Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It is the final chance to see the No. 5 Florida gymnastics team in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center this season. Florida faces No. 13 Nebraska on Friday and meet time is set for 6:45 p.m. ET. It is the nation's top dual meet among Friday's competitive slate.
 
Senior Night
Friday is Senior Night. A post-meet ceremony celebrates the collegiate careers of Kennedy Baker, Grace McLaughlin, Alex McMurtry and Rachel Slocum. Friday's celebration also includes Gator manager Casey McLaughlin.
 
Florida's 2018 senior class has:

•  Been part of Florida's 2015 NCAA Championship team
• Claimed 2016 SEC team title
• Turned in a 48-13 regular season record since 2015
• 17-2 in home action

 
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Although it is UF's Spring Break, the O'Connell Center area will be buzzing as No. 1 Florida baseball begins a three-game series with Rhode Island Friday.
 
Make plans now to ensure you will be in the Exactech Arena at 6:45 p.m. to see Friday's not-to-miss event moment – the Exactech Arena floor projections - and to welcome the Gators for their home finale.
 
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. It is available for gymnastics and baseball fans, running for 45 minutes after the final event of the evening. 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: 1,000 Poster Puzzles
• UF Alumni Association Night: Present a valid UFAA ID at the ticket office & receive BOGO general admission tickets!
• Gator Boosters Night: Gator Booster members receive BOGO general admission tickets by showing their Booster Membership card at the Ticket Office!

 
Complete list of Friday's promotions
 
How to Follow the Gators:
The meet is available live on SEC Network + with Daniel Gillman and Gator gymnastics alumna Stacey Gleim calling the action.
 
In the Gators' Last Meet:
A sweep of the individual titles wasn't enough as Florida dropped a 196.925 – 196.70 decision last Friday at then No. 20 Missouri. The Gators led by two-tenths at the midway point but was forced to count a fall during the floor exercise rotation. Heading into the final rotation, Florida trailed by 0.075, but UF"s balance beam scores couldn't keep up the Tigers' floor scores. It was the first loss for UF in the 23 all-time meetings between the two programs.
 
Senior All-American Alex McMurtry took the vault (9.925), bars (9.95) and beam (9.95) wins for the second consecutive meet. Florida's Alicia Boren and Alyssa Baumann shared the evening's floor title at 9.925, which equals Baumann's collegiate high. Boren took her sixth all-around win of 2018 – and fifth consecutive – with her total of 39.50.
 
About the Cornhuskers:
Nebraska is coming off two multi-meets last weekend. Nebraska won the Elevate the Stage quad meet in Augusta, Ga., last Friday with a 196.70. The Cornhuskers then returned home to play host to the Master's Classic on Sunday, taking second to No. 2 UCLA (197.50) with their season-best of 197.175. Senior Abbie Epperson and junior Sienna Crouse share Nebraska's season-high all-around total (39.45), including Crouse using that total to take second in Sunday's Master's Classic.
 
Nebraska is the fifth 2018 Florida opponent to advance to the 2017 NCAA Championships. NU took seventh in 2017 NCAA semifinal action in St. Louis, Mo.
 
Both Gator assistant coaches have connections to the Cornhuskers. Adrian Burde helped the Cornhuskers to four NCAA Super Six appearances (2002, '03, '05, '06) in his five seasons as a NU assistant coach. Before joining the Gator staff for the 2016 season, Owen Field served as manager or volunteer coach during his six years with the Huskers. Nebraska reached the NCAA Championships four times (2015, 2014, 2012, 2010) while Field was with the team, reaching the Super Six in 2014.
 
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 5 in the ninth Road to Nationals standings.
Nebraska – The Cornhuskers are No. 13 in the Road to Nationals standings.