AINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida gymnastics kicks off the 2022 season this Friday. Preseason No. 2 Florida opens with a home quad versus Northern Illinois, Rutgers and Texas Woman’s University.
The meet starts at 6:45 p.m. in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-quad-meet/>.
This is the first time UF opens a season with a multi-team meet since UF won the 2007 Super Six Challenge<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2007_1_6_11404.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=X1lNn1VF1xh2ndp7Ucmg2xE7C9A6Ifj9CP0TGZ55_eU&e= > in Fayetteville, Ark. The Gators last opened home action with a multi-team meet when they took second in the 2005 Super Six Challenge<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2005_1_8_7878.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=J56rUjAYNnGIla0C9YaO9lypnqAswxSs6KG2N4mIh9o&e= >.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
The Gators are excited to open 2022 action in their home arena. Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 6:45 p.m. to take in the new floor projection show which leads into the Gators first entrance for the 2022 campaign.
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 Garage 109 (located at corner of Archer Road and Lemerand Drive. to the O’Connell Center. Parking map for Gator Gymnastics<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_12_15_2022-5FGYM-5FParking-5FMap.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=oi3SL-h7_HZfljmKWiW7IZcOCQe2arlUGJPn2oVDecI&e= >
* Use the Waze app<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.waze.com_live-2Dmap_directions-3Fto-3Dll.29.6517704-252C-2D82.3508596&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=ToJVw2ODj_Cl1IoJIfJ3ubSNqdws2AQ72K6AalXUZrQ&e= > to provide the best route to parking shuttle.
* 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.
* More information at 2022 Meet Guide<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Fgameday-5Fgymnastics-5F.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=9KaV9ca0ilihvjnnBvZCNEecrBDrWr2frsgqspcweCI&e= >
Getting IN the Arena:
* To get tickets ahead of Friday’s meet, visit the FloridaGators.com ticket site<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Ftickets-5Fgymnastics-5F.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=bXMnnRuy5I0Wcw4-Y0BkR44vwYjtTdNQfvNAqcR8SxI&e= > 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 and 2 will be open for each gymnastics meet. UF students should enter at Gate 3.
* All Gator Athletics tickets are mobile. Visit Mobile Ticketing Guide<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__spark.adobe.com_page_0oiC6OLlbeGQN_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=m1OXPPuR0VbjvAp6xZ6SyYubiidRt6QuYFMMyBCjYM0&e= > to help expediate your entrance into the arena. To help zip through the entrance, be sure to add your tickets to your digital wallet in case of possible connectivity issues outside the gate. Then have tickets up on device to present for scanning.
* 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:
* Light-up foam sticks- Fans seated in the lower bowl get to illuminate their welcome of the Gators to 2022 home action.
* Student Tailgate – Arrive early at Gate 3 to enjoy Domino’s, great music from GHQ, games, cornhole and more!
* Kid’s Corner – Located on the Practice Courts near Gate 4, kids can get a balloon animal, play games, make posters, take a photo with the 2021 SEC gymnastics trophy, meet the mascots & Dazzlers, and more!
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
* SEC Network + – action called by Kyle Crooks and Gator gymnastics alumnae Stacey Abbott Gleim.
* Live scores<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D381435&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=p6FAqsnC0sabsnvmv0210fhOPb5COY1KZkQqhoZcu8A&e= >
The 2022 Gators:
The 18-member Gators team in 2022 is the largest in the program’s 50 seasons (previous high: 16 in 2005 & 2012). Florida returns seven who own 40 All-America honors – Alyssa Baumann, Leah Clapper, Nya Reed, Savannah Schoenherr, Megan Skaggs and Trinity Thomas. Five freshmen join the Gators – Sloane Blakely, Bri Edwards, Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker and Leanne Wong. Of the five newcomers, four own U.S. Senior National Team credentials and three are World Championship medalists.
Florida returns all 24 routines from the 2021 NCAA Team Final. Both of Florida’s “Super Seniors” (competitors competing a fifth season) earned All-America honors at the 2021 NCAA Championships – Baumann and Skaggs. Florida’s five-member freshmen class tops CollegeGymFans.com 2022 recruiting classes.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.collegegymfans.com_news-2Dsp-2D743792805_features_articles_item_11683-2Dcollegegymfans-2Dcom-2Dtop-2Drecruiting-2Dclasses-2Dof-2D2021-2D2022.html&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Fg9qtfWEqxeA-u6GDPmnJt7bXHLSp_jNUSbIHalh_8Kby60v5VrjBDHCHMPsnW8U&s=HDi0jm5uI3UeJxmV-5uoSEprK_baHW43OJOs70fQrnI&e= > It is Florida’s 10th top-two appearance on the annual recruiting rankings since 2010 (No. 1 eight times; No. 2 twice).
Among UF’s roster are eight who were part of the U.S. Senior National Team. That is the highest total of U.S. Senior representatives on a NCAA roster in 18 seasons. Four – Baumann, Hurd, McCusker, Wong – claimed World Championships team and/or individual medals in World Championships action.
All-time, four who earned World Championships’ all-around medals joined NCAA programs. Of those four, three have Gators ties:
Morgan Hurd
2017 Worlds Gold
First UF season: 2022
2018 Worlds Bronze
Bridget Sloan
2009 Worlds Gold
First UF season: 2013
Leanne Wong
2021 World Silver
First UF season: 2022
Florida in 2021:
In the 2021 season, Florida used a 7-0 record to claim its third consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season title. Florida took third at the SEC Championship meet and was the only league team to advance to the NCAA Team Final, taking fourth.
