GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 17th Annual Gators Link to Pink sponsored by UF Health is not just a match-up of two top-15 gymnastics teams. When No. 3 Florida and No. 15 Missouri meet Friday, it is also a show of support for the fight against breast cancer.
Friday’s meet starts at 6:45 p.m. in the sold-out Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-missouri-link-to-pink/>. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Missouri is Florida’s third of four 2023 opponents which advanced to Ft. Worth for the 2022 NCAA Championships. Florida already met Alabama and Auburn in January and open March action at defending champion Oklahoma.
About Gators Link to Pink:
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.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 6:45 p.m. to take in the pink-hued projection show which leads into the Gators entrance for this SEC dual. Get ready to raise your phone with Gator Lights during the floor projection.
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 sponsored by Auto ER 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 5 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.
* Public parking is very limited at the O’Connell Center parking garage on first-come basis. Those wishing to park in the garage must enter lot off SW 2nd Avenue.
* 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 2023 Meet Guide<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_gameday_gymnastics_.aspx>
Getting IN the Arena:
* Tickets are sold out for Florida vs Missouri meet. Check the Official Gator TicketExchange<https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1280019?tm_link=tmr_redirect> to purchase tickets other fans can’t use Friday.
* 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://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:
* Link to Pink T-Shirt & Shakers – Every seat in the Exactech Arena gets a 2023 Gators Link to pink t-shirt and pink shaker, compliments of UF Health!
* Pink Power – Fans in the lower bowl will find a Gators Lights phone filter so your phone can welcome the Gators to the arena with a pink glow
* Food and Pink – You’ll find some pink-hued concession items Friday, including pink salted pretzels, pink lemonade and more!
* Gate 1 Giveaways – Be sure to pick up the 2023 Gators Gymnastics Link to Pink poster, schedule magnet and pink 10.0 fan cards when you enter at O’Connell Center Gate 1.
* Parking Shuttle Promo – Take the parking shuttle and get a chance to win a $25 Alumni Hall gift card and a free oil change courtesy of Auto ER. Winner recognized pre-meet on the competition floor pre-meet. Different winner each home meet – just another advantage of the parking shuttle!
* Kid’s Corner – Located on the Practice Courts near Gate 4, kids can get a free t-shirt, temporary tattoos, play games, make posters, get a shot taken in the SEC Championship Trophy photo booth, meet the mascots & Dazzlers and more!
* UF Student Tailgate – First 200 UF student can enjoy a pink Krispy Kreme donut!
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
* SEC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/ec6d3c2e-dacf-4f08-9936-8021089cf013> – action called by Olympians Alicia Sacramone Quinn and John Roethlisberger
* Live scores<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=438599>
Last Week:
Florida opened February with its best road score of the season, claiming a 197.875 – 194.40 win at then No. 18 Arkansas in front of a record Bud Walton crowd of 11,031.<https://floridagators.com/news/2023/2/3/gymnastics-no-2-florida-use-road-best-for-win-at-no-18-arkansas.aspx> A Gator took at least a share of every event title, including a Florida all-around sweep – Leanne Wong (39.775), Trinity Thomas (39.70) and Kayla DiCello (39.475). It’s Wong’s second all-around total among the nation’s top three in 2023 (No. 1 39.825; No. 3 39.775), which includes her second double 10.0 meet of the season. Wong turned in perfect marks in her opening (uneven bars) and closing (balance beam) events. Senior Payton Richards’ 9.925 won vault – her third career vault win and first since 2020. Trinity Thomas shared the floor exercise (9.95) title with Arkansas’ Lauren Williams.
Missouri comes into Friday’s meet off its first home loss of 2023, a 197.275 – 196.625 result to then No. 10 Kentucky.<https://mutigers.com/news/2023/2/3/gymnastics-hu-moore-event-winners-against-no-10-kentucky.aspx> Two Tigers won a share of three event titles versus the Wildcats – Jocelyn Moore – vault/9.95 and Helen Hu – bars/9.90 and beam/9.95.
SEC Weekly Honor for Kayla DiCello
After her performance last Friday, Kayla DiCello claims her third SEC Freshman of the Week honor of 2023.<https://floridagators.com/news/2023/2/7/gymnastics-kayla-dicello-is-sec-freshman-gymnast-of-the-week.aspx> DiCello set her balance beam best (9.95), matched her uneven bars high (9.925) and finished a Gator all-around sweep (39.475). She’s been honored four times in 2023, claiming Week 2 SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week.
Last Dual Meeting:
When these two teams last met in dual meet action, Florida took a 197.775 – 197.625 road win at then No. 11 Missouri.<https://floridagators.com/news/2022/2/4/no-4-florida-gymnastics-win-at-no-11-missouri.aspx> A Gator won at least a share of four event titles versus the Tigers in that 2022 meeting. Leanne Wong used a 9.95 to win her third consecutive uneven bars title. That same score put her in a four-way tie for the floor title that included Trinity Thomas. Two more event titles were claimed by Thomas. She won her third consecutive balance beam title with a near perfect 9.975 and won her first all-around performance of 2022 at 39.75.
