundley	1-13-17	39.50
T18	Alicia Boren	1-13-17	39.475
T18	Alicia Boren	1-8-17	39.475

 
2017 National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the Week 2 Road to National rankings.