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MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 18

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In honor of Sophia Lambert: Tell your friends and family you love them SOPHIA LAMBERT WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HER COMMITMENT TO HER FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

By Abigail Hasebroock

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

People gather at the Chabad UF Jewish Student Center for a memorial service in honor of Sophia Lambert on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Lambert was an 18-year-old UF student and sister of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority who died after a recent car crash on West University Avenue.

Remembering Maggie Paxton MAGGIE PAXTON WAS A LOVING DAUGHTER, SISTER AND FRIEND

By Juliana Ferrie Alligator Staff Writer

Margaret “Maggie” Paxton often went out of her way to brighten the days of those who crossed her path.

UF housing cleaning staff once left a note for her mother

recounting Paxton’s kindness.

The guard at Paxton’s neighborhood residential gate described their conversations as the highlight of her day.

Paxton, an 18-year-old UF natural resource conservation first-year, died Dec. 9 in a hitand-run crash on West University Avenue. She will be remembered for her encouraging nature and selflessness, her mother, Lisa Paxton, said. Her favorite saying was, “Progress over per-

fection.”

“She had such a bright light about her that will never dim,” Lisa said. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Paxton was born and raised in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. She loved to laugh and create TikToks with her sister and friends.

She was also a competitive athlete — playing soccer for many years until one too many concus-

SEE MAGGIE, PAGE 6

“Do good, and say ‘I love you,’” is the phrase echoing through the UF community in honor of Sophia Lambert, a first-year UF theatre and psychology major who died Jan.16 after a fatal crash on West University Avenue that sent five others to the hospital. She was 18 years old.

By doing good deeds with Lambert’s name in mind, her soul can be elevated, and her presence will continue in the physical world, UF Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Student Center Rabbi Berl Goldman said.

“She was friendly. She was humble. She was spiritual. She was charitable. She was studious,” he said. “All of those elements are a reflection of her essence.”

In a Jewish Gator Greek Unity Shabbat memorial service held Friday at the Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center to honor Lambert’s life, several Delta Phi Epsilon sisters faced a crowd of more than 400 students during a dinner and reflected on Lambert’s legacy.

“To our beautiful sister Sophia Lambert, may her life forever shine,” Shoshanna Halperin, an 18-year-old UF health science freshman, said. “When I think of her beautiful face, I see her smile. I see her radiant smile.”

Before the memorial, students from more than 10 sororities and

fraternities shared hugs and engaged in solemn conversation as they waited for the service to begin. During the memorial, rabbis read passages from the Hebrew Bible and participants lit candles and observed Shabbat services.

Rabbi Goldman asked everyone to rise before a recitation of the “Prayer for the Soul of the Departed,” or the Kel Maleh Rachamim – first in Hebrew and then in English – a part of which reads: “Therefore, may the All-Merciful One shelter her with the cover of His wings forever, and bind her soul in the bond of life. The Lord is her heritage; may she rest in her resting place in peace; and let us say: Amen.”

Delta Phi Epsilon President Drew McNally stepped forward during the service to give a statement on behalf of the sorority.

“Thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate her beautiful soul that’s here,” McNally said.

“Please keep hugging your friends oh so tight, always say I love you, and keep doing good for Sophia.”

Lambert’s love and care for others ran deep, Mackenzie Farkas, one of Lambert’s closest friends, said.

“She was just the most loving, warm-hearted kind of person who wanted to change the world,” the 18-year-old UF health science major said. “She just had such big dreams to care for everyone around her.”

After growing up with a passion for the stage and helping children,

SEE SOPHIA, PAGE 6

Gainesville Officials respond to fatal crash with traffic enforcement programs THE DECISION COMES AFTER THE HIGH VOLUME OF CITY CRASHES AND RECENT UF STUDENT DEATHS ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE

By Anna Wilder and Jack Prator Alligator Staff Writer

After two UF students died following car crashes on West University Avenue in less than two months, city and police officials are taking steps to increase traffic safety on West University Avenue.

On Jan. 20, the Gainesville Police Depart-

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Sister sister

The Goelz sisters grew upwith immersed in softball, Story description finish comma, pg# but their college careers diverged when Kinsey went to play at Mississippi State. Last season, they reunited at Florida and are looking to their first full season together in Gainesville, pg. 11

ment announced the Gator Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) to conduct highvisibility traffic enforcement along roadways adjacent to UF. A day later, the Gainesville City Commission voted to approve a traffic safety plan that includes creating a task force to provide shortterm safety solutions on University Avenue, including a speed limit reduction, barriers and flashing lights at intersections.

The changes came less than a week after a car hit five students standing on the sidewalk at the corner of NW 17th Street and West University Avenue. The crash killed 18-year-old UF student Sophia Lambert and sent five oth-

er people to the hospital. On Dec. 9, 18-yearold Maggie Paxton was killed in a hit-and-run a few blocks west on the same road.

As part of Gator STEP, Gainesville police will also conduct a crash analysis of the area between 1300 W. University Ave. and 2200 W. University Ave. to identify the types of crashes that occur there and any preventive measures that can be taken.

The increased presence of patrol officers will be found along West University Avenue, Southwest Archer Road, Southwest 34th Street, Southwest 13th Street and other city roadways. The focus will be on crosswalks, pedestrians, speeding and scooter safety vio-

Alachua County Republicans

Following the storming of the Capitol, some voters decided to change parties, pg. 4

Recharge Days

With no Spring Break, UF is offering recharge days for students and teachers to rest, pg. 2

lations, according to a press release. GPD and University Police will work together to enforce traffic laws in these areas.

Law enforcement recorded at least 85 traffic violations from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23 on portions of West University Avenue, Southwest Archer Road, Southwest 34th Street and Southwest 13th Street near UF, according to data from GPD’s Daily Bulletin as of Jan. 24.

In the week prior to the STEP program’s introduction, from Jan. 16 to Jan. 19, there were at least 27 traffic violations recorded in the same areas, as of Jan. 24.

This is only the first step in creating a safer

SEE GPD, PAGE 5

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021

Today’s Weather UF encourages new recharge days for Spring 2021 semester THE TWO OPTIONAL DAYS OFF WERE CREATED TO GIVE STUDENTS A REST AFTER THE CANCELLATION OF SPRING BREAK

By Sofia Echeverry Alligator Staff Writer

With another semester of Zoom fatigue and pandemic paranoia looming over their heads, students and faculty fear they won’t have enough time to recharge their academic batteries in a term with only one official day off.

Because of this, D'Andra Mull, the UF Vice President for Student Affairs asked faculty to suspend their classes and exams for two days this Spring. The proposed Spring recharge days –Thursday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Mar. 24 – were created as an opportunity for students to rest during the Spring semester after UF canceled March Spring Break.

Although not a formal requirement, UF administration urged faculty to take the days off to encourage student health and wellbeing in an email sent on Dec. 21.

“We believe this will be much appreciated and needed by our students,” Mull wrote.

UF Student Affairs is teaming up with UF Performing Arts, Academic Affairs’ Wellness Collaborative and Student Government to bring socially distanced events and activities to campus on the recharge days, Mull wrote. The specifics of these activities are not currently available, but the email promised more information would be available to students soon.

“Our hope is that our Gator Recharge Days will allow students to take a well-deserved and much-needed break to renew their energy mid-semester,” Mull wrote in a statement.

In another email sent to students on Jan. 22, Mull shared

several programs and initiatives to improve student experiences throughout the semester, including recharge days. Other enrichment programs will begin in the following weeks. UF will hold a Financial Wellness Week full of workshops and presentations to promote students’ financial skills starting Monday, Jan. 25.

Another program, a student training course on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as part of UF’s anti-racism initiatives, will become available soon. A third initiative is Gator STEP, a traffic enforcement program meant to strengthen safety on the streets surrounding campus.

“Promoting balance and supporting students' holistic wellness is a primary focus for this spring,” Mull wrote.

Maria Victoria Muñoz, a UF Spanish literature graduate student and an introductory Spanish class instructor, said she thinks recharge days are the second best option since Spring break was canceled.

Although many faculty were informed of these recharge days after finalizing their Spring syllabi, Muñoz – along with many others – chose to include the days off anyway. As both a graduate student and an undergraduate teacher, Muñoz believes recharge days will be beneficial to both groups.

“As students, we are also having recharge days, which makes it perfect,” she said. “If as an instructor you have the day off but not as a student, then there’s no recharge.”

Students in asynchronous classes are also worried about experiencing burnout this semester.

Bianca Barroso, an 18-yearold psychology freshman, is taking two asynchronous classes and one synchronous class that requires watching recorded lectures before class on the students’ own time. She said the professors of her asynchronous

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 18

ISSN 0889-2423

Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida

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classes won’t decrease the number of assignments for that week, leaving students with nearly the same workload as a normal day of class.

Although the planned activities are meant as a way for students to let off steam amid the busy semester, Barroso said she plans to spend the days catching up on work, not recharging as UF intended.

J.D. Varn, a 19-year-old UF animal sciences sophomore, said it’s nice that UF is allowing students and faculty to rest.

However, only two of Varn’s five professors are implementing the recharge days, so he won’t get any additional days off of class this semester. Since he’s working at a consistent pace with his online classes, he said getting 50 extra minutes off isn’t enough for him to recharge.

“I think having a whole day off, which would also give professors a break, would probably be better for everyone than just having a couple periods sprinkled around,'' he said. @sofecheverry secheverry@alligator.org

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MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021 ALLIGATOