GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 6 Florida plays host to No. 8 Missouri for Gator Gymnastics fifth annual Equality Night presented by GFL Environmental. The Tigers are Florida’s fourth top-10 opponent this season, with each of UF’s eight meets including a top-15 team. This is the first time since the 2010 NCAA Championships MU brings a top-10 ranking into a meeting with Florida.
All nine Southeastern Conference teams are among the current top 20, including seven in the top 11. There is one other dual this weekend including a pair of top-10 teams and it of course includes another pair of league teams – No. 10 Kentucky at No. 9 Georgia.
The meet starts at 5:45 p.m. in Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-missouri-equality-night/>. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 5:45 p.m. to take in the floor projection show which leads into the Gators entrance into the arena.
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.
* 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. The parking shuttle begins at 4 p.m. Parking map for Gator Gymnastics<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_facilities_parking_gymnastics_.aspx>.
* Use the Waze app<https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions?to=ll.29.6517704%2C-82.3508596> to provide the best route to parking shuttle.
* Check the Parking Lot Availability Tracker<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_facilities_parking_gymnastics_.aspx> to see your options in real time.
* 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 2025 Meet Guide<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_gameday_gymnastics_.aspx>
Getting IN the Arena:
* To get tickets ahead of Friday’s meet, visit the FloridaGators.com ticket site<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_gymnastics_.aspx> or stop by the Gator Ticket Office (open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
* Gate 1 will be open for each gymnastics meet. UF students should enter at Gate 3.
* Check out the Exactech Arena’s new apparatus layout for 2025 season<https://floridagators.com/sports/2024/2/21/gymnastics-tickets.aspx>.
* All Gator Athletics tickets are mobile. Visit Mobile Ticketing Guide<https://spark.adobe.com/page/0oiC6OLlbeGQN/> 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:
* Equality Bracelets – 2,000 Equality bracelets available for fans to pick up inside entrance.
* More Wrist Attire – Make your way to the Kids Corner to pick up Pura Vida bracelet (4,000 available)
* Gator Student Swag – 1,000 UF students will find a t-shirts and a Pura Vida bracelets waiting at seats in lower level
* Gate 1 Giveaways – Be sure to pick up 2025 Gators Gymnastics schedule magnet and 10.0 fan cards when you enter at O’Connell Center Gate 1.
* O2B Kid’s Corner – Located on the Practice Courts near Gate 4, kids can get free giveaways, temporary tattoos, play games, make posters, meet the mascots & Dazzlers, and more!
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
Watch: SEC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/b4201ca0-9b65-47be-bd70-7f453e990180> – action called Friday by Alex Perlman and Gator Olympian/National Champion Bridget Sloan<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/roster/bridget-sloan/5091>
Live Stats: Virtius<https://virti.us/start>
Tickets: $15 – $30<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/R00yNTA0>
Gators Last Time Out:
It was a rough night for No. 5 Florida gymnastics with two All-American Gators – sophomore Anya Pilgrim and senior Sloane Blakely – suffering injuries in the 198.075 – 196.625 loss to No. 1 Oklahoma in front of 9,880 last Friday at the Lloyd Noble Center.<https://floridagators.com/news/2025/2/21/no-5-florida-gymnastics-loses-198-075-196-625-at-no-1-oklahoma.aspx>
Florida turned in five solid uneven bars routines following a Pilgrim’s fall in the lead-off spot. Pilgrim was able to finish the routine but did not appear in the other lineup she was slated to compete, balance beam. Two Gators were among a four-way tie for second at 9.90 in the final bars standings – Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong.
Two Gators posted vault mark of 9.9 or better Friday – Selena Harris-Miranda (9.925) and Wong (9.90). Harris-Miranda shared second with OU’s Keira Wells in the vault standings. Sophomores Danie Ferris and Gabby Disidore also turned in vault marks of 9.875. That mark is a collegiate best for Disidore.
Sloane Blakely, who claimed the Feb. 18 Southeastern Conference Specialist of the Week after earning a floor 10.0 on Valentine’s Day, was unable to complete the routine after her opening tumbling pass. Florida was led on floor by Wong’s 9.925 and Harris-Miranda’s 9.90.
Florida couldn’t keep pace with OU’s floor scores on the final rotation. Every Sooner posted a mark of 9.925 or better – including a 10.0 by Faith Torrez – and the Gators were forced to count a miss on balance beam. Victoria Nguyen and Wong led Florida on the event at 9.875 to be among a five-way tie for second. Torrez won the all-around at 39.775, followed by teammate Jordan Bowers (39.65). Wong was third at 39.60 with Harris-Miranda taking fourth at 39.50.
Missouri in 2025:
The Tigers have wins over three top-15 opponents in 2025 – then No. 6 Kentucky (Jan. 26), No. 14 Alabama (Feb. 14) and used a season-high to take a 197.425-197.35 win over No. 12 Georgia (Feb. 21).
Missouri and Florida are the nation’s only teams with two individuals with 10.0s this season. Tiger senior Helen Hu posted the nation’s first 10.0 on any event for her balance beam routine at Oklahoma on Jan. 17. Sophomore Kennedy Griffin was one of three across the nation – all in the Southeastern Conference – to earn a floor exercise 10.0 on Valentine’s Day. Hu shared her fourth SEC Specialist of the Week honor on Feb. 25 after posting a 9.975 – her fourth beam mark 9.975 or higher this season. Friday’s meet includes both gymnasts with a beam 10.0 this season – UF’s Leanne Wong and MU’s Hu.
