Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – This is now officially a trend. Just like for the Gators' previous two home meets, the nation's top gymnastics dual meet of the weekend is in The Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Friday's meet features No. 5 Florida and perennial power and No. 9 Alabama for the weekend's only dual between top-10 teams.
 
This is the 55th consecutive time (dating back to the 2002 NCAA Championships) both Florida and Alabama bring a top-10 ranking into a meeting.
 
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Florida sold out its first two home meets and expects another big crowd Friday. The meet starts with a not-to-miss event moment – 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 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:

• Arrive Early to Get a Pop Socket – First 1,000 fans receive Gators Gymnastics Pop Sockets
• Green Meet - Join the Gators in their efforts for a Sustainable UF. Green facts will be displayed on the GatorVision boards throughout the meet
• #NationalPizzaDay - UF students can celebrate #NationalPizzaDay at the Gate 3 student tailgate. Free pizza for the first 300 UF students, plus fun prizes, games, and more!

 
Complete list of Friday's promotions
 
How to Follow the Gators:
The Florida-Alabama meet kicks off the SEC Network's Friday Night Heights action. Olympic medalists Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke call Friday's action with Gator alum Laura Rutledge adding sideline reports.
 
On the go Friday? Follow the action on SEC Network +.
 
In the Gators' Last Meet:
Florida returns home after posting its top road score in a 197.40 – 197.00 win at No. 17 Auburn. Two Gators took each of the individual event titles. Senior All-American Alex McMurtry opened the competition by winning the uneven bars with a near-perfect 9.975 and then won her second consecutive vault title with a perfect 9.95 for her Yurchenko full (start value: 9.95). The bars mark sets Florida's season high and the vault win was her second consecutive with a perfect mark. In the final dual of January, McMurtry's 10.0 for her Yurchenko double (start value: 10.0) was her third career 10.0 for the event. Florida's vault 49.50 is UF's high for the 2018 and stands third in the nation.
 
Then it was junior All-American Alicia Boren's turn. She equaled her collegiate-best of 9.95 to win her second floor exercise title of 2018. She finished the meet with a 9.925 to take her second win of 2018 on balance beam. Boren's winning total of 39.55 gave her the second all-around win of 2018 and was just 0.025 off her season high.
 
In the meet that marked Florida's midpoint of the regular season, eight Gators posted or equaled 11 season-best marks.
 
About the Tide:
The only 2018 Southeastern Conference losses for both Florida and Alabama came versus No. 2 LSU in consecutive January weekends (UF: Jan. 12, 197.25-197.125; Alabama: Jan. 19, Jan. 19, 197.45-196.725).  The Tide is coming off a 197.00–196.35 upset home win over then No. 8 Arkansas. Senior Kiana Winston, a Texas Dreams club teammate of Florida's Kennedy Baker, picked up three of the five SEC Specialist of the Week honors of 2018, including the latest announced Feb. 6.
 
Friday's meet also features three who turned in 10.0 marks in 2017 competition – Florida's Baker (floor) and McMurtry (vault, bars) and Alabama's Winston (floor). McMurtry is the only SEC gymnast to post a 10.0 through the first five weeks of the season with her perfect marks on vault and beam in the Jan. 26 win versus No. 1 Oklahoma.
 
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 5 in the fifth Road to Nationals standings.
Alabama – The Tide is No. 9 in the Road to Nationals standings.