It’s a cold world out there, Gator fans.
I know that’s how you feel.
And just as the temperatures here in Gainesville continue to provide a chill in the air, it could seem as if Florida athletics have become ice cold, frozen from the ability to find success. Well, that’d be wrong.
Sure, the football team had (another) unsatisfying season and the men’s basketball team was unable to find any form of consistency during its non-conference slate.
But instead of solely focusing on the cold front that is swirling around those two programs and considering this a down year in UF athletics, look at all the teams that are riding a hot hand.
The volleyball team went undefeated in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 2010 and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.
The soccer team also reached the Elite Eight this season, marking its deepest run in the NCAA Tournament since the 2003 season.
In fact, the Gators have more teams getting ready to kick off their seasons than I can count on one hand that have the potential to break through for a national championship this season.
The two-time defending national champion Florida gymnastics team is working to become just the third team to complete a three-peat, and Rhonda Faehn’s squad is full of talent.
The Gators return senior Kytra Hunter and junior Bridget Sloan, and a tandem that combined for eight perfect scores last season.
The softball team routed the Women’s College World Series in 2014, going 5-0 in the tournament to win its first national title.
While Florida loses WCWS Most Outstanding Player Hannah Rogers — a righty who will go down in history as one of the best female athletes to ever step foot on UF’s campus — UF returns the bulk of its roster.
Included in that group is junior Kelsey Stewart, owner of a half-dozen UF batting records; senior Lauren Haeger, who is 14 home runs away from breaking a Florida record that was set by Megan Bush, who hit 65 from 2008-2011; and sophomore Delanie Gourley, Florida’s first southpaw in Tim Walton’s tenure who will provide a valuable one-two punch in the circle with Haeger.
The lacrosse team was a double-overtime game against Northwestern away from advancing to its second Final Four in its young career. And with Tewaaraton finalist Shannon Gilroy, senior Nora Barry and sophomore Sammi Burgess returning, the Gators look poised to go on another deep postseason run.
Add in baseball, women’s tennis and both track and field teams, the Gators have a deep group of teams that can all easily vie for the top spot in their respective sports.
So stay warm out there, Gator fans, and get ready to start seeing some teams get hot.
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Kytra Hunter performs a balance beam routine during Florida’s 198.125-197.625 over LSU on Feb. 21. Hunter won the balance-beam title at the Southeastern Conference Championships, but the Gators finished in second — behind the Crimson Tide.
