1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

A goodbye: Catch you all later, Alligators

Apr. 21, 2019

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

A view of St. Sebastian's Church damaged in blast in Negombo, north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2019. More than hundred were killed and hundreds more hospitalized with injuries from eight blasts that rocked churches and hotels in and just outside of Sri Lanka's capital on Easter Sunday, officials said, the worst violence to hit the South Asian country since its civil war ended a decade ago. (AP Photo/Chamila Karunarathne)

NEWS | NATIONAL

Easter Sunday bomb blasts kill more than 200 in Sri Lanka

By Associated Press | Apr. 21, 2019

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — More than 200 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in eight bomb blasts that rocked churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday — the deadliest violence the South Asian island country has seen since a bloody civil war ended a decade ago.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Garth rocks the Swamp despite early hiccups

By Tranelle Maner | Apr. 21, 2019

This was the first performance at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 25 years.

UF left fielder Austin Langworthy went 5 for 12 against Alabama, then had three hits against Florida A&M on Tuesday at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida loses series as Leftwich struggles in return

By Evan Lepak | Apr. 20, 2019

Florida sophomore Jack Leftwich took the mound for the first time since March 31.

Florida sprinter/jumper/hurdler Grant Holloway clocked a time of 6.51 seconds in the 60 meters at the Razorback Invitational, which is good for the world lead. Holloway also holds the national lead in the 60-meter hurdles and the No. 2 marks in the long jump and 200 meters.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

UF men’s 4x100 team narrows gap with LSU

By Graham Marsh | Apr. 20, 2019

Fourteen milliseconds was the difference. When senior Ryan Clark carried the baton across the line, it was not good enough to alter the nation’s leaderboard, but it was good enough to win on Saturday.

Alina Mitchell, 62, sorts through the debris in her kitchen after a tree crashed through the roof on Friday morning.

METRO

Alachua family’s home destroyed by Friday storm

By Karina Elwood | Apr. 20, 2019

GoFundMe campaign started to find new home

Junior Alfredo Perez advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Individual Men's Tennis Championships.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida stunned by Tennessee in SEC Tournament Semifinals

By Noah Ram | Apr. 20, 2019

It was 40-40 in the third set. Sam Riffice was tied 4-4 with his opponent, Adam Walton, and was serving to go ahead 5-4. Instead, he double-faulted.

Amanda Lorenz was picked by the USSSA Pride Monday with the second overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch College Draft.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators swept at home for first time since 2011

By Mark Stine | Apr. 20, 2019

The moods in the home and visiting dugouts were polar opposites.

Florida midfielder Shannon Kavanagh (left) is second on the Gators with 24 draw controls this season and is the main option for the draw circle. “The draw circle is where the game is won and lost, for the most part,” coach Amanda O’Leary said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Kavanagh scores five as Gators earn seventh-straight win

By Bryan Matamoros | Apr. 20, 2019

The Florida women’s lacrosse team relied on sophomore midfielder Shannon Kavanagh’s versatility against Connecticut.

Blake Reese finished with one hit and a run in three at-bats in the Gators 5-2 win over Long Beach State.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

LSU bullies Florida to even the series

By Evan Lepak | Apr. 20, 2019

Just one day removed from an offensive performance that awarded the Gators their first SEC road victory of the season, the UF baseball team regressed its losing formula: no offensive production and a lackluster performance from the pitching staff.

UF senior Alicia Boren earned a share of the NCAA Gymnastics Championships' floor exercise title Friday with a score of 9.95.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Boren shares floor title at NCAA Championships

By River Wells | Apr. 19, 2019

Surrounded by the crowd and with the last remaining bastion of UF gymnasts cheering her on, senior Alicia Boren took to the floor mat one last time.

UF senior Kelly Barnhill pitched her second complete game of the weekend against Arkansas on Sunday. She allowed only two hits and one earned run to go along with eight strikeouts.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Alabama clinches series over UF in Friday night doubleheader

By Mark Stine | Apr. 19, 2019

Kendyl Lindaman faced a 3-2 count against Alabama pitcher Sarah Cornell with two outs in the fifth during the second game of Friday night’s doubleheader.

Victoria Emma is one of three UF women's tennis singles players ranked in the ITA's top 125. She is ranked No. 124.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida comeback falls short in SEC Tournament

By Victor Prieto | Apr. 19, 2019

The Florida women’s tennis team’s season has been defined by 4-3 thrillers.

Junior Marta Perez finished Day 1 of the SEC Tournament in a tie for second place at three-under par.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida remains atop leaderboard in SEC Championships despite tough day

By Victor Prieto | Apr. 19, 2019

Florida remains atop the leaderboard after Day 3 of the SEC Women’s Championship, despite not one team shooting under par in a difficult day at the Greystone Golf & Country Club.

Oliver Crawford got a 6-4, 6-1 win over Mazen Osama in the Gators win over the Crimson Tide Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida moves on to SEC Tournament semifinals

By Noah Ram | Apr. 19, 2019

The conditions were not ideal for the Gators men’s tennis team in its 4-1 win over No. 21 Alabama.

Sophomore John Axelsen led the Gators with a score of 4 over, tying him for 14th place on the first day of the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators in fourth after opening round of Robert Kepler Intercollegiate

By Bryan Matamoros | Apr. 19, 2019

The Florida men’s golf team was not the only one that struggled in the first day of the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate.

Garth Brooks performs "Stronger Than Me" at the 52nd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

NEWS | CAMPUS

Garth Brooks press conference canceled, concert still happening

By Tranelle Maner | Apr. 19, 2019

Garth Brooks is still coming to UF but a severe thunderstorm delayed his visit.

The Shell sign is scattered across the ground Friday after strong winds blew it down during a storm at the Shell gas station, 3330 SW Archer Road. Daphne Roberson, an employee at the station, said she saw the sign go down around 11 a.m. “It just all of a sudden happened,” she said. “I looked up and it was flying across the air.”

METRO

North Florida thunderstorm affects thousands in Alachua County

By Karina Elwood | Apr. 19, 2019

Some flights were canceled or delayed

UF women's golfers Sierra Brooks (pictured) and Marta Perez were excused for the Liz Murphy Collegiate Classic after they competed in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amatuer last weekend.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Brooks, Perez show out to give Florida 36-hole lead

By Victor Prieto | Apr. 19, 2019

Juniors Marta Perez and Sierra Brooks headlined a massive day on the links for the Florida women’s golf team in Round 2 of the SEC Women’s Championships.

Marlee Zein won SEC Freshman of the Week after earning two wins. Her 11 victories are second-highest on the team.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Zein clinches second-round SEC Tourney win over Ole Miss

By Victor Prieto | Apr. 19, 2019

Marlee Zein entered College Station, Texas, excited to compete in her first SEC Tournament. The freshman out of Sugar Land, Texas, was coming off a two-win week, and won SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.

El Caimán