TC product Green makes frosh all-America squad

Posted Jan 9, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 9, 2012 at 08:49 PM

Former Tampa Catholic standout offensive lineman Chaz Green, now competing for the University of Florida, has been selected for the 11th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.

The FWWA is a non-profit organization consisting of more than 1,200 journalists who cover college football. The membership includes journalists from print, online and broadcast, as well as publicists and executives in all the areas that involve the game.

Green is a 6-foot-5, 306-pound redshirt freshman lineman for the Gators. Coming out of TC, he was a four-star prospect who was rated the No. 6 lineman in the nation by Rivals.

Last fall, Green was part of a Gators offensive line that paved the way for 1,415 yards and 12 touchdowns in the nine games he played in. He missed four games late in the year because of a sprained ankle. Green was also named a to the freshman All-SEC team in December.

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Florida Gators boast No. 1 tennis squad

Posted Jan 4, 2012 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Jan 4, 2012 at 09:04 PM

After winning the NCAA championship last season, the University of Florida is ranked No. 1 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Preseason Rankings.

The ranking comes after the Gators won the NCAA championship last season. The team is returning all seven letter-winners who had helped lead UF to a 31-1 overall record.

Five Gators are ranked in singles competition, and the team has two doubles teams in the top 15 .

Junior Allie Will tops the rankings for Florida at third, and senior Joanna Mather is fourth. Junior Lauren Embree is 25th.

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Two Florida Gators named First Team All-SEC

Posted Dec 6, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Dec 6, 2011 at 05:10 PM

Southeastern Conference football coaches named two Florida Gators – redshirt senior running back Chris Rainey and redshirt junior kicker Caleb Sturgis – to the First Team All-SEC today.

Rainey made it as an all-purpose performer. He led Florida with 790 rushing yards, 350 receiving yards and 75 punt return yards this season. Against Florida Atlantic University, the former Lakeland Dreadnaught became the first Gator to score a rushing, receiving and return touchdown in a single game.

Sturgis, who was also named First Team All-SEC by the AP on Monday, made 21 field goals in 2011. That leads the SEC and ranks third in the nation. He is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award.

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Tennis star signs letter of intent to play at Florida

Posted Nov 21, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Nov 21, 2011 at 04:05 PM

Gordon Watson has signed a letter of intent to play tennis at the University of Florida.

Watson is rated No. 12 in the 2012 class, according to TennisRecruiting.net. He has won several championships as an amateur and has been ranked as high as No. 1 nationally by the USTA in the 12s and 14s singles.

“[Watson] has had very successful results in junior tennis,” UF men’s tennis coach Andy Jackson said. “He plays from a solid fundamental base technically, tactically and mentally. He loves to compete, and we hope that he will be able help the Gators compete for championships.”

Watson plans to enroll at Florida in January.

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Florida Gators golf recruits standout international player

Posted Nov 17, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Nov 17, 2011 at 01:51 PM

Ursa Orehek signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Florida women’s golf program starting in the 2012-‘13 season.

She hails from Domzale, Slovenia, where she played well at the amateur level. Orehek took the title 2011 Slovenian International Junior Champion after shooting a total of 217 (+1) for the tournament. She also finished in second place at both the 2011 Slovenian Women’s Amateur and the 2010 Orange Bowl.

“Ursa has a wealth of international experience that will have an immediate impact on our team upon her arrival in Gainesville,” UF women’s golf coach Jan Dowling said. “She also has a passion for the game of golf, and she is very determined to become one of the best players in college golf and beyond.”

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Gators golf team signs three standouts for 2012-‘13

Posted Nov 15, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Nov 15, 2011 at 10:18 PM

The University of Florida men’s golf team has signed three standouts from Florida today.

Billy Anderson (DeLand), A.J. Crouch (Jacksonville) and Conor Richardson (West Palm Beach) will play on the team in the 2012-2013 season.

“We’re really excited about bringing in these three guys and feel they will give our program a huge boost,” UF men’s golf coach Buddy Alexander said. “All three are extremely talented and we expect them all to compete for playing time right away.”

