The Gators tennis teams are both excited for the Southeastern Conference Tournament, they just don’t know who they will play yet.
For the past two weeks, the Gators have been playing with fire.
Amanda O’Leary stood on the field and looked around while goose bumps covered her body at the sound of the national anthem. She saw the stadium that would be at capacity less than four minutes after faceoff, she saw the faces of supporters, and she saw her dream come true.
Win big. Lose big.
On a day meant for celebration, Anthony DeSclafani had little to be happy about.
Florida took a big step toward improving its backcourt this weekend, and the Gators aren’t done recruiting yet.
“Can’t be touched. Can’t be stopped. Can’t be moved. Can’t be rocked. Can’t be shook.” These lyrics, from “Can’t Be Touched” by Body Head Bangerz, boxer Roy Jones Jr.’s rap group, echo over the speakers before every home UF baseball game, and the reason is far more than the need for a catchy rap song.
It was clear from the opening draw that Florida would have to fight for any opportunity it would get and capitalize on the chances it had if it was going to beat Vanderbilt on Sunday.
While it was another conference game on paper, Florida felt like it was in the NCAA Tournament.
The Tom Jones Memorial Classic was created to commemorate the former Florida track and field coach. The current Gators used the meet to make some memories of their own.
The Gators tennis teams finished the regular season on a high note with two wins over South Carolina on Saturday.
Judging off the first inning of each game, it would’ve been pretty easy to predict Saturday’s doubleheader as a pair of blowouts for UF.
The Gators used a familiar formula Saturday.
The field was soaked Friday night, but nobody made a bigger splash than Austin Maddox.
The Gators won twice as many games as they lost in the last month, but it has been painful.
Billy Donovan may not have been able to bring in top guard recruits Brandon Knight and Ray McCallum, but the Gators are still actively pursuing players to help fill out their backcourt.
Against a lineup like Florida’s, opposing pitchers never get so much as a second to breathe.
Florida beat its first conference opponent — then-No. 14 Penn State — at home two weeks ago, but when No. 8 Vanderbilt comes to Gainesville this weekend, UF will need its home-field advantage once again if it is to get another American Lacrosse Conference win.
Former UF track and field coach Percy Beard helped create and build one of the best men’s teams in the country. This Saturday’s meet on Percy Beard Track will commemorate one of the most important figures in the women’s team’s history.
Solutions by The State News
