Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Junior Alicia Boren and the Florida gymnastics team are in St. Louis to compete in the NCAA Championships tonight at 7. Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, California and Kentucky are the other teams competing in UF's group.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics gets second SEC win against Auburn

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 2, 2018

Florida's men's and women's swimming and divings teams are competing at the Auburn Invitational from Friday to Sunday

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swimmers set to compete at Auburn Invitational

By Jacob McManamon | Feb. 2, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are in Alabama for their final invitational of the regular season today, the Auburn Invitational.

The Gators have lacked consistency this year. In its previous two games, Florida has been on either end of a blowout.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Worried about the Gators' recent losses? I'm not. They'll be all right.

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 1, 2018

The Florida fan base is confused right now. And rightfully so.

The Florida gymnastics team was rattled after learning that former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused over 265 of his patients.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida’s gymnasts come together over Larry Nassar scandal

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 1, 2018

When a person thinks of the word “doctor,” certain synonyms might come to mind: safety, comfort, healing. From now on, when people think of the name Larry Nassar — a man once admired and renowned by gymnasts around the world — the only image that will appear is one of pain and distrust.

Mike White wants to see his team step up its physicality against Alabama on Saturday. "Maybe we can get a guy or two to... (get) us some hard rebounds," he said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball team hoping to bounce back against Crimson Tide

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 1, 2018

Mike White walked into the media room of Stegeman Coliseum on Tuesday not sure how to answer questions about his team’s shooting woes at the end of a 72-60 loss to Georgia.

Sophomore Johannes Ingildsen is ready to face Florida State again after last season’s 4-2 loss. “Everyone is fired up to get revenge,” he said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis team faces Seminoles on Saturday in rematch of last year’s upset loss

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 1, 2018

Tied at 5-5 in a decisive third set, Johannes Ingildsen had a chance to keep the Gators alive.

"Everybody believed. Everybody trusted," coach Mike Holloway said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track and field teams send throwers to Louisiana for Bayou Bengal Invitational

By Alanis Thames | Feb. 1, 2018

After impressive performances from Florida’s men’s and women’s track and field teams last week at the Razorback Invitational, the Gators’ throwers are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to compete in the Bayou Bengal Invitational today.

Senior Josie Kuhlman called Florida State “a big in-state rival” ahead of Florida’s match with the Seminoles on Saturday in Orlando. “We’re hoping for a really big crowd,” she said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team looking to continue dominance over Florida State

By River Wells | Feb. 1, 2018

The year is 2009. The month is February.

Vince McMahon announced last week his intention of resurrecting the XFL, a football league he founded in 2001. The league folded after one season.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Vince McMahon would like to sell you some mediocre high school football again

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 31, 2018

Hoo, boy.

UF coach Mike White didn't mince words after the Gators put up 60 points - their second-lowest mark on the season - in a loss to UGA. “They were tougher, more physical, more aggressive… they played with more edge than we did,” White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball team’s offensive woes against UGA due to more than just the ‘Dogs defense

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 31, 2018

At its best, the Florida men’s basketball team’s offense is an explosive, high-scoring machine capable of hitting shots from anywhere on the court.

As a sophomore, pitcher Kelly Barnhill recorded the lowest ERA in the country (0.51) and the most strikeouts per seven innings (13). Her efforts earned her multiple national awards.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Kelly Barnhill ready to lead Gators on another deep run in 2018

By Mark Stine | Jan. 31, 2018

It’s just over a week until the start of the Florida softball team’s season, but if you walk up to the pool at the O’Connell Center, you just might find UF pitcher Kelly Barnhill doing laps.

Florida guard KeVaughn Allen scored nine points against Georgia on Tuesday. After leading UF in scoring last season, Allen has fallen into a lesser role behind transfers Jalen Hudson and Egor Koulechov.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball team, KeVaughn Allen continue to struggle with consistency

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 30, 2018

Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White has said all season that one of his team’s shortcomings is its ability to play with consistency. Facing Georgia in Athens on Tuesday, the Gators continued that trend, suffering a loss several days after a big win for the third time this month.

Eagles starting left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai has one of the most unique names of the players competing in Super Bowl LII.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Looking for a fun way to pass the time during Super Bowl LII? Here’s how.

By Dylan Dixon | Jan. 30, 2018

If you see eye-to-eye with me on this year’s Super Bowl matchup, you’re most likely feeling dejected and dispirited.

Guard Chris Chiozza was just one of two Gators to reach double figures in scoring against Georgia Tuesday night. He finished with 13 points and six assists.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 23 Florida’s offense withers against Georgia in 72-60 loss

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 30, 2018

With just under five minutes left in the game, Georgia forward Yante Maten received a pass at the top of the key.

UF coach Roland Thornqvist had tooled with the idea of changing his lineup away from pairing seniors with freshmen. After his team's success over the weekend, he reconsidered.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team sticking with senior-freshman doubles format

By River Wells | Jan. 29, 2018

Two hundred eighty-one days.

Forward Kevarrius Hayes stepped up on defense the last time the Gators played in Athens against Yante Maten and the Georgia Bulldogs. Maten currently leads the SEC in scoring.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball team takes on Yante Maten, Bulldogs in SEC road game on Tuesday

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 29, 2018

Georgia forward Yante Maten posted up and overpowered then-Florida forward Justin Leon, rising up for a point-blank, uncontested layup.

Andy Andrade is the No. 3 freshman on Florida's depth chart, but coach Bryan Shelton expressed confidence in his young player. “I think a lot of people are going to overlook this guy,” Shelton said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

‘Don’t sleep on Andy Andrade': Freshman impresses in first week of dual match season

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 29, 2018

Andy Andrade wrapped his arm around his coach and smiled. He looked comfortable and confident. Volunteer assistant coach Scott Perelman had just joined Andrade on the sideline after the freshman concluded a speedy 6-0 first set win on the No. 5 singles court against South Alabama on Saturday. The two sat close on Andrade’s bench. They laughed.

Graduate transfer Paulina Hersler is posting career highs in points per game(12.2), rebounds per game(6.8) and three-point percentage (37 percent) during her time as a Gator.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Paulina Hersler paying dividends for Gators women’s basketball team this season

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 29, 2018

Before Paulina Hersler came to UF, the graduate transfer started only two games at UCLA and averaged under 11 minutes per game. Now, at a new program under a new head coach, the forward from Sweden has shined throughout the season, playing well in the paint and stretching the floor with her ability to shoot the ball from long range.

Taylor Tomlinson putts during the 2015 Suntrust Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Sierra Brooks shines in Florida debut despite Gators falling to Miami

By Chris O'Brien | Jan. 29, 2018

Going into the 18th hole of the second and final round of the Florida Challenge in Lecanto, Florida, on Monday, UF women’s golfer Sierra Brooks knew she needed to give her team a boost. In a tie for first with Miami’s Dewi Weber, Brooks slammed a shot all the way to the green to set up an eagle attempt.

The Florida swimming and diving teams are competing in the Auburn Invitational this weekend after concluding their dual meet seasons against Tennessee on Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swimming and diving teams complete dual-meet season, look ahead to Auburn Invitational

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 29, 2018

The dual-meet season for Florida’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams concluded in Knoxville, Tennessee, this past weekend.