Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Freshman Conor Gesing dives in the Gators meet against Florida State, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Freshman Conor Gesing earns bronze in men’s 1-meter on day one of SEC Championships

By Shaine Davison | Feb. 19, 2024

The No. 4/3 Florida Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive teams traveled to Auburn, Alabama to compete for a second consecutive SEC Championship. The men’s team entered this week with an undefeated in-and-out of conference record of 7-0 while the women’s team are 7-1, with an undefeated conference record of 5-0.

Freshman Jeremy Jin celebrates after winning a point in a doubles match against UCF, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis dominates UCF to get back in win column

By Chandler Hawkes | Feb. 19, 2024

The Florida Gators men's tennis team (4-4) handed the UCF Knights (7-1) their first loss of the season with a 6-1 victory in an emotional in-state rivalry match, Monday afternoon. After taking the doubles point, the Gators fed off the momentum and energy from the crowd to defeat the Knights for the 19th straight time since January 2001.

The Gators men’s cross country team runs in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Sam Austin, Ryan Maseman lead UF track and field mid-distance group under pressure

By Emma DiNicola | Feb. 19, 2024

Sam Austin and Ryan Maseman led UF track and field mid-distance group under pressure. Both have stepped into leadership roles during their junior seasons.

Florida women's golf coach Emily Glaser and Maisie Filler at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / UAA Communications photo by Tim Casey

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

The big sister program: How Florida women’s golf brings its team together

By Hannah Getman | Feb. 19, 2024

The Florida women’s golf team came into the 2023-2024 season with a unique split in the class of its players. The roster included a majority of upperclassmen and new players. Coach Emily Glaser, who is in her 12th year as head coach, wanted to find a way to unite her team by using her seniors' experience to its advantage. From this, the big sister program was formed.

Laila Reynolds dribbles the ball up the court in the Gators women’s basketball game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday, February 8. Photo by Ryan Friedenberg

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball comes up short against Kentucky

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 18, 2024

The Gators women’s basketball team dropped to 4-8 in conference play following an 81-77 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.

Florida redshirt freshman Miguel Leal swings his club in the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational Saturday, February 11, 2023. / Photo by Lorenzo Vasquez

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida Men’s Golf wins Gators Invitational for fifth consecutive year

By Emma DiNicola | Feb. 17, 2024

A program-record-tying round of 62 (-8) led by freshman Ian Giligan, allowed the University of Florida’s men’s golf team to blow out their competition to win the Gators Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course for the fifth straight year.

Gators men's basketball guard Walter Clayton Jr. shoots a floater in the team's win over Georgia in Athens on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida uses second-half comeback to take down rival Georgia

By Max Tucker | Feb. 17, 2024

The Gators men’s basketball team used a strong second half to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on Saturday.

Senior attacker Ashley Gonzalez looks to score during Florida’s 22-2 win over the Scotland National Team on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators lacrosse falls to No. 6 UNC

By Lacey Rogers | Feb. 17, 2024

The Gators lacrosse team lost to the No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels 19-10 on Saturday.

Florida head baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan exits a mound visit in the baseball team's loss to the St. John's Red Storm on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators baseball falls to St. John’s in season-opener

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 16, 2024

The Gators baseball team lost its first season-opener since 2013. Left-hander Cade Fisher failed to get past the third inning in a 9-5 loss.

The Florida Gators gymnastics team celebrates its 197.85-196.05 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

No. 6 Gators set team season-high score in quad meet

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Feb. 16, 2024

The No. 6 Florida Gators (9-1, 4-1 SEC) beat the No.14 Missouri Tigers (8-3, 2-3 SEC), the No. 27 Illinois Fighting Illini (7-6, 1-3 B1G) and the Lindenwood Lions (8-6, 3-1 MIC) 197.625 on the road in St. Charles, Missouri, in a quad meet. This marked the Gators’ highest team score of the season.

Florida right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock dominates in the circle during the Gators’ 9-1 win over Jacksonville, Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida dominates in Friday’s doubleheader win

By Hailey Hurst | Feb. 16, 2024

The offense and the Gators’ pitching staff helped lead Florida (7-1) to two wins over Georgia Southern (4-2) 8-0 and Loyola Chicago (5-1) 10-1 for the 2024 Bubly Invitational.

Florida center fielder Michael Robertson celebrates his walk-off single during the Gators' 2-1 win over the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday, April 15, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida’s outfield has loads to prove in 2024

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 16, 2024

Florida’s outfield will look drastically different without star outfielder Wyatt Langford. A tandem of veterans and a class of newcomers will look to prove themselves and fight to fill the shoes of their predecessor.

Faith Dut looks to pass the ball in the Gators women's basketball team's loss to the Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday, February 15, 2024.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball runs out of gas in overtime against Ole Miss

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 15, 2024

The Florida Gators women’s basketball team fell to the Ole Miss Rebels in overtime, Thursday night.

Jac Caglianone rounds the bases during Florida's 10-0 win against Vanderbilt Friday, May 12, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball position preview: Corner infielders and catcher

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 15, 2024

Florida baseball's catcher and corner infielders are highlighted by returning starters who played a pivotal role last season.

Florida redshirt senior shortstop Skylar Wallace hits an RBI during the Gators' 9-1 win against the Jacksonville Dolphins, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida earns its sixth win of the season in home opener

By Hailey Hurst | Feb. 14, 2024

Freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock and the Gators’ offense helped lead Florida (6-1) to a win over the Jacksonville Dolphins (2-4) 9-1 for UF’s season home opener.

Florida infielders Cade Kurland and Josh Rivera shake hands during the Gators' 6-2 win against Vanderbilt Saturday, May 13, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Kurland, Shelton set to lead middle infield for Gators baseball

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 14, 2024

The Gators’ former shortstop and sophomore second baseman Cade Kurland made up one of the most talented middle infields in college baseball in 2023.

The Florida Gators lacrosse team celebrates its 22-2 win in its exhibition match against the Scotland National Team, Feb. 14, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators lacrosse takes down Scotland in exhibition

By Lacey Rogers | Feb. 14, 2024

The Gators lacrosse team (0-1) dominated the Scotland National Team 22-2 in an exhibition match. This was UF’s home opener, as well.

Florida men's basketball guard Walter Clayton Jr. dunks on LSU forward Tyrell Ward in the Gators win over LSU on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men's basketball survives late LSU comeback

By Max Tucker | Feb. 13, 2024

The Gators men's basketball team survived a late push from the LSU Tigers to earn its sixth win in seven games.

Florida infielder Reagan Walsh prepares to swing her bat during the Gators’ 4-3 win over the Connecticut Huskies Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Walsh, Brown carry Gators softball to win over Jacksonville

By Bennett Solomon | Feb. 13, 2024

Behind another strong performance from Ava Brown and a 3-for-3 night from Reagan Walsh, the Gators softball team defeated Jacksonville 10-0.

Kevin O'Sullivan before a weekend series with Missouri in 2021. The Gators head coach earned his 600th career win in a Saturday night bout with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Kevin O’Sullivan signs contract extension ahead of 2024 season

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 12, 2024

The Florida Gators signed head baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan to a four-year extension, which keeps him in Gainesville until 2033. He becomes the second-highest-paid head coach in the SEC.