GAINESVILLE, Fla. –
Pink replaces orange and blue as the prominent color Friday as No. 2 Florida gymnastics welcomes No. 8 Alabama for the 14
th Annual Gators Link to
Pink sponsored by UF Health.
Action begins at
5:45 p.m. ET at the
Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
This year's Link to
Pink meet also has Southeastern Conference title implications.
The Gators are undefeated in SEC action (5-0) and Alabama is the only remaining team with a single league loss. A win Friday guarantees Florida its second consecutive SEC regular-season title as the team would have one remaining league meet (Feb. 28 at Georgia).
Alabama is the Gators' third top-10 opponent this season.
About Gators Link to Pink
Events aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention and treatment will be included at Friday's meet. These meets are part of a Southeastern Conference initiative and most of the league's teams will participate in a "
pink" meet this season.
Team colors are set aside as the teams wear
pink to show their support for the breast cancer fight.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
It's an early start for the nation's only meet featuring a pair of top-10 teams. Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 5:45 p.m. to take in the special
pink-hued floor projection show prior to the teams entering the competition floor.
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.
- A complimentary parking shuttle transports fans from which originates at the Commuter Lot on Lemerand Drive to the O'Connell Center. The shuttle begins at 4 p.m. Parking map for Gator Gymnastics
- Use the Waze app to provide the best route to Commuter Lot.
- For 5-10 minutes following Gator gymnastics meets, Lemerand Drive will close for north and south bound traffic from University Avenue to Stadium Road to provide pedestrians a safe exit.
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 and 2 will be open for each gymnastics meet. UF students should enter at Gate 3.
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:
Pink T-Shirt - First 3,000 fans get a Link to
Pink t-shirt
Link to Pink poster - Gators Link to
Pink poster available to first 1,000
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
The Gators' Last Meet:
Florida set its season-high road score with a 197.875-194.75 Valentine's Day win at then No. 17 Auburn. The total equals Florida's second-highest of season and ties for the nation's No. 6 total of 2020. Another 10.0 on balance beam highlighted an evening of spectacular performances by Florida sophomore
Trinity Thomas. Along with her beam win, Thomas posted marks of 9.95 to win uneven bars and floor exercise plus equaled her collegiate best of 39.775 – the nation's third-highest total of 2020 - to claim her fifth all-around win. Freshman
Payton Richards set her collegiate vault best of 9.95 to complete Florida's event titles sweep. It was her second vault win of the last three meets. Richards also took second in all-around after matching her career high of 39.50.
Several strong scores helped boost the Gators' team total at Auburn. Sophomore
Savannah Schoenherr anchored the bars lineup with a 9.90. Both senior
Amelia Hundley and sophomore
Sydney Johnson-Scharpf turned in a 9.90 on floor. Florida finished the meet on beam, with senior
Rachel Gowey earning a 9.95 and junior
Alyssa Baumann a 9.925. Two Gators equaled their collegiate bests of 9.875 Friday - senior
Sierra Alexander (vault) and sophomore
Leah Clapper (beam).
SEC Gymnast of the Week Honors for Trinity Thomas:
After her performance on the Plains, Thomas claims her
fourth consecutive SEC Gymnast of the Week honor.
It is her fifth such honor of 2020 and eighth of her Gator career.
About the Alabama Crimson Tide:
Alabama is 4-3-1 in 2020 and is coming off a two-meet homestand where the Tide registered wins over then No. 21 Missouri (197.55-196.85) and versus then No. 14 Arkansas (196.625-196.10). The 197.55 versus Mizzou on Feb. 7 is the Tide's season high.
Junior Lexi Graber's winning total vs Missouri (39.65) leads Alabama's all-arounders in 2020.
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 2 in the
Week 7 Road to Nationals rankings.
Alabama – The Tide are No. 8.
