The University of Florida gymnastics team holds the No. 3 spot in the 2011 preseason poll released by GymInfo this morning. This is the fifth consecutive year Florida appears among the top four teams in the preseason poll (2007: 3rd; 2008: 2nd, 2009: 3rd; 2010: 4th). Florida has ranked among the preseason top 10 each year since the poll’s inception in 1992.
Defending NCAA champion UCLA holds the top spot with 32 first-place votes. Rounding out the preseason top five are No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 Utah.
Nine opponents Florida will face in the 2011 dual meet season appear in the poll, including four in the preseason top 10. The Gators open the 2011 season Friday, Jan. 7 with a home dual meet versus No. 10 Nebraska. Each of Florida’s five home meets includes a team that appears among the 2011 preseason top 25.
In 2010, the Gator gymnastics team claimed the Southeastern Conference Championship, won the program’s sixth consecutive NCAA Regional title and took fifth in the NCAA Super Six team final. The Gators return five gymnasts in 2011 who own a total of 13 All-America honors.
Season tickets for the 2011 Gator Gymnastics campaign are now available for the low price of $16.00. Find more information at the Gator Ticket Office.
GymInfo – 2011 Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank—Team—Points—1st Place Votes
1—UCLA—1035—32
2—Alabama*—950—3
3—Florida—948—3
4—Oklahoma—881—2
5—Utah*—853—1
6—Stanford—818—1
7—Georgia*—749
8—Oregon State—702
9—Michigan—696
10—Nebraska*—691
11—Arkansas*—648
12—LSU*—647
13—Missouri—479
14—Penn State*—456
15—Auburn*—415
16—Denver—361
17—Illinois-Champaign—333
18—Boise State—311
19—Arizona—274
20—Southern Utah—195
21—Washington—191
22—Iowa State—114
23—Minnesota—109
24—Kentucky*—102
25—Arizona State—100
*-2011 Florida opponent