The No. 5 Gators had their work cut out for them from the start of the Sea Best Invitational. With record-low temperatures in Atlantic Beach, Florida, on Monday morning, the tournament began at noon instead of its normal 8 to 9 a.m. window.
Florida swim and dive concluded regular season action with a sweep against an in-state rival.
On a cold Friday night, the Gators got hot but were eventually extinguished by a tough Florida State squad. A majority of the Florida players committed numerous unforced errors that proved costly due to FSU’s relentless pressure.
No. 5 Florida men’s golf is coming into spring play hot. The Gators finished first in their two most recent tournaments as they look to repeat as SEC Champions.
Of all the best tennis players around the world, only 128 are chosen to compete in one of the most renowned tournaments in the sport. Former Gator Ben Shelton had the honor of being selected as one of the players to compete for a chance to hoist the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
In 2025, Mike Holloway said Florida track and field “lost our pride.” Through the first two meets of 2026, a large and talented class of newcomers is helping to restore it.
The Gators had opened their 2026 season without defeat, overtaking Charleston Southern and Ole Miss. However, that streak and their hopes of punching their ticket to the championship fell short against the only other ranked opponent at the ITA Kickoff Weekend, No. 11 North Carolina State.
For much of the Sea Best Intercollegiate tournament, the Gators were in control. Sitting at the front of the pack, it looked like No. 8 Florida would cruise to its second-straight title at the event. However, Duke made a late push.
Despite a severe weather warning in North Carolina, the No. 23 Florida women’s tennis team stayed hot on the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center court. Florida stunned Ole Miss to clinch a 4-2 victory.
With all three of the other teams ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association top 25, Florida (3-0) was the odd one out. Yet, they showed out.
No. 8 Florida women’s golf is coming into spring play on a high note. It finished first in its two most recent tournaments, second in the Inverness Intercollegiate and third in the season-opening Cougar Classic. In their most recent tournament, The Ally, the Gators ended with a season-best combined score of 838.
Gators men’s tennis began its home opener with dominance and revenge on its mind. With flashbacks of their second-round exit in last year's DI Men’s Tennis Championship against No. 15 UCF fueling their play, Florida delivered a 4-3 dual match victory.
Florida women’s tennis showed up and showed out, opening the 2026 season with a win over Charleston Southern University.
Florida track and field locked up 13 event wins in its indoor season opener in Gainesville. The Gators dominated distance races and field events, led by Claire Stegall’s historic kilometer.
No. 5/8 Gators swim & dive remained undefeated in SEC dual-meet play after shutting the door on No. 15/13 Auburn.
Solutions by The State News
