GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Southeastern Conference opener featuring the league’s 2021 SEC champions – No. 2 Florida versus No. 11 Alabama – gets national broadcast exposure by ABC. Sunday’s coverage by ABC is the first ever collegiate gymnastics dual meet on a broadcast network.
Florida used a 7-0 record to claim its third consecutive SEC regular-season title in 2021 and Alabama won the 2021 SEC Championship meet. This is the 61st consecutive meeting that both Florida and Alabama bring a top-12 national ranking.
The meet starts at 2:45 p.m. in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/events/gymnastics-vs-alabama-3/>.
National Broadcast:
This is the first collegiate gymnastics dual meet live on a broadcast network. The 2021 NCAA Championships’ team final aired on ABC, marking the first NCAA women’s team final airing on a broadcast network since ABC aired Connecticut basketball claiming its first title with a win over Tennessee in the 1995 Women’s Final Four.
Equality Night:
The Gators celebrate all who make up the team, staff, University and Gainesville communities and fans. The team share messages of unity and inclusiveness in their words and accessories at Sunday’s meet.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 2:45 p.m. to take in the 2022 floor projection show which leads into Sunday’s action.
Here’s some tips to expedite your trip to the Exactech Arena Sunday:
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). Parking shuttle begins at 1 p.m. and runs 30 minutes post-meet. 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=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=szTtkVhDWi3x5qZLNRzqO6_8VFcUgj8yC2MV_LZyZNU&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=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=4ShLIA9Fuc_zyu8omNH6YzC5uWPl-k_HVqscJXqAa_M&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=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=m7q8sUQTl9oXEXKNfSIkWRcDlw5J53wfyD_nYJ8kUrY&e= >
Getting IN the Arena:
* To get tickets ahead of Sunday’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=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=m4tvdKxN4sKhtoHpJ7NcO0KweA2NQGZVw1DO_2BiSV4&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 1 p.m., with the gates opening at 1:30 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=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=5JoIt_-exObhcIVcT0TxN_1iHlIMT6vM8aweUhOTYFk&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!
Sunday’s Promotions:
* Socks- First 1,500 fans get a pair of socks just like the Gator gymnasts wear!
* Student T-Shirts: 1,000 shirts for UF students compliments of American Campus Communities
* Student Tailgate – Arrive early at Gate 3 to enjoy free food, great music from GHQ, games, cornhole and more!
* Kid’s Corner – Located on the Practice Courts near Gate 4, kids can get temporary Gators tattoos, 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:
* ABC<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D1378d2be-2D0883-2D4d9f-2D830c-2D0fe5cbf7038f&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=9__RIXPoXsLmPkd-38YTgW5r-0GsdoK1CXM_kTnAwR8&e= >: action called by Olympic medalists Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson-Clarke and Samantha Peszek
* Live scores<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D381438&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=74TxWNp4HBHojXxzE4iWo6cJ7L8SwA9ob0ItTFIt3H8&e= >
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 2 in the Week 1 Road to Nationals rankings<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__roadtonationals.com_results_standings_season_2022_1_0_5&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=4Zgy-QhMlSe__Mm80HFp9u9pg-QuPm4iuZ27T05r-1Q&e= >.
Alabama – The Tide is No. T11
The Gators in 2022 Opener:
Florida upped its season-opening best to 197.675 with its quad meet win over Northern Illinois (194.55), Texas Woman’s University (193.70) and Rutgers (192.075) in front of an Exactech Arena crowd of 8,219, UF’s third-largest home opening crowd.
A Gator won every event title, including freshmen Sloane Blakely claiming the all-around (39.45). She is the first freshman to win all-around in a season debut since Gator Great Kytra Hunter opened with a win in 2012 at North Carolina State. All-American Trinity Thomas started off her senior season with a win on vault at 9.95. A Gator senior All-American shared the next two event titles with a Florida freshman. The uneven bars win was shared by Savannah Schoenherr and freshman Leanne Wong at 9.875. Next on beam, Leah Clapper and Blakely tied for the balance beam win at 9.95.
Super senior All-American Alyssa Baumann equaled her near-perfect personal best of 9.975 for the fourth time for the floor win. All-Americans Megan Skaggs and Reed bookended the floor lineup with 9.95s.
SEC Weekly Honors for Longhorn State Gators
Two Gators from the state of Texas claimed SEC Weekly honors<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2022_1_11_gymnastics-2Dbaumann-2Dand-2Dblakely-2Dclaim-2Dweek-2D1-2Dsec-2Dweekly-2Dhonors.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=jF097fw7sWgwDbRqAwyVk7RyGYe4vgh5oMhhNpeYx9wSbUxLf45kfYo1xmgFbjVp&s=fii6HjvaAjVzDwYfheCcpGgoX9elFF69kO3LTe0D_bM&e= > after their performances in the season opener. Blakely is the first freshman to open a season as the SEC Gymnast of the Week since the award started in 2000. Baumann picks up her third SEC Specialist of the Week honor.
Alabama Continues Action vs Top 3 Teams in 2022:
Sunday’s meet is Alabama’s second consecutive versus at a top-three team. The Tide opened 2022 action with a 197.40-195.875 loss at No. 3 Oklahoma. Junior Mati Waligora was the OU dual all-around runner-up (39.175). Alabama returns 13 gymnasts from the 2021 team that took fifth at the NCAA Championships.
