sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan successfully dialed-up a gimmick steal play in the Gators' win over the USA 18-U team.

Sports

Gators may be worse off than you think

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 7, 2019

Florida’s baseball team enters the 2019 campaign with high expectations, as it should.

Guard Delicia Washington registered her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Gators' win over FAMU.

Sports

Washington’s game-winning shot lifts Florida over Alabama

By Sam Campisano | Feb. 7, 2019

Florida guard Delicia Washington had been there before.

Florida goalkeeper Haley Hicklen earned Big East Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for her efforts against Villanova and Temple. It was the second time this season she has been awarded the title.

Sports

Gators lacrosse motivated by last year’s NCAA quarterfinal exit

By Bryan Matamoros | Feb. 7, 2019

Athletes know the feeling all too well.

The graduation of Kayli Kvistad left an open spot at first base for the Florida softball team. Coach Tim Walton will likely either start one of his freshmen or sophomore Jordan Matthews there this season.

Sports

Two questions UF will answer this weekend

By Mark Stine | Feb. 7, 2019

The UF softball team heads down to Tampa this weekend to play its first five games while the finishing touches are put on the newly renovated Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sophomore gymnast Alyssa Baumann earned SEC Specialist of the Week for her performance against Oklahoma on Friday.

Sports

Florida to host Auburn in “Link to Pink” Meet

By River Wells | Feb. 7, 2019

There are only two SEC gymnastics teams unbeaten in conference play. Come tonight, there will only be one.

Sports

Gators lock down three four-star recruits on NSD

By Mark Stine | Feb. 6, 2019

Gordon Neale finished the Sea Best Invitational tied for second.

Sports

Florida men falter in final round, women descend on leaderboard

By Victor Prieto | Feb. 5, 2019

The Gators men’s golf team entered Tuesday leading the field in Jacksonville at the Sea Best Invitational. It finished the day in third place, shooting 9-over par in the final round and stumbling to finish 8-over for the tournament.

Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, home of the UF softball team, will finish construction ahead of an exhibition game against Japan on Tuesday.

Sports

Three observations ahead of the beginning of UF’s season

By Brendan Farrell | Feb. 5, 2019

The month of February ushers in a new season of Florida softball, and there’s a lot about coach Tim Walton’s program that’s new.

Senior gymnast Alicia Boren has competed in three "Link to Pink" meets during her time at UF. "Take a chance and enjoy competing for someone else...take a second to go speak to them and thank them," she said.

Sports

What the “Link to Pink” meet means to Florida

By River Wells | Feb. 5, 2019

The Gators’ gymnastics team may be competing in a regular season meet against Auburn on Friday, but there’s nothing regular about it.

Redshirt senior thrower AJ McFarland set a personal indoor record for this second time this season at the Virginia Tech Elite Invitational. McFarland's 22.58-meter throw was also his sixth time breaking the school record.

Sports

McFarland makes UF history for sixth time

By Graham Marsh | Feb. 5, 2019

The record books for UF throwing events seemingly change every time the page is refreshed.

Junior Sierra Brooks (17-under) took home the individual title during a shortened opening weekend at the Cougar Classic in Hanahan, South Carolina. Florida won the tournament by three strokes.

Sports

Gators women’s golf team struggles through first round of spring season

By Victor Prieto | Feb. 4, 2019

The No. 3 Gators women’s golf team labored through a two-hour weather delay in Palos Verdes, California, where its 2019 spring season began at the Northrop Gumman Regional Challenge.

Bryan Shelton was modest after earning his 100th career win as Florida's coach. “I don't hit a single ball in these matches so the players are the ones that should get the credit,” he said.

Sports

Gators overcome rain delay, defeat Florida State

By Noah Ram | Feb. 3, 2019

Not even the weather could prevent the Florida Gators from beating their in-state rivals.

Amanda Lorenz scorched another home run on Thursday against Alabama.

Sports

UF softball is reloaded and highly dangerous

By Mark Stine | Feb. 3, 2019

Four seniors left the Florida softball program at the end of last season, each one of them critical to a Women’s College World Series appearance.

Senior Lindsey Ronbeck was named the American Athletic Conference’s Preseason Attacker of the Year. She’s fourth on UF’s career goals list with 159.

Sports

Gators embrace change of conference heading into 2019

By Bryan Matamoros | Feb. 3, 2019

Players leaving, coaching changes and evolving tactics all affect the preparation of a team and how it performs from season to season.

Florida gymnast Alyssa Baumann equaled two collegiate-best scores on Friday against Oklahoma. Her 9.975 on the beam and her 9.950 on floor were tied for the best scores of her career.

Sports

Florida shows why it’s a top team despite loss

By River Wells | Feb. 3, 2019

It counts as a loss in the books. The Gators walked into the Lloyd Noble Center and walked out with their first defeat.

Guard Danielle Rainey paced the Gators offensively against the Wildcats. She had 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Gators’ 62-51 loss at Rupp Arena.

Sports

Florida comes up short in Kentucky upset bid

By Sam Campisano | Feb. 3, 2019

Fans of the Florida women’s basketball team could dream for the first three quarters on Sunday.

UF gymnast Trinity Thomas earned her second-straight SEC Freshman of the Week honors following her performance at LSU. She recorded an all-around score of 39.650, including  a 9.950 on her floor routine.

Sports

Oklahoma defeats UF, hands Gators first loss

By River Wells | Feb. 1, 2019

Senior Alicia Boren was ready for her beam routine. The Gators were neck and neck with the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners heading into the last rotation.

Florida sophomore Taylor Ault notched two second-place finishes in both the 500 free (4:48.38) and the 1,650 free (16:29.57) in her last meet.

Sports

Gators set to compete on Senior Day

By Evan Lepak | Jan. 31, 2019

The Florida Gators swimming and diving teams will be in the O'Connell Center Natatorium this weekend, looking to send 12 seniors out the right way by winning their final home meet of the season.

Junior Grant Holloway started the season with a national No. 2 long-jump ranking at 8.02 meters, a national first place 60 meter hurdle time of 7.49 seconds and a national fourth-place 200 meter dash ranking with a time of 20.69 seconds.

Sports

UF to compete at Virginia Tech Elite

By Graham Marsh | Jan. 31, 2019

The field eventers will bring their sprinters with them this time around when they head to Blacksburg, Virginia, for the second time in two weeks.

UF men’s tennis player Johannes Ingildsen won his match against UCF’s Trey Hilderbrand 6-4, 7-5 on Friday night.

Sports

Riffice leads Gators in rout of Knights

By Brendan Farrell | Jan. 31, 2019

The doubles tandem of freshman Sam Riffice and sophomore Oliver Crawford walked into the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida, fresh off a couple of wins at the ITA Kickoff event where it dropped just one point.