GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The nation’s top dual meet of the weekend – No. 5 Auburn at No. 2 Florida – opens Southeastern Conference action this Friday.
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-auburn-equality-night/>. Gates open at 6 p.m.
These two programs also met to close 2022 regular-season league competition for a conference title-deciding dual.<https://floridagators.com/news/2022/3/4/gymnastics-no-3-gators-claim-sec-title-outright-with-tie-at-no-6-auburn.aspx> The two teams tied at 198.575 in front of a sold-out Neville Arena crowd, giving Florida its fourth consecutive SEC regular-season title. That meeting was the first of five 2022 meetings between the two programs, as the teams met again at SEC Championships, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Semifinal and NCAA Team Final.
This meet brings together some of collegiate gymnastics brightest stars. In addition to defending NCAA all-around champion Trinity Thomas, four won Olympic or World Championships all-around medals for the U.S. – Kayla DiCello (2021 World bronze), Morgan Hurd (2017 World gold), Sunisa Lee (2020 Olympic gold) and Leanne Wong (2021 World silver).
International All-Around Medalists in NCAA Competition
There are six U.S. gymnasts with Olympic or World Championships all-around medals who also competed as collegiates.
Four of those gymnasts will be in Friday’s competition.
Name
School
Seasons
Olympic/World AA Medals
Bridget Sloan
Florida
2013-16
2009 World Gold
Kyla Ross
UCLA
2017-20
2013 World Silver; 2014 World Bronze
Morgan Hurd
Florida
2023-present (2022 RS)
2017 World Gold; 2018 World Bronze
Sunisa Lee
Auburn
2022-present
2022 Olympic Gold
Kayla DiCello
Florida
2023-present
2021 World Bronze
Leanne Wong
Florida
2022-present
2021 World Silver
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 Friday’s meet.
Arrive Early to Cheer Your Gators
Be in your Exactech Arena seat by 7:15 p.m. to take in the floor projection show which leads into the Gators entrance for the SEC opener. 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.
* 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 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 5:30 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 2023 Meet Guide<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_gameday_gymnastics_.aspx>
Getting IN the Arena:
* Tickets are sold out for Florida vs Auburn 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:
* Equality t-shirts – First 1,000 students Friday receive a free Equality t-shirt presented by ACC.
* Flippers & Flippers – UF students in O’Dome for Friday’s 2 p.m. Florida swimming & diving meet versus FAU receive a wristband to swim ahead of the student line when Gate 3 opens for UF-Auburn gymnastics meet
* Gate 1 Giveaways – Be sure to pick up 2023 Gators Gymnastics season poster, schedule magnet and 10.0 fan cards when you enter at O’Connell Center Gate 1.
* Student Tailgate – Domino’s pizza for first 200 students in line
* 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!
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
* ESPN2<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/34e519ac-8c6d-497c-bb55-798eb83e5f9f> – action called by Olympic medalists Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson-Clarke and Sam Peszek
* Live scores<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=438597>
Last Week:
Florida used its top season opening total (197.75) to start 2023 with a quad meet win in front of a sold-out Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Jan. 6.<https://floridagators.com/news/2023/1/6/gymnastics-no-2-florida-sets-season-opening-high-to-start-2023-with-quad-win.aspx> It was an event title sweep for the Gators. Freshman Kayla DiCello used the top all-around total by a Gator making her collegiate debut (39.475) for her first event win. Rachel Baumann won floor exercise in her Gator debut after competing the last four seasons for Georgia. Super Senior Trinity Thomas and sophomore Leanne Wong shared the uneven bars win (9.95). Thomas took the other wins with a 9.925 on vault and 10.0 on balance beam. She joins Bridget Sloan (2015 /vault) as Gators to open a season with a perfect score.
The No. 5 Tigers opened 2023 at the Super 16 Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev., taking third in the event’s final and marquee quad of the weekend.<https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/1/7/gymnastics-no-5-auburn-with-a-197-350-in-las-vegas-lee-scores-a-10-0-on-beam.aspx> AU’s 197.35 is nearly a point better than its previous season opening high (196.375 in 2009). Sophomore Sunisa Lee joined UF’s Thomas as the nation’s only gymnasts with 10.0 in the opening weekend of action, with both earning the perfect mark on balance beam. Friday’s meet features three of the top five all-arounders from the 2022 NCAA Championships – No. 1 Thomas, No. 2 Lee and No. 5 Wong.
Trio of SEC Weekly Honorees
Friday’s meet includes the trio who picked up the opening SEC weekly awards<https://www.secsports.com/article/35419642/gymnastics-athletes-week> – Sunisa Lee (Gymnast of Week), Trinity Thomas (Specialist) and Kayla DiCello (Freshman).
