GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Get your weekend started early with Friday's Gators gymnastics meet.
Friday's dual meet between a pair of 2018 NCAA Championships' qualifying teams – Florida and Kentucky - has an early start of
5:45 p.m. in the
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
This is the middle of a three-meet stretch for the Gators versus teams that advanced to the 2018 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
The Gators are back in the Exactech Arena this Friday. You'll want to be in your seat at
5:45 p.m. to see the gymnastics' floor projection and to welcome the Gators for another Southeastern Conference dual.
Here's some tips to expedite your trip to the Exactech Arena Friday:
Getting TO the Arena:
- Season parking holders can enter the O'Connell Center lot off Lemerand Drive OR SW 2nd Avenue.
- Public parking is available in the O'Connell Center parking garage on first-come basis. Those wishing to park in the garage must enter lot off SW 2nd Avenue.
- Public parking is also available in the north end of Percy Beard Track (enter off SW 2nd Avenue), tennis stadium lot or fraternity row.
- A complimentary parking shuttle transports fans from Commuter Lot Garage IX to the O'Connell Center. For more information, visit FloridaGators.com.
Parking map for Gator Gymnastics
- NEW this season: Use the Waze app to provide the best route to Garage IX.
Getting IN the Arena:
- To get tickets ahead of Friday's meet, visit the FloridaGators.com ticket site or stop by the Gator Ticket Office (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
- The O'Connell Center ticket windows open at 4 p.m., with the gates opening at 4:30 p.m. Gates 1, 2 and 3 will be open for each gymnastics meet.
Entry Gates for Gymnastics
- Bags are checked before entering the building. Everyone will go through the O'Connell Center metal detectors when entering. When using the metal detectors fans need to empty their pockets prior to screening, then walk through the detector. After that, tickets will be scanned and then you are ready to cheer your Gators!
Friday's Promotions:
- Orange Out – Wear orange to show support for the Gators
- Special concessions pricing - Let O'Connell Center concessions help with Friday's dinner plans. There is lower concession pricing for the UF-UK meet
- Boost your sock game - Enhance your wardrobe by adding a pair of socks just like what the Gators wear. The first 1,000 fans get a pair of socks
- Post-meet autographs - Following Friday's meet, meet all the Gators as they autograph team posters
How to Follow the Gators:
The Gators kick off a SEC Network triple-header of Friday Night Heights action. Courtney Lyle and Olympic medalist and Gator Great
Bridget Sloan call the action Friday.
On the go Friday? Follow the action on
WatchESPN.
Gators in Last Friday's Meet:
Florida's six-for-six beam set overcame a 0.05 three-rotation deficit to take a 197.50-197.425 win at No. 5 Louisiana State in front of 12,093 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The win ended the Tigers' 35-home meet win streak that dated back to March 8, 2013 (197.725-197.50 loss vs No. 5 Alabama). It was UF's first win in four visits to the PMAC as the Gators' last won in Baton Rouge in 2011.
Junior All-American
Rachel Gowey's 9.925 won the evening's beam title and three Gators shared second at 9.90 –
Alicia Boren,
Trinity Thomas and
Alyssa Baumann. Thomas shared the floor win with LSU's Sarah Finnegan at 9.95. Finnegan won the all-around (39.70) and Thomas was second with the season's top freshman all-around total (39.65).
SEC Awards for the Gators:
After their performances Friday, Gowey and Thomas claimed SEC Weekly honors. After winning her second consecutive beam title, this time with a Gator season-best 9.925, Gowey is the SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week. Thomas earned her second consecutive SEC Freshman of the Week honor after posting a pair of Gator season-bests – 9.95 (floor) and 39.65 (all-around).
About the Wildcats:
Kentucky advanced to the NCAA Championships' field for the first time in 2018. The Wildcats are coming off a 195.275-193.875 win over Arkansas last Friday in front of 12,472 at the Rupp Arena. Alex Hyland owns UK's top all-around total (39.375), set in the season-opener versus Texas Women's University.
Kentucky returns junior Mollie Korth, who earned All-America honors in vault and all-around in 2018 NCAA Championships' action.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the
Road to Nationals standings.
UK – The Wildcats No. 17 in the
Road to Nationals standings.
