sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jeff Driskel throws a pass during Florida’s 38-0 win against Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sept. 22, 2012. Driskel is the first-team starter at quarterback.

Sports

Back on the field: Driskel returns to Gators for spring game

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 10, 2014

Jeff Driskel lied writhing in pain at the 47-yard line.

Kytra Hunter performs a balance beam routine during Florida’s 198.125-197.625 win against LSU on Feb. 21 in the O’Connell Center. Hunter and the Gators begin competing at the NCAA Championships on April 18.

Sports

Hunter competed at regionals despite flu-like symptoms

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Apr. 10, 2014

Kytra Hunter battled more than nerves at the 2014 NCAA Regionals meet. The junior all-arounder competed through an illness she’d been fighting the week prior.

Aubree Munro catches during Florida’s 7-6 win against Auburn on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Catcher leading Gators into nonconference weekend

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 10, 2014

After five consecutive weekends of Southeastern Conference play, Florida will take a break from league action this weekend when it hosts Florida A&M and North Carolina State.

Kourtney Keegan returns a ball during Florida’s 4-0 win against Harvard on Jan. 26 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Freshman excelling late in the season

By IAN COHEN | Apr. 10, 2014

Only a handful of freshmen play well enough to be named Southeastern Conference Freshmen of the Week over the course of the season.

Sports

Lipman brothers to square off when Florida plays Vanderbilt

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Apr. 10, 2014

After a long season of highs and lows, the No. 15 Gators (12-7, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) are winding down and entering their penultimate match of the season against Vanderbilt (13-8, 4-6 SEC) today at 5 p.m.

Chris Walker attempts a layup during Florida’s 72-49 win against Missouri on March 14 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Sports

Walker announces decision to stay for second season at Florida

By LANDON WATNICK< | Apr. 9, 2014

Minutes after Florida’s Elite Eight victory over Dayton on March 29, Chris Walker heard Gators fans chant “One more year! One more year!” as he climbed the ladder to cut down the nets.

Vernon Hargreaves III intercepts a pass in the end zone during Florida’s 24-7 victory on Sept. 28, 2013, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky.

Sports

Hargreaves stepping up as he enters second season at UF

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Apr. 9, 2014

It’s not easy to get better when you’re already one of the most talented cornerbacks in the nation.

Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Power hitting gives Gators the edge over Seminoles on the road

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 9, 2014

No. 6 Florida held a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh inning against No. 8 Florida State in Tallahassee on Wednesday.

Casey Turgeon swings during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Gators trounce No. 1 Seminoles to sweep season series

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 8, 2014

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State students arrived two hours before the game to get a ticket. They sat throughout Dick Howser Stadium and filled the right-field bleachers to capacity.

Max Garcia (76) runs at an opposing player during Florida’s 30-10 victory against Arkansas on Oct. 5, 2013, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Garcia moved from guard to center during spring practice.

Sports

Florida linemen struggling on both sides of scrimmage

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 8, 2014

Coach Will Muschamp preaches strength to all of his linemen, but with less than a week left in spring practice, there are weaknesses on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Kathlyn Medina shows bunt during Florida’s 7-6 win against Auburn on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Medina rejoined the lineup against Auburn after sitting out 15 games.

Sports

Junior shortstop takes advantage of first starts in 15 games

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 8, 2014

Kathlyn Medina wasn’t in the starting lineup when UF dropped its first contest to FSU on April 2.

Sports

Sprinter corps anchors Gators' deep roster

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Apr. 8, 2014

The year was 2009. Coach Mike Holloway and his current assistant Erin Tucker were scouting four sprinters who would make Florida a threat for years to come.

J.D. Tomlinson tees off on Day 2 of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 16 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Sports

Gators finish Mississippi tournament with best place since fall

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | Apr. 8, 2014

After a 13th-place finish at the Chris Schenkel Invitational on March 14-16, coach Buddy Alexander expressed his disappointment in Florida’s lack of improvement.

Mary-Sean Wilcox defends a shotduring UF’s win against Cincinnati on Feb. 23 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Sports

Sophomore goalkeeper stepping up in net for Gators

By EDEN OTERO | Apr. 7, 2014

In her third straight start, Mary-Sean Wilcox showed just how valuable she is in net.

Will Yeguete jumps on teammate Patric Young's back in celebration following Florida's 62-52 win against Dayton on Saturday in FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

Sports

Gators still worth cherishing despite Final Four loss

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Apr. 7, 2014

ARLINGTON, Texas — Trust me Gators fans, I know this sucks.

Sports

Florida tied for third after second round is rained out at tourney

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | Apr. 7, 2014

A little bit of rain couldn’t stop Florida from getting off to a promising start in its final regular-season tournament.

Bridget Sloan performs a beam routine during Florida’s 197.525-196.025 win against Arkansas on Feb. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Weekend off helping UF prior to title meets

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Apr. 7, 2014

The Gators are gearing up for the meet they’ve been waiting for all season: the 2014 NCAA Championship. With less than two weeks until Florida has to defend the title it claimed for the first time in 2013, coach Rhonda Faehn is looking for some key improvements.

Aubree Munro swings during Florida’s 7-6 win against Auburn on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Munro hit two doubles in Florida’s first game against Auburn on Friday.

Sports

Bats come alive in Florida’s three-game sweep over Auburn

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 7, 2014

fter dropping four straight contests, Florida was looking for a spark heading into its three-game series against Auburn.

Senior Alaina Johnson performs on the uneven bars during UF’s 198.125-197.625 win against LSU on Feb. 21.

Sports

UF makes nationals despite falls

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Apr. 6, 2014

Florida may have fallen — but not too far.

Sports

Rogers shuts out Auburn

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 6, 2014

After winning its first two games against Auburn on Friday and Saturday, Florida knew it needed a strong outing to clinch its first series sweep of the season on Sunday.