Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 5 Florida gymnastics team meets its fifth top-12 opponent of 2018 Friday when it plays host to No. 11 Arkansas for the 12th annual Gators Link to Pink. Meet time is set for 6:45 p.m. ET in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. It is the nation's top dual meet among Friday's competitive slate.

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..
 
This is the third consecutive "pink" dual meet competition between these two programs. Arkansas also competed in the 2016 Gators Link to Pink meet and Florida visited Barnhill Arena last season to compete in the Razorback's Pink meet.
 
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
The Gators Link to Pink is always a popular meet, drawing three of the program's top eight crowds. The meet starts with a not-to-miss event moment – now set in pink – the Exactech Arena floor projections. Make plans now to ensure you will be in the Exactech Arena at 6:45 p.m. to see Friday's pink edition of the floor projection and to welcome the Gators for this big home competition.
 
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 2^nd 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 2^nd Avenue.
• Public parking is also available in the north end of Percy Beard Track (enter off SW 2^nd Avenue).
• A complimentary parking shuttle transports fans from the UF Commuter Lot on Gale Lemerand Drive to the O'Connell Center. For more information, visit FloridaGators.com.

 
Parking map for Gator Gymnastics
 
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 will be 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 but can keep items in hand, raising them above head while walking through the detector. After that, tickets will be scanned and then you are ready to cheer your Gators!

 
Friday's Promotions:

• Giveaway – 3,500 pink Gators Gymnastics T-Shirts courtesy of UF Health.
• Pink Poster - Fans can pick up the 12th annual Link to Pink Team Poster at the marketing tables.
• Pink Leos - Both teams set aside their usual school colors to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness!
• Survivor Tunnel - Breast Cancer Survivors will welcome the team to the floor during intros pre-meet!
• Jr. Cheer - Arrive early for a special pre-meet performance by the Gators Junior Cheerleaders! To register for the Junior Cheer clinic, visit www.FloridaGators.com/Camps today!
• Post-Meet Autographs - Stick around after the meet to get a poster or program signed by the Gators Gymnastics team and to meet your Florida Gators Gymnasts!

 
Complete list of Friday's promotions
 
How to Follow the Gators:
The Gators Link to Pink meet airs tape-delayed on ESPNU –Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. The announce team includes Courtney Lyle and 2009 World all-around champion and Gator Great Bridget Sloan. It is Sloan's first call of a Florida meet since she became part of the SEC Network/ESPN gymnastics announce rotation last season.
 
On the go Friday? Follow the action on SEC Network +.
 
In the Gators' Last Meet:
Florida earned its top road score of the season with a 196.95-196.125 win at No. 14 Georgia Friday in front of a sold-out Stegeman Coliseum crowd of 10,017.  The Gators opened the meet by equaling their season-best uneven bars team total of 49.50. Two Gators equaled their 2018 uneven bars best  – Amelia Hundley (9.925) and Alex McMurtry's winning score of 9.975. The Gators' final three vaulters all scored a 9.9 or better – Rachel Slocum (9.90), McMurtry (9.925) and Alicia Boren won the event by equaling her collegiate best of 9.95.
 
McMurtry made her season floor debut Friday, posting a 9.925. She was one of three Gators with floor marks of 9.9 or better. Alyssa Baumann scored a 9.90 and Slocum added the double layout back in for her opening pass, earning a collegiate-best 9.95 to take second overall. A fall computed into Florida's beam total held back the overall team score potential. Baumann was calm and steady on beam, tuning out the Stegeman Coliseum crowd celebration for a floor 10.0 to turn in the evening's winning mark of 9.90. Hundley also posted a season-high 9.875. Freshman Nicole Webb, making her first appearance in the Gator lineup, turned in 9.725.
 
Boren shared the all-around win at 39.475. It was her fourth of the season and third consecutive. Eight season- or collegiate-best marks by five different Gators were turned in at Georgia.
 
About the Razorbacks:
The Razorbacks were winners in two of their last three dual meets – Jan. 26 vs. Georgia 197.175-196.125 win, Feb. 2 at Alabama 196.350-197.00 loss and Feb. 9 vs. Auburn 196.750-194.875 win. Arkansas is coming off its season-low of 195.575, which took fourth at the Feb. 16 GymQuarters Invitational in St. Louis, Mo.
 
In the same meet that UA posted its season-best team total, Jessica Yamzon's 39.425 versus Georgia set UA's top all-around total for 2018.
 
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 5 in the seventh Road to Nationals standings.
Arkansas – The Razorbacks is No. 11 in the Road to Nationals standings.