Friday is Senior Day for Amanda Cheney (left) and Alicia Boren. The University of Florida influence has been an ever present presence in their lives, as both Cheney and Boren's parents are Gator alums.
Growing up Gator
Thursday, March 7, 2019 | Gymnastics
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The parents of Florida's senior duo - Alicia Boren and Amanda Cheney - are all University of Florida alums. Seeing their children grow and succeed at UF is a source of pride for these Gator parents.
By: Lauren Staff - UF Athletics Communications
In 1986, Curt Boren graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. A year later, his future wife, Alice Tucker also earned her degree from UF Vet Med.
During those same years, Brian and Leslie Cheney were finishing their UF bachelor's degrees.
Now 30-some years later, both of their daughters, seniors Alicia Boren and Amanda Cheney, are competing in their last home meet as Gators. Friday's Senior Night versus No. 25 Penn State begins at 6:45 p.m. in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
"(I) definitely followed their footsteps by coming here," Amanda said.
Both gymnasts grew up with a strong connection to the Orange and Blue.
The UF influence began with Amanda Cheney's first outfit. She arrived home from the hospital in a Gator onesie and UF socks.
It started really early for Amanda. She came home from the hospital in a Gator onesie.
"She was influenced at a young age with everything Gators," Brian said.
Alicia first visited Gainesville at age 4 when her parents returned for a veterinarian conference. The Gators had a presence her family's everyday life, but the epicenter of the Gator Nation was more than a thousand miles south on I-95.
Alicia Boren first met Albert at age four when she accompanied her parents on a trip to Gainesville for a veterinarian conference.Alicia Boren wore a Gator shirt while riding at her grandparent's home at age 12.
The first letter a prospective student-athlete receives at the start of their recruiting process is memorable. When Alicia's first recruiting letter was postmarked "Gainesville, Fla.", it fueled the long-held hopes of her parents that their only daughter would have a Gator chomp in her collegiate floor routine.
But they let her make her own choice during the recruiting process to see which school fit best.
"We figured once she saw Gainesville, she would fall in love with it, and her mind probably would be settled on it. And that's what happened," Curt said.
And although the Cheney's let their daughter make the decision on where she would attend college, they of course, would have loved to see her end up at Florida.
Amanda attended Gator gymnastics meets with other gymnasts from her club, Orlando Metro Gymnastics, and fell in love with the team.
Amanda Cheney's been working on her Gator chomp since age 12
She wanted to be a Gator from a young age.
"It was left very open to where she wanted to go," Leslie said. "But she was very adamant (that she wanted to go to Florida)."
And her dad was thrilled with her decision.
"It was a special time, very exciting for her," Brian said. "It was exciting for us too that she finally made it to what she set her aim for so many years ago."
Alicia with her parents Curt Boren and Alice Tucker just before the team left the hotel for the Gators' first meet of the 2016 season. Alicia's parents have been at each of the 50 meets so far of her Gator career.
Alicia's parents have been to every single one of their daughter's meets the last four years, despite sometimes battling difficult traveling conditions.
"We've had to switch (flights) a couple times," Curt said. "And that 2017 North Carolina State meet - we had to drive through a blizzard to get there. We didn't know if we would make it."
Curt and Alice have a friendly competition with the other gymnast's families for who can attend the most meets.
They said junior Amelia Hundley's family is one of their main competitors. The Hundley's also have a perfect attendance record.
"What a great experience it's been for us to be with these other parents," Curt said. "We've made a lot of good friends and just had some great times with them."
Alicia has cherished her parents' presence and their opportunity to relive some of their college experiences through her, but now from a student-athlete perspective.
"For them to experience it all over again, but from this point of view, they love it," Alicia said. "For me to be able to give them that experience and opportunity is really awesome."
Alice Tucker always brings her camera to shoot pictures of Alicia and the families of her Gator teammates. The ever-expanding inventory required Alicia's mom to call in outside help to fix her computer to ensure no memories evaporated into a digital abyss.
She's not sure how many shots she's taken, but it's in the thousands.
Even after Alicia graduates, her parents still plan on attending some Gator meets.
"We're still going to come to Gainesville, just not for every one," Curt said.
In the last four years, Alicia and Amanda have made memories that they will keep forever.
The Cheney family - (back: Brian and Leslie, front: Amanda and Sara) in Gainesville for a Gator game. Amanda also cheered the Gator gymnastics team while growing up as her club team, Orlando Metro, would travel up I-75 to take in the collegiate competitions.
One of Amanda's highlights is a tradition that happens every home meet.
"I always say my favorite part of being a Gator is running out of the Gatorhead and just hearing Gator Nation and looking up and seeing how full it is in the O'Dome," she said.
It's also been one of her mom's favorite parts of watching her compete.
"The first time she ran through the Gatorhead, the mouth, at the first meet as a freshman, it brought tears to my eyes," Leslie said. "Here we were, we graduated from there and here she is being a Gator. That was really, really special."
For Alicia, it was smiling during her floor routine for the first time as a freshman.
"It happened in front of a bunch of screaming people, and it was super exciting," Alicia said. "Jenny (Rowland) was excited. And I remember after I came off the floor, she congratulated me on being able to take in the crowd and take in the moment."
For the final time Friday night, the two seniors chomp for one last meet in front of the home crowd.
With this being the first class head coach Jenny Rowland has coached for all four years at Florida, it's a happy but bittersweet moment.
"These two have developed so much from freshman to senior year," Rowland said. "It's always a difficult evening for the heart, but also very rewarding in knowing how successful they have been and how successful they are both going to be in the future."
Alicia said the moment will probably hit her after the meet, because she said she still has a job to do for her team.
And Amanda is excited to see her family and reflect on her career and enjoy her 21st meet in the O'Connell Center.
"My mom sent me the list of everyone coming, and I'm overwhelmed," Amanda said. "My goal is to just enjoy it, leave no regrets, leave it all on the floor."