Crouch is rated the No. 21 prospect by Golfweek and No. 40 by the AJGA, Richardson is rated the No. 38 prospect by the AJGA and Anderson hails from Brevard Community College, where he won the 2011 NJCAA Individual National Championship. He also won an amateur tour at the Florida State Public Links Championship this summer at the MetroWest Golf Club in Orlando.

“We haven’t taken many junior college kids during my time here, so I think that shows how special I think Billy is,” said Alexander. “He was a late bloomer who developed into one of the best players in junior college. We’re really excited to have him and expect him to play right away.”

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Florida Gators swimming ranked in top 10

Posted Nov 10, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Nov 10, 2011 at 01:56 PM

The College Swimming Coaches’ Association of America released its first top-25 poll Wednesday. Both the men’s and women’s swimming teams for the University of Florida placed in the top 10.

The women are No. 4 and the men are No. 7.

The women have started the season 5-1 (2-1 SEC), including meets against No. 1 Georgia and No. 3 Texas. The Gators lost to the Bulldogs in the season’s opening meet. The women look strong, having beaten No. 7 Stanford, No. 16 Michigan, No. 20 LSU and No. 24 FSU in dual competition, while finishing ahead of No. 17 Louisville, No. 18 Virginia and No. 20. Southern Methodist at annual invitational meets.

“The women have competed very well,” said UF coach Gregg Troy, who is also the 2012 U.S. Olympic head coach. “We have a very strong dual meet team, and the men keep on getting better with each and every week. It is a good indication of how we’ve swam thus far throughout the fall.”

The men haven’t lost a meet this season. At 2-0-1 (1-0-1 SEC), the Gators tied No. 9 Georgia.

CSCAA Division I Poll
Men’s Poll

1. Michigan
2. Texas
3. Arizona
4. Stanford
5. Auburn
6. California
7. Florida
8. Southern California
9. Georgia
10. Iowa
11. Ohio St
11. UNC
13. Tennessee
14. Indiana
15. Minnesota
16. Louisville
17. Purdue
18. Texas A&M
19. North Carolina State
20. Louisiana State
21. Virginia
22. Virginia Tech
23. Florida St
24. Missouri
25. UNLV

Women’s Poll

1. Georgia
2. Cal
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. USC
6. Auburn
7. Stanford
8. Arizona
9. Tennessee
10. Texas A&M
11. Minnesota
12. North Carolina
13. Ohio St
14. Indiana
15. Missouri
16. Michigan
17. Louisville
18. Virginia
19. Maryland
20. Southern Methodist
20. Louisiana State
22. Purdue
23. Arizona St
24. Florida St
25. UCLA

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Gators volleyball signs three standout players

Posted Nov 9, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Nov 9, 2011 at 08:43 PM

Standout high school volleyball players Dana Backlund, Gabby Mallette and Berkley Whaley signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to play for the University of Florida in 2012.

Gators coach Mary Wise said, “We bring in three athletic and skilled volleyball players. Each of them has the potential to make a great impact on our program before they graduate.”

Whaley is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Lakewood Senior High School in Saint Petersburg, Fla. Mallette is also an outside hitter from Florida. She stands 6-foot-2 and hails from The Bolles School in Jacksonville. Backlund is a 5-foot-10 setter from Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta, Calif.

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Former Chamberlain guard Storts walks on at Florida

Posted Nov 3, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Nov 3, 2011 at 08:59 PM

Eric Storts, the leader of Chamberlain’s district championship and elite eight squad last season, has earned a spot on the University of Florida’s men’s basketball team as a walk-on, Chamberlain coach Christopher Snyder said.

Last season, Storts (6-foot-3) led the state-ranked Chiefs in five categories while averaging 18.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game en route to Class 5A region final. After the season, he was named to the Class 5A All-State fourth team.

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Gators nursing several injuries after Georgia game

Posted Nov 1, 2011 by David Jones, Florida Today

Updated Nov 1, 2011 at 07:57 AM

Linebacker Jon Bostic suffered a dislocated finger during the University of Florida’s 24-20 loss to Georgia.

Kicker Caleb Sturgis (leg), running back Mike Gillislee (ankle), tackle Chaz Green (ankle), linebacker Lerentee McCray (shoulder) and cornerback Cody Riggs (wrist) could all be back.

Sturgis, Green and Gillislee missed the loss to Georgia while the others were hurt during the game.

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