No. 3 Florida Meets No. 12 Auburn for 19th Annual Gators Link to Pink
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 19th Annual Gators Link to Pink sponsored by UF Health is not just a match-up of two top-12 gymnastics teams. When No. 3 Florida and No. 12 Missouri meet Friday, it is also a show of support for the fight against breast cancer.
The meet starts at 8:15 p.m. in Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-auburn-link-to-pink-2/>. Gates open at 7 p.m.
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.
This is Florida’s first Valentine’s Day Link to Pink meet.
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
Watch: SEC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/26f2c284-80c8-4b30-a003-90fad45caaec> – action called Friday by Jason Ross Jr. 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/GM2503?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=SCHED&utm_campaign=GYM-SINGLE&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_SCHED_GYM-SINGLE>
Get Advance Preview of Gators Link to Pink at Thursday’s Gator Talk:
Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland joins Voice of the Gators Sean Kelley for Thursday’s Gator Talk.
Gator Talk is a weekly hour-long program covering the latest in Gator athletics. The show is available across all 38 affiliates of the Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/11/_radio_affiliates_>, the Florida Gators Mobile App<https://floridagators.com/sports/2019/7/31/mobile-app>, and on the Varsity Mobile App<https://thevarsitynetwork.com/>.
Fans are welcome to join the show as it airs from 7 – 8 p.m. at Gainesville’s Miller’s Ale House<https://millersalehouse.com/locations/gainesville/>.
Arkansas Wins SEC Dual vs Florida:
No. 2 Florida dropped its second meet of the season, losing 197.175 – 196.625 to No. 15 Arkansas Friday, Feb. 7 in front of 7,341 at the Bud Walton Arena.<https://floridagators.com/news/2025/2/7/no-2-florida-gymnastics-drops-meet-at-no-15-arkansas.aspx>
UF led by 0.65 heading into the final rotation but that advantage evaporated when the Gators were forced to count a miss on balance beam. It was UF’s first counted beam miss since 2021 NCAA Team Final.
A Gator won at least a share of four of the five event titles Friday. Senior Leanne Wong won her third all-around of the season at 39.575 while sophomore Anya Pilgrim was third at 39.15. Arkansas’ Joscelyn Roberson was second at 39.45. Wong moves to a tie for No. 7 at 17 with Gator Great Kristen Guise (1993-96) on Florida’s Career All-Around Wins chart.
Wong shared the evening’s uneven bars title with Arkansas’ Mati Waligora with marks of 9.95. Selena Harris-Miranda matched her season vault high of 9.95 for the third consecutive meet for the same number of wins in that span. Four shared the floor exercise win at 9.925 – UF’s Taylor Clark and Wong along with Arkansas’ Mati Waligora and Frankie Price. Arkansas freshman Joscelyn Roberson took the balance beam win at 9.90.
Three Gators had firsts at Arkansas. Sophomore Alyssa Arana (9.875) and freshman Ly Bui (9.90) made their debut in UF’s competitive bars lineup. Freshman Taylor Clark won a share of her first event title after posting a collegiate-best 9.925 to share the floor exercise win.
Auburn in 2025:
Auburn turned in its season-best to win last Friday’s home dual versus No. 11 Georgia (197.30-197.20). The Tigers also won its 2025 league opener with a home 196.70-196.25 decision over then No. 17 Arkansas and finished January with its lone league loss – 197.05 -196.60 at then No. 7 Kentucky.
Freshman Katelyn Jong has twice turned in Auburn’s all-around high of 39.50. She did not compete all-around versus Georgia. Jong was a member of the 2023-24 and 2022-23 U.S. Senior National teams.
