Senior Josie Kuhlman during the final home match of her collegiate career on Saturday in an NCAA Tournament loss to Florida State. (Photo: Jim Burgess/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: The Other Side of A Historic Gators Weekend
Monday, May 14, 2018 | Women's Tennis, Scott Carter
Early Saturday afternoon at McKethan Stadium, the No. 1-ranked UF baseball team gathered in the outfield for a photo op after claiming a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season title. A few hours later in Columbia, Mo., Florida's softball team hoisted the SEC Tournament championship trophy.
On a warm Mother's Day afternoon Sunday at Dizney Stadium, the Gators lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, and across campus, the UF men's tennis team cruised past in-state rival Miami to advance to the round of 16.
Meanwhile, on Sunday night as the NCAA announced the Gators softball team was the No. 2 national seed, the UF men's and women's track teams swept the titles at the SEC Outdoor Championships on the University of Tennessee campus, their "It's Great to be a Florida Gator" chant going viral on social media.
It was a historic stretch of success for one of the most celebrated athletic departments in the country.
Still, there's another side of what transpired over the weekend that failed to inspire nearly the response in the world of Gator athletics. While pictures of victory and celebration dominated the digital media landscape, there was a much different scene outside Linder Stadium early Saturday evening as the sun began to disappear over campus.
The moment's origin had taken place the previous three hours during the UF women's tennis team's NCAA Tournament match against Florida State.
The Gators, the reigning national champions who set off their own online victory parade in May 2017 by winning the program's seventh national title – the most of any UF program – took the courts under a blazing sun in search of redemption and a 14th consecutive trip to the national quarterfinals.
Despite enduring a season with only six players available, the Gators were on the brink of climbing deep into the tournament once again. All that stood in the way were the Seminoles, who in 34 previous trips to UF had never won.
In fact, the Seminoles had only beaten the Gators twice in 58 tries, at home in 2009 and at a neutral-site match in Orlando on Feb. 5. The Gators sought to exact revenge and after losing the doubles point, appeared ready to do so after seniors Anna Danilina, Peggy Porter and Josie Kuhlman won singles matches to give Florida a 3-1 lead at the Ring Tennis Complex.
Kuhlman released an exuberant double fist pump toward the boisterous crowd after knocking off FSU's Petra Hule 6-4, 6-4.
"This was my last match in the Ring. After I won that last point, it hit me. 'Yes, we're going to do this.' At that point, I thought, 'we're winning this match.' It was just a really cool feeling to go out on that note,'' Kuhlman said. "But obviously, I wanted to get the team there, too."
Kuhlman is the type of student-athlete any school in the country is better from having on campus.
A public relations major from Ponte Vedra, Fla., Kuhlman passed the test in the classroom, on the court and in the locker room as a veteran voice on a team split with three seniors and three freshmen.
"This season has been my favorite,'' she said.
Florida head coach Roland Thornqvist relied heavily on the three veterans to carry the load until the younger players could catch up.
Thornqvist has experienced much in his 17 seasons but nothing quite like 2018.
"These three seniors, what they've done here – they leave a legacy that goes way past and farther than just winning trophies,'' Thornqvist said. "Much more importantly, they've really shown our freshmen how we do it. They've shown the 'Florida Way' and for that, I'm very grateful."
The three seniors became spectators along with Thornqvist and assistant coach Dave Balogh as the Gators' freshmen tried to close out the match. FSU closed to within 3-2 when Gabrielle Castaneda defeated Victoria Emma 6-4, 6-4 at No. 4 singles.
At No. 3 singles, Florida's McKartney Kessler traded jabs with FSU's Nandini Das, both players with their upper right legs wrapped to protect strained hamstrings in the 90-degree heat. Kessler took the first set 7-6 (7-4) and Das the second, 6-4. Kessler needed a medical timeout before playing the final set due to cramping. She came back and won a game, but with the score 1-1, Thornqvist had seen enough and waved to the chair judge that Kessler was done.
"We've seen that so many times. Usually, it's from other teams,'' Thornqvist said. "Once you start cramping it's a slippery slope. It's very difficult to get out of. We tried to pump fluids in her, stretch her and all that. I was hoping the 10 minutes could buy us some time. The body just gave out."
With Das declared the winner, the match came down the No. 6 singles between Florida's Katie Kubicz and FSU's Andrea Garcia. All eyes shifted their way in a match Garcia won the first set, 6-3, before Kubicz responded by taking the second set, 7-6 (8-6). When Kubicz hit a great shot to take a 4-3 lead in the third set, Kuhlman's premonition seemed destined to happen. However, Garcia responded valiantly to win 6-4.
One team celebrated, the other gathered in disbelief. For only the sixth time in 58 NCAA Tournament matches at home, the Gators lost, their season over before reaching the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 2004.
Thornqvist made a beeline to congratulate FSU coach Jennifer Hyde.
"Florida State did a really good job,'' he said. "They exposed us in a couple of places. You've got to hand it to them."
Danilina, who came to UF from Moscow, Russia, gathered herself and put an arm around Kubicz as the team circled.
"It was obviously heartbreaking to lose,'' she said. "It was a great college match. We fought hard. All the girls tried their best. We gave everything we could. I'm extremely lucky to be on this team."
Thornqvist did what coaches do, questioning whether he pushed the Gators too hard in training leading up to the match, resulting in hamstring issues for Kessler and Kuhlman. The quest for immediate answers is always difficult when the season ends in such disappointing fashion.
The reality is the Gators made it beyond where they probably should have without a safety net all season. They finally fell to the ground.
"I can't tell you how much fun I've had. I'm sure coach Balogh feels the same way'' he offered. "This group has been incredible."
As for that emotional moment that didn't make social media over the weekend, nearly an hour after the match was over and fans long gone, a couple of UF players hung around with their families outside the team's offices as the Seminoles loaded their bus for the victorious ride back to Tallahassee.
Nearby, in the alley between Linder Stadium and the Springs Residence Building, Thornqvist consoled one of the team's freshmen. Tears flowed amidst a string of encouraging words.
The difference between winning and losing, youth and experience never seemed greater.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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