No. 6 Florida Gymnastics Meets No. 13 Arkansas for 18th Annual Gators Link to Pink
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 18th Annual Gators Link to Pink sponsored by UF Health is not just a match-up of two top-15 gymnastics teams. When No. 6 Florida and No. 13 Arkansas meet Friday, it is also a show of support for the fight against breast cancer.
The meet starts at 7:15 p.m. in the sold-out Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-arkansas-link-to-pink-2/>. Gates open at 6 p.m.
The Florida-Arkansas dual is Florida’s first-ever live appearance on ESPN. Actually, the meet will simulcast on ESPN and the SEC Network. The Gators make four live appearances on ESPN or ESPN2 (Jan. 26, Feb. 23 & March 3) in 2024 in addition to four SEC Network broadcasts. Just 10 seasons ago, all but the season opener were televised tape-delayed, including the 2014 NCAA Championship meet airing on ESPNU 12 days after Florida raised its second-consecutive NCAA team trophy.
About Gators Link to Pink:
You know this is a long-standing tradition when Florida’s youngest team member – Danie Ferris – was just four days shy of her first birthday when Gators Link to Pink made its debut on Feb. 16, 2007 versus Kentucky.
Events aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention and treatment will be included at the 18th annual Gator Link to Pink presented by UF Health. 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.
The 2024 Link to Pink has special meaning to Gator senior Chloi Clark as her mother, Rhondi, successfully battled breast cancer in the last year. Clark wears a pink ribbon in her hair for every meet as a nod to her mother’s strength. Rhondi will be among the breast cancer survivors welcoming the Gators to the Exactech Arena Friday night.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 7:15 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 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.
* 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 2024 Meet Guide<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_gameday_gymnastics_.aspx>
Getting IN the Arena:
* Friday’s meet is sold out. Shop for tickets by verified resellers<https://www.ticketmaster.com/florida-gators-gymnastics-vs-alabama-crimson-gainesville-florida-01-26-2024/event/22005F3DDA210E23>.
* 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 2024 Gators Link to pink t-shirt and pink shaker, compliments of UF Health!
* 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 2024 Gators Gymnastics Link to Pink poster, schedule magnet and pink 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!
* UF Student Tailgate – First 250 UF student can enjoy a pink donut!
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
* ESPN<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/c2ebe44e-4733-44fe-99a7-400394d3848b> – action called by Olympians Sam Peszak and John Roethlisberger
* Live scores<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=497231>
Gators Opens February with Road Win at Georgia:
With just a tenth advantage heading into the final rotation, a solid balance beam performance was needed if Florida was going to take a Groundhog’s Day win in Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum.<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/2/2/no-8-florida-gymnastics-wins-at-no-21-georgia.aspx>
The Gators got just that, pushing that final margin out a bit more to open February action with its season best of 197.475 to take the win. Georgia also turned in a season best of 197.30.
For the second consecutive week, senior Ellie Lazzari led the Gators on uneven bars, this time with a 9.90. That mark tied for second with Georgia’s JaFree Scott and Holly Snyder. The Gators also got 9.875s from freshman Gabby Disidore, freshman Anya Pilgrim and junior All-American Leanne Wong.
It was a season-high 49.45 for Florida on vault. The Gators who competed at the 2023 World Championships – Pilgrim and Wong – shared the win at 9.925. Freshman Skylar Draser led off the lineup with a collegiate-best 9.90 for third to complete the UF vault sweep.
Florida was led on floor exercise by 9.90s from both Victoria Nguyen and Morgan Hurd, who tied for second. That mark set Hurd’s collegiate best. UF’s lead was just a tenth heading into the final rotation.
Florida opened its beam set with a 9.85 by Draser. The next three marks all were 9.9 or better – Sloane Blakely (9.925), Pilgrim (9.90) and Lazzari (9.925). Blakely and Lazzari shared the balance beam win and Pilgrim tied for third with UGA’s Scott. The GymDogs’ floor scores couldn’t keep pace on the final rotation as UF nudged out the winning margin to 0.175.
Lily Smith claimed the all-around win at 39.60 and UF’s Pilgrim was second with a collegiate-best 39.55. Pilgrim’s 39.55 equals the 2024 freshman high and she is the only freshman with multiple performances among the nation’s top 70 all-around totals.
Arkansas Razorbacks in 2024:
Arkansas was No. 15 on the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) preseason poll and quickly vaulted into the top five after opening the season with a 197.15 – 196.35 win versus Georgia. The GymBacks followed with a tie at then No. 3 Alabama with a season-best 197.525. UA closed January action with a 197.225 – 196.675 win versus then No. 13 Auburn. The GymBacks only loss came at No.5 LSU (198.475 – 196.20) last Friday.
Fifteen different GymBacks have competed this season. Junior Leah Smith shares the team vault high (9.925) with sophomore Lauren Williams, who owns the GymBack’s floor high of 9.95. Freshman Priscilla Park owns UA 2024 highs for uneven bars (9.925), balance beam (9.975) and all-around (39.425).
