GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 3 Florida concludes 2019 home competition this Friday versus No. 25 Penn State.
The evening starts and ends with celebrations. Recognition for Florida's 2019 Southeastern Conference regular-season title kicks off the evening. After the conclusion of competition, Senior Day recognition begins to celebrate the careers of Florida's duo of
Alicia Boren and
Amanda Cheney.
Friday's action begins at
6:45 p.m. in the
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
The Gators close 2019 home action this Friday. You'll want to be in your seat at
6:45 p.m. to see the new gymnastics' floor projection that includes recognition of Florida's latest SEC title.
It's a busy campus Friday evening, as No. 5 Florida baseball plays host to Yale at 6:30 p.m. Here's some tips to expedite your trip to the Exactech Arena:
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 bus 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 5 p.m., with the gates opening at 5:30 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!
How to Follow the Gators:
Friday's meet streams live on
SEC Network + with Gator gymnastics alumna Stacey Abbott Gleim and GatorVision's
Shelby Granath calling the action.
Senior Night:
The careers of Gator seniors
Alicia Boren and
Amanda Cheney are celebrated Friday in a post-meet ceremony.
Florida's 2019 senior class notes:
● Part of Florida's last three NCAA top-four teams – 2016 (4th), 2017 and 2018 (3rd)
● Claimed 2016 and 2019 SEC team titles
● Turned in a 48-11 regular season record since 2016
● 16-3 in home action
● Performed 213 routines as part of the Gators' competitive lineup, with 87 of those scoring a 9.9 or better
Gators in Last Friday's Meet:
Florida used a solid performance at No. 20 Arkansas to claim the SEC regular-season title on the final day of league action. The win put Florida alone at the top of the
2019 regular-season standings with a 6-1 record.
Florida took a 197.225-196.35 win at Arkansas, with a Gator claiming at least a share of every event title. The Gators went one-two in the all-around, with senior
Alicia Boren taking her second win of 2019 by matching her season best of 39.625. Freshman
Trinity Thomas was runner-up at 39.55. That duo claimed at least a share of each event title, all with marks of 9.925s. Boren won vault and beam and shared the floor title with Thomas. Thomas claimed her fifth bars title of 2019.
SEC Award for Thomas:
After her double event win, Thomas claimed her fifth
SEC Freshman of the Week honor. Thomas has been honored each of the last eight weeks, as she is also a three-time SEC Gymnast of the Week honoree.
About the Nittany Lions:
Penn State posted its second-highest total of the season, 196.375, last Saturday to win a home quad meet. Sophomore Lauren Bridgens set the Nittany Lions' season-best all-around performance with her 39.525 versus Minnesota on Jan. 26. She advanced as an individual all-arounder to the 2018 NCAA Championships after tying for third at the NCAA University Park Regionals.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 3 in the
Road to Nationals standings.
Penn State – The Nittany Lions are No. 25 in the
Road to Nationals standings.
