Florida Gators

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Florida gymnastics team took the win at North Carolina in front of a record crowd of 4,071 Friday at the Carmichael Arena. Florida posted a 197.325 and the Tar Heels turned in a 194.30.

 

Florida Event Winners Friday
Vault:	Alex McMurtry	9.90
Uneven Bars:	Alex McMurtry	9.95
Balance Beam:	Alex McMurtry	9.95
Floor Exercise	Alicia Boren	9.95
All-Around	Alicia Boren	39.625

A pair of Gator All-Americans took all the individual event titles Friday. Junior Alex McMurtry won each event she appeared in, using a 9.95 to win vault and balance beam. She also took her third straight uneven bars win of the season, this time with a 9.90.
 
Sophomore Alicia Boren used collegiate bests to take a pair of event titles. Her 9.95 on floor exercise gave her the first floor exercise title of her collegiate career. She upped her collegiate all-around best to 39.65 to take her second all-around title as a Gator.
 
Florida was again strong on vault, with the final three Gators all turning in marks of 9.925 or better Friday. In addition to McMurtry's 9.95, a pair of 9.925s came from first Alicia Boren and then Rachel Slocum.
 


The high event total of the meet came on Florida's finishing event, balance beam. Trouble on a series gave Florida's opening performer a 9.50, but the remainder of the lineup was solid, including three marks of 9.875 or better to help the Gators total a season-best 49.425.
 
Some new faces appeared for Florida as pair of Gators (Kennedy Baker, Maegan Chant) were rested for Friday's action. Amanda Cheney (balance beam) and Rachel Gowey (vault, floor exercise) made their first competitive appearances in those events Friday. Junior Grace McLaughlin also made her first uneven bars appearance since the 2016 season opener.
 
GATOR PERFORMANCE NOTES:

• Boren's 39.625 is the top all-around total for the Gators' this season. Florida entered the meet with three Gators ranked among the nation's top 12 all-arounders.
• McMurtry now owns 29 event titles (14 vault, 9 uneven bars, 6 balance beam). This is the first time she's taken three event titles in a single meet.
• McLaughlin turned in a pair of collegiate-bests Friday – 9.875 on beam and a 9.85 on bars. She took second on bars and shared third on beam.
• In her first appearance in the beam lineup, Cheney posted a 9.85.
• Florida's 49.425 on beam is the nation's high for the event in road action.

HEAR FROM COACH ROWLAND:
On the team's performance:
"We had someone new in the lineup for each event tonight. The team did a great job of accepting the challenge and stepping up to fill in for those who we were resting. They did a fabulous job. I couldn't be more proud of them.
 
"I feel it was a solid meet. We have some work to do here and there. Landings were a little off, but at the same time to come out with the confidence in each other as a team was great." – Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
 
Gators performed well again on vault:
"Vault had a great rotation. We were a little rough in warm-up so we weren't quite sure what to expect in the competition. But again, when it's game-time, this team rises to the occasion. They went out there and did a great job." - Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
 
Team responding on balance beam:
"It was great to see how they reacted to that first performance. Everybody's going to make mistakes. But everyone's going to cover each other's back. They did a great job – kept their cool and didn't let it get to them. It's what they were supposed to do and what they are capable of doing."- Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland
 
Lots of new faces tonight – Grace McLaughlin on bars, Amanda Cheney on beam and Rachel Gowey in first all-around. What did you see from their performances Friday?
"Very excited to see that we can put anybody in any spot in the lineup and be confident in their performance. And the team can be confident in their teammate. That really says a lot for this team. It was really good to see Grace [McLaughlin] on bars, [Rachel] Gowey in the all-around and Amanda [Cheney] on beam.
 
"Gowey did a great job in her first all-around. She has a lot more to give and I can't wait to see her grow as the season progresses." - Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland

RECORDS: Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC); North Carolina (2-2, 0-1 EAGL).
 
THE SERIES: Florida leads the series 22-1.
 
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the second Road to Nationals poll.
 
UP NEXT:
An annual Florida fan favorite is next, as the team plays host to the 11^th annual Gators Link to Pink meet. Florida will face Southeastern Conference rival Auburn for the meet, which is set for 6:45 p.m. ET in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
 
Here's what is planned for Friday:
Giveaway - 3,000 Link to Pink T-Shirts courtesy of UF Health
Pink Poster - Pick up the 11^th annual Link to Pink Team Poster at the marketing tables.
Pink Leos - Both teams set aside their usual school colors to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness
Survivor Tunnel - Breast Cancer Survivors will welcome the team to the floor during intros pre-meet.
ACS Inflatable Arch - The American Cancer Society will be on site with information and an inflatable arch outside the main entrance to the arena.
GIF Booth - Fans can create their very own custom GIF at the GIF Booth. It's just like a photo booth, but you can create GIFs to text, post, and share. And be sure to use #GoGators
 
Friday's meet is also Florida's first of six consecutive dual meet appearances on the SEC Network. Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke will call the action with Laura Rutledge reporting from the sideline.
 
Visit the Gators ticket site for complete information about getting tickets for Friday's meet.
 

	Single Meet
Reserved Adult Tickets:	$8
Reserved Youth (12 & under)	$8
General Admission Adult	$5
General Admission Youth (12 & under)	Free
UF Students w/ Gator1 ID	Free

 

	Florida Gators Gymnastics Florida Gators		@GatorsGym @FloridaGators
			@JennyRowlandUF (Jenny Rowland)

 

 

No. 3 Florida at North Carolina Final Team Totals
Jan. 20, 2017 – Carmichael Arena (4,071)
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Florida	49.400	49.225	49.425	49.275	197.325
North Carolina	48.375	48.925	48.225	48.775	194.300