sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Caeleb Dressel struggled at the Philipps 66 on Wednesday.

Sports

Dressel the most dominant athlete in Florida history

By Benjamin Brandt | Mar. 28, 2018

My 14-year-old sister is really good at rolling her eyes.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio tossed her second career no-hitter Wednesday night against FIU.

Sports

Ocasio throws no-hitter, Florida shut out for first time in 2018 as Gators split doubleheader with FIU

By Mark Stine | Mar. 28, 2018

With one swing of the bat, Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium fell into a stunned silence.

Coach Mike Holloway sent two Gators track athletes to compete Wednesday afternoon in Texas.

Sports

Amanda Froeynes and Nikki Stephens compete at Texas Relays

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 28, 2018

The majority of Florida’s track and field athletes are in Gainesville this week preparing for the Pepsi Florida Relays at the Percy Beard Track.

Kelly Barnhill leads the nation in hits allowed per seven innings pitched.

Sports

Florida softball to play in Florida International doubleheader tonight

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 28, 2018

If you were looking for All-American pitcher Kelly Barnhill on the day of a Florida softball game, the obvious place to search for her would be Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

UF sprinter Kunle Fasasi has followed his dream from his hometown in Nigeria to Gainesville.

Sports

GETTING ON TRACK: Sprinter Kunle Fasasi thriving at UF

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 27, 2018

The beat of Lil Wayne’s “6 Foot 7 Foot” fades to silence as Kunle Fasasi wraps his earbuds around his iPhone. He places them inside his orange and blue backpack, whispers a quick prayer and jogs over to Lane 6 inside Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.

Marcell Harris celebrates during Florida's 38-28 loss against Tennessee on Sept. 24, 2016, at Neyland Stadium.

Sports

Former UF players hoping to impress NFL teams at pro day

By Andrew Huang | Mar. 27, 2018

Eighteen former Florida football players will have the chance to impress NFL scouts this morning at UF’s annual pro day.

The NFL Rules Committee recently passed a couple of new policies to be instituted during the upcoming season.

Sports

NFL takes a step in the right direction on Tuesday regarding player safety

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 27, 2018

It’s about time.

Right fielder Wil Dalton drove in the winning runs in Florida's 3-1 victory over Missouri on Friday.

Sports

Gators squeak by ‘Noles in second matchup of season

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 27, 2018

Right fielder Wil Dalton took a modest lead off of second base in the bottom of the fourth inning. After smacking a ball down the left-field line and into the corner, the precious scoring opportunity could’ve been the only one Florida would have for the rest of the game, for all he knew.

Florida coach Bryan Shelton said freshman Oliver Crawford is fitting in quickly with his new team. “He’s as comfortable with the coaches as he is with his teammates and friends," Shelton said.

Sports

Crawford’s bond with coaches leading to success in SEC play

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 27, 2018

Oliver Crawford walked out of coach Bryan Shelton’s office after the Florida men’s tennis team’s victory over Arkansas on Sunday.

Florida catcher JJ Schwarz was 2-for-17 from the plate in the past week.

Sports

Florida baseball team’s over- and underachievers: Week of March 19 to March 25

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 27, 2018

After winning a three-game series over then-No. 4 Arkansas this past weekend in Gainesville, the No. 2 Gators (21-5, 4-2 SEC) are preparing to face No. 7 Florida State on Tuesday night at 6 in Jacksonville.

Coach Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies have won six of the last nine NCAA Women's Basketball Championships.

Sports

Y’all, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is about to be awesome

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 26, 2018

Three wins by a combined four points. Winning every game as the underdog. Sister freaking Jean.

Designated player Jordan Matthews drove in three runs in Florida's 7-3 win over Texas A&M on Monday.

Sports

Gators complete sweep of No. 8 Texas A&M

By Mark Stine | Mar. 26, 2018

“Now here’s a little something that needs to be heard.”

Florida's gymnastics team is heading to Pennsylvania for the regional round of the NCAA Championships.

Sports

Gators to travel to Pennsylvania for NCAA Regional Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 26, 2018

After finishing in third place at the SEC Championships on Saturday, the No. 5 Gators gymnastics team is hoping to redeem itself at the NCAA Regional Championships on April 7. The field for the event was announced on Monday afternoon by the NCAA.

Gary Smith has covered topics from Muhammad Ali to segregation in football.

Sports

Sports reporting has become shallow

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 26, 2018

I’m pretty sure I’ve written some variation of this column every semester for as long as I’ve been writing columns at the Alligator, but it’s a topic that really touched me this weekend.

Florida senior Alex McMurtry stumbled and fell during her floor routine at the SEC Championships. The Gators eventually finished third in the meet behind LSU and Alabama.

Sports

UF falls short on floor, finishes third at SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 26, 2018

Alex McMurtry didn’t show any signs of anxiety as she took a quick breather and rolled her shoulders back for the final pass of her floor routine.

Florida senior Caeleb Dressel finished his career with a bang at the NCAA Championships, breaking American, NCAA and UF records in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.

Sports

Dressel shatters records, steals show at NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 26, 2018

For the fourth consecutive year, the Texas men’s swimming and diving team finished first at the NCAA Championships.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio struck out 10 Missouri batters in a complete game shutout of the Tigers at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Sports

Florida’s softball team blanks TAMU, clinches weekend series

By Mark Stine | Mar. 25, 2018

In the home half of the third inning on Sunday night, UF third baseman Nicole DeWitt stood on second base with an ear-to-ear grin.

Duarte Vale and McClain Kessler helped set the pace with a doubles win in Florida's 6-1 victory over Arkansas on Sunday at the Ring Tennis Complex. “I think those two really complemented themselves nicely today,” coach Bryan Shelton said.

Sports

Florida’s men’s tennis team wins fourth consecutive match in victory over Arkansas

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 25, 2018

Duarte Vale and McClain Kessler opened doubles play with something they were missing in their loss to Ole Miss on Friday: intensity.

Despite allowing a run on three hits, UF relieving pitcher Michael Byrne recorded his first win of the season in Florida's 5-4 win against Arkansas on Sunday. “Michael Byrne is just special,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He’s just got a different temperament.”

Sports

Florida’s unsung ace leads UF baseball to series win over No. 4 Arkansas

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 25, 2018

William Shakespeare once compared his beloved to a summer’s day. Michael Byrne’s 2018 season could be compared to something more like a sturdy dam.

Caeleb Dressel set an American, NCAA and UF record, swimming a 39.90 in the 100 free at the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.

Sports

Dressel breaks records once again, Gators finish fifth at NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 24, 2018

As Florida swimmer Caeleb Dressel emerged from the water after completing the 100 free at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, he pumped his fists and splashed water all around him.