Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior guard Bennett Andersen smiles on the court in the Gators’ 96-57 win against the Grambling State Tigers on Dec. 22, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Team manager turned walk-on: Bennett Andersen’s UF journey

By Max Tucker | Jan. 29, 2024

Bennett Andersen always wanted to attend UF for its academics. However, his love and passion for basketball made him want to have a role with the men’s program. After spending his first three seasons as a team manager, he found himself with an opportunity to join the roster as a walk-on in his final year in Gainesville.

Gators women's tennis sophomore Rachel Gailis goes for a forehand shot in the women's tennis team's match against Baylor on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis secures spot at the NCAA Indoor National Championship with ITA Kickoff Weekend Victory.

By Max Bernstein | Jan. 28, 2024

Gators women’s tennis pulled out a victory in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship to clinch its place at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Seattle.

Jeremy Jin hits a backhand shot in the Gators men's tennis team's match against the Citadel on Friday, January 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Men’s tennis goes winless at ITA Kickoff Weekend

By Chandler Hawkes | Jan. 28, 2024

The No. 20 Gators traveled to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for the ITA Kickoff Weekend, where they fell to No. 17 Wake Forest and No. 16 North Carolina.

Senior guard Leilani Correa looks for a pass from senior forward Faith Dut in the Gators' 89-66 loss against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women's basketball survives last-second scare from Aggies for second SEC win

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 28, 2024

The short-handed Florida Gators women’s basketball team picked up its second SEC win of the season in a 63-51 win over the Texas A&M Aggies.

Senior Victoria Nguyen performs her vault routine in the Gators gymnastics'
Hype Night on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

No. 8 Florida loses undefeated streak after loss to No. 6 Alabama

By Krisha Sanghavi | Jan. 28, 2024

Senior Ellie Lazzari felt the pressure as she stepped on the mat for the uneven bars. A hard fall in the landing of her vault routine forced numerous deductions to tally a 9.150 for her in the apparatus.

Redshirt junior Caden Monk competes in day one of the Pepsi Florida Relays, March 31.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators decorate Razorback Invitational with personal records

By Emma DiNicola and Krisha Sanghavi | Jan. 27, 2024

The Florida Gators competed in the two-day Razorback Invitational from Friday to Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Gators sent 54 athletes to compete in the meet.

Gators men's basketball center Micah Handlogten flexes after a basket in Florida's 102-98 victory over Georgia Saturday, January 27, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida holds on to take down Georgia after second-half scare

By Max Tucker | Jan. 27, 2024

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team escaped by the Georgia Bulldogs 102-98 in overtime at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Saturday.

Senior Skip Donald performs in the men’s platform event in the men's and women's diving team meet Friday, January 27, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida diving triumphs over Florida State in home meet

By Shaine Davison | Jan. 27, 2024

The Florida men’s and women’s diving team hosted Florida State in the O’Connell Center Natatorium Friday and Saturday as a small but energetic crowd watched. The events kicked off after Florida honored their four seniors Skip Donald, Carina Lumia, Caroline Pagac and Anton Svirskyi.

Florida swimmer Elise Bauer swims in the Gators' win against Florida Atlantic Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida men’s and women’s swim defeat rival Florida State

By Shaine Davison | Jan. 26, 2024

Florida swim headed to Ocala, Friday to face-off against Florida State. Prior to the meet, Florida’s 1983 and 1984 NCAA National Championship Teams were honored in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Gators winning their first swimming and diving national championships. This meet also marked the Florida men’s and women’s 85th and 51st meet against Florida State.

Mike White leads a team huddle Feb. 19. His Gators face the Texas A&M Aggies Thursday in the SEC Tournament.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Mike White to return to Gainesville as Florida is set to host Georgia

By Bennett Solomon | Jan. 26, 2024

Mike White is set to return to the Stephen C. O'Connell Center for the second time Saturday as Florida hosts Georgia at noon.

Senior guard Leilani Correa shoots a free throw against the Florida A&M Rattlers Monday, Nov. 7, 2022.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball SEC struggles continue, falls to Ole Miss

By Bennett Solomon | Jan. 25, 2024

The Gators women’s basketball team suffered its fifth SEC loss to the Ole Miss Rebels 81-70, Thursday.

Florida men's basketball guard Will Richard rises up to shoot the ball in the team's win over Mississippi State on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball defeats Mississippi State 79-70 for third victory in SEC play

By Max Tucker | Jan. 24, 2024

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team improved its home record to 8-1 as they defeated Mississippi State 79-70, Wednesday.

Florida Gators men's golf junior Quentin Debove holds his club Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at Isleworth Country Club in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Anna Carrington

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf starts spring season with win at the Pablo Creek Collegiate Cup

By Hannah Getman | Jan. 23, 2024

The Florida men’s golf secured its first win of the spring season against Jacksonville at the Pablo Creek Collegiate Cup, Monday.

Leilani Correa drives to the hoop in Florida's loss to Mississippi State on Monday, January 22, 2024. Correa recorded a season-high 33 points.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators crumble in fourth quarter en route to 89-77 loss to Mississippi State

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 22, 2024

The Florida Gators women’s basketball team fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs 89-77, Monday night. The team is now 1-4 in SEC play.

Jeremy Jin (left) and Aidan Kim (right) deliver a 6-1 rout in a doubles match against Citadel, Jan. 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Freshmen Jeremy Jin and Aidan Kim make early impact for Gators men’s tennis

By Chandler Hawkes | Jan. 22, 2024

Gators men's tennis freshman duo of Jeremy Jin and Aidan Kim are making an impact through the early part of the season.

Sophomore Tanapatt Nirundorn (left) and freshman Adhithya Ganesan (right) celebrate after a point in the Gators men's tennis team's match against North Florida on Friday, January 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis goes 3-0 over weekend following win over SMU

By Chandler Hawkes | Jan. 21, 2024

The Gators men's tennis team defeated SMU, Sunday afternoon. The win clinched the team's third of the weekend.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel rises up to dunk the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Second half surge lifts Gators past Tigers 79-67 in road SEC matchup

By Max Tucker | Jan. 20, 2024

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (12-6, 2-3 SEC) defeated the Missouri Tigers (8-10, 0-5 SEC) 79-67 at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri, Saturday night.

Florida freshman Qavia Lopez celebrates securing a point in the Gators women's tennis season opener against Baylor on Jan. 20, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis dominates in season opener

By Max Bernstein | Jan. 20, 2024

The No. 9 Gators women’s tennis team (1-0) headed into their opening match against Baylor University (0-1) Saturday afternoon with lofty expectations for the season ahead. But from the moment the racquet touched the ball in the day's first doubles matches, the Gators were firing on all cylinders to result in a 6-1 Florida victory.

Sophomore Tanapatt Nirundorn (right) and freshman Adhithya Ganesan (left) sealed a doubles point in the Gators men's tennis team's tiebreaker against UNF on Jan. 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis cruises in Friday doubleheader

By Chandler Hawkes | Jan. 19, 2024

The Gators men's tennis team opened their spring season at home with wins over The Citadel and North Florida.

Junior Leanne Wong performs her floor routine in the Gators gymnastics' Hype Night' on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics dominates No. 12 Auburn in first SEC meet

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Jan. 19, 2024

UF junior Leanne Wong kept the Gators afloat as they struggled in parts of their meet against Auburn. Wong clinched the leaderboard spot on both the uneven parallel bars and the floor exercise. On the bars, she earned the highest score of a 9.950 just ahead of two other Florida gymnasts.