Leanne Wong (left) and Anya Pilgrim show their honors picked up at Monday's Gator Gala, which celebrated Florida's student-athlete 2024 accomplishments.
Gator Gala Celebrates UF Student-Athletes
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida student-athletes gathered Monday night in the Evans Champions Club for the Gator Gala to celebrate the many team and individual accomplishments of 2024.
The Gator Gala applauded the accomplishments of Gator student-athletes during the 2024 calendar year.
Teams of the Year went to:
Men's Track & Field:
Won its third consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championships in June of 2024. The Gator men have won seven of the last 12 NCAA Outdoor titles.
Gymnastics:
Won its sixth consecutive Southeastern Conference title and placed fourth in the 2024 NCAA Championships.
2024 athlete of the year honors went to:
Walter Clayton Jr.: Men's Basketball
Leanne Wong: Gymnastics
Other teams and Gators celebrated Monday include:
The Florida Way Award
The recognition is given to an athlete from each team who most demonstrates what it means to do things the Florida Way. This award is given to male and female athletes who display qualities such as honesty, integrity, strong work ethic, and compassion. These traits make them nature leaders on and off their given field.
The Gator Gala applauded the accomplishments of Gator student-athletes during the 2024 calendar year.
Teams of the Year went to:
Men's Track & Field:
Won its third consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championships in June of 2024. The Gator men have won seven of the last 12 NCAA Outdoor titles.
Gymnastics:
Won its sixth consecutive Southeastern Conference title and placed fourth in the 2024 NCAA Championships.
2024 athlete of the year honors went to:
Walter Clayton Jr.: Men's Basketball
- Second-team All-SEC guard Walter Clayton Jr. recorded the #6 scoring season (633) and #8 most 3-point field goals (93) in a season in Florida history.
- Clayton's 17.6 points per game were the most by a Gator since Anthony Roberson's 17.9 in 2003-04, going for 20+ points in 15 games.
- His 33 points in the NCAA Tournament vs. Colorado marked the second-most points all-time by a Gator in an NCAA Tournament game (KeVaughn Allen, 35 vs. Wisconsin, 2017 Sweet 16).
- Clayton added All-SEC Tournament Team honors, averaging 18.5 points per game while helping UF to its first championship game appearance in 10 years.
Leanne Wong: Gymnastics
- NCAA uneven bars co-champion (9.9625). Sixth NCAA uneven bars title for UF since 2013
- NCAA all-around (39.70) and vault (9.9375) runner-up. Only gymnast with three top-2 individual finishes in 2024 NCAA competition
- Earned four All-America honors in NCAA Championships semifinal competition – all-around, vault, bars (first team) and floor (second team). Third consecutive season with four All-America honors in NCAA competition.
- Three WCGA All-America regular-season honors – first team for uneven bars and second team for all-around and balance beam
- Honda Award nominee for nation's top collegiate gymnast honor
- Floor 10.0 completed 'Gym Slam' (10.0 for each apparatus) – 15th in NCAA history and fourth Gator
- All-SEC for third consecutive season
- Led Gators with 24 event wins – 8 bars, 5 all-around, floor, 4 beam and 2 vault.
- Paris Olympics Team U.S.A. replacement athlete
- Only member of 2023 U.S. FIG World Championships gold medal team to compete NCAA in 2024
Other teams and Gators celebrated Monday include:
| Community Service Award | Jessica Edwards, Track & Field |
| Gators Exp Athlete of the Year | Ashley Klingenberg, Track & Field |
| Game Changer | Leanne Wong, Gymnastics |
| Male Rookie of the Year | DJ Lagway, Football |
| Female Rookie of the Year | Anya Pilgrim, Gymnastics |
| Men's Gators Experience Team of the Year | Men's Track & Field |
| Women's Gators Experience Team of the Year | Women's Track & Field |
| Miss Orange and Blue | Kendra Falby, Softball |
| Mr. Orange and Blue | Walter Clayton Jr., Basketball |
The Florida Way Award
The recognition is given to an athlete from each team who most demonstrates what it means to do things the Florida Way. This award is given to male and female athletes who display qualities such as honesty, integrity, strong work ethic, and compassion. These traits make them nature leaders on and off their given field.
| The Florida Way Award | Ty Evans | Baseball |
| The Florida Way Award | Emily Wilkie | Softball |
| The Florida Way Award | Bennett Anderson | Men's Basketball |
| The Florida Way Award | Laila Reynolds | Women's Basketball |
| The Florida Way Award | Jake Mitchell | Men's Swimming & Diving |
| The Florida Way Award | Emma Weyant | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| The Florida Way Award | Conor Gesing | Men's Diving |
| The Florida Way Award | Casey Greenberg | Women's Diving |
| The Florida Way Award | Orlando Cicilioni | Men's Cross Country |
| The Florida Way Award | Claire Bryant | Women's Track & Field |
| The Florida Way Award | Michael Holloway II | Men's Track & Field |
| The Florida Way Award | Allison Wilson | Women's Cross Country |
| The Florida Way Award | Tanapatt Nirundorn | Men's Tennis |
| The Florida Way Award | Alicia Dudeney | Women's Tennis |
| The Florida Way Award | Ian Gilligan | Men's Golf |
| The Florida Way Award | Sophie Stevens | Women's Golf |
| The Florida Way Award | Ellie Lazzari & Riley McCusker | Gymnastics |
| The Florida Way Award | Paloma Pena | Soccer |
| The Florida Way Award | AC Fitzpatrick | Volleyball |
| The Florida Way Award | Liz Harrison | Lacrosse |
| The Florida Way Award | Savannah Wright | Dazzlers |
| The Florida Way Award | Rhett Feagle & Julia Berry | Mascots |
| The Florida Way Award | Ty Roche & Rian Hanson | Cheer |
Players Mentioned
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Monday, August 04
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Monday, August 04
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