http://gatorcountry.com/other_sports/ GatorCountry.com other sports news feed English ray@gatorcountry.com Copyright 2013 2013-06-14T23:33:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_gator_2012_2013_recap/17352 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_gator_2012_2013_recap/17352#When:23:33:00Z th straight SEC All-Sports award, making it 13 total for the Florida Gators since the award’s inception. The award was well deserved as the Florida Gators had a fantastic athletic season in the SEC. The Gators were regular season SEC Champions in Men’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Women’s Tennis and Volleyball and ALC Champions in Lacrosse. The Gators were also SEC Tournament Champions in Soccer and Softball. While Florida’s athletic program recorded an impressive 2012-13 athletic season, the achievements were coupled with disappointment for every sport except the ones in which the Gators reached the pinnacle: both the gymnastics and men’s outdoor track & field teams brought home NCAA National Championships to Gainesville.

Football

After a 7-6 season in which the Florida Gators football team struggled to find an offensive identity under Head Coach Will Muschamp, the team made a complete 180 degree turn as they finished the regular season 11-1 and earned an appearance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Gators fans have a lot to be thankful for as the team arguable overachieved and pleasantly surprised those who spend their Saturdays in The Swamp. The Gators didn’t let LSU or South Carolina steal wins in The Swamp as the Tigers and Gamecocks did two years before.]]> Feature image story, Wide article (exclude from top stories) 2013-06-14T23:33:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/track_wins_national_championship/17319 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/track_wins_national_championship/17319#When:06:09:00Z
The Gators used a dramatic finish to share the 2013 NCAA crown with Texas A&M (53 points) in front of a packed house at famed Hayward Field. This is the 31st national championship in University of Florida athletics history and the fifth team title for the UF men’s track and field program since 2010 – three indoor titles (2010-12) and two outdoor (2012-13).

This is the second NCAA title for the University of Florida this year, with women’s gymnastics claiming its first NCAA Championship in April. The Gators are the first team since 1978 (UTEP, UCLA) to share an NCAA outdoor title and this is just the fourth time in NCAA history a tie has occurred.

“I’m just so proud…proud of our guys, my coaching and support staff, and everyone associated with the program,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “The big thing is that we recruit these guys and expect them to go out there and compete for national championships. I’m extremely proud of them. No one gave us a chance. I watched the replays of ESPN this weekend and they didn’t even mention the Gators. I told the guys to just keep fighting, be who we are and do what we do.”]]> Feature image story, Wide article (exclude from top stories) 2013-06-09T06:09:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/golf_season_comes_to_a_close/17278 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/golf_season_comes_to_a_close/17278#When:18:00:00Z
Despite eight top-five finishes and a win in their first tournament this season, Florida couldn’t finish strong in postseason play. The Gators rebounded well after placing 10th in the SEC Championships by placing 2nd to Alabama in the NCAA South Regional. The Gators were hoping to ride that momentum into the NCAA Championships this week, but finished 17-over par, fifteen shots off the cut line to advance to the match play portion of the tournament. ]]> 2013-06-01T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/gators_path_a_near_best_case_scenario/17269 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/gators_path_a_near_best_case_scenario/17269#When:15:43:00Z
When the regular season ended and the seeding came out, the two main questions from the Gators' perspective were firstly, did the committee get it right making Oklahoma the #1 seed over UF the #2 (and for that matter, should another team have been higher than both of them), and secondly, how did the seeding across the brackets help or hurt the Gators.

]]> 2013-05-30T15:43:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_lacrosse_brings_in_top_talent/17259 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_lacrosse_brings_in_top_talent/17259#When:16:10:00Z
Much of that success comes from terrific recruiting thanks to the benefits the University of Florida can offer to the nation's top talent. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States and teams have been popping up around the country more and more every year. With roots in the northeast, many of the top teams and players have been from historic lacrosse states such as Maryland and New York.

I found it funny going to games a few years ago watching a confused crowd try to understand what game they were watching. If you have ever watched a girls lacrosse, there are a number of rules and regulations that can get to be more then confusing at times. Nevertheless, it was only a matter of time until the year round sunshine of Florida would breed some of the top talent in the country. One of Florida's top recruits for 2013 is Vero Beach (Fla.) Saint Edward's mid-fielder Chloe O'Haire. A native from Vero Beach myself, the town has garnered a name for itself for having some of the best female lacrosse players in the southeast.]]> 2013-05-27T16:10:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/gallery_florida_1_uab_0/17255 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/gallery_florida_1_uab_0/17255#When:01:44:00Z
With the win, Florida advances to their fifth WCWS in six years. The Gators will face Tennessee on Thursday in their opening game in Oklahoma City.

GatorCountry.com photo gallery courtesy of Brad Easom.]]> 2013-05-27T01:44:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_advances_to_womens_college_world_series/17253 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_advances_to_womens_college_world_series/17253#When:21:23:00Z
Many were surprised to see Hannah Rogers get the start on the mound for the Gators for the second game in a row. Rogers quickly quieted any doubters as she struck out the first three batters in the ballgame. Rogers was a machine all day, striking out seven while only allowing four hits and two walks in a complete game performance.

Coach Tim Walton could not have been prouder, ""She was really good today, she struck out five of the first six batters. She really commanded her pitches and she had her inside and outside pitches going well."]]> Feature image story, Wide article (exclude from top stories) 2013-05-26T21:23:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/gator_golf_competing_in_ncaa_championships/17252 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/gator_golf_competing_in_ncaa_championships/17252#When:03:23:00Z
The Gators were without senior Isabelle Lendl, a five-time top-10 finisher this season, including winning the Dale McNamara and Tar Heel Invitationals in the fall. The team looked to senior Mia Piccio, who finished in the top-10 three times this season, to lead the way. Piccio exhibited consistency as she shot 75 in her last three rounds to card a 298 (+10), her second-lowest career finish at Florida, for a tie for 37th at the NCAA Championships.]]> 2013-05-26T03:23:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/medina_comes_up_in_clutch_moment/17251 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/medina_comes_up_in_clutch_moment/17251#When:03:06:00Z
The Gators entered the bottom of the seventh down, 3-2, and rallied as they’ve done all season, first taking advantage of two straight walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases before sophomore Briana Little (Middleburg, Fla.) was pegged with a relief pitcher Leigh Streetman offering for the equalizer, 3-3. Following a Gator strikeout for one down, Medina dropped a 0-1 Streetman offering in shallow left field over the UAB shortstop’s head to plate the game-winning run in walk-off fashion, UF’s sixth walk off of 2013.

For Medina, the clutch hit was her first game-winner for the Gators this season, joining 11 other teammates who have clinched a victory for the Orange and Blue in 2013 by knocking in the game-winning RBI.

The Gators and Blazers will meet again at noon Sunday on ESPN, with Jeanne Zelasko and Cheri Kempf on the call, as Florida will look to clinch its fifth Super Regional for the right to head to Oklahoma City for what would be the fifth time in the last six years. The ‘if necessary’game is scheduled for 3 p.m. should UAB even the series at noon. ]]> 2013-05-26T03:06:00-05:00 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_tennis_denied_three_peat/17233 http://www.gatorcountry.com/other_sports/article/florida_tennis_denied_three_peat/17233#When:04:51:00Z
The story that isn’t told by looking at the final 4-3 decision is the fight of this team. The Gators began the semifinals down 3-0 against the Cardinals, losing the doubles point and two singles matches in two straight sets. ITA National Senior Player of the Year Lauren Embree did not notch a victory in the semifinals in doubles or singles, a performance that does not reflect the senior’s successful career – she clinched both national championships for Florida in back-to-back years. ]]> 2013-05-22T04:51:00-05:00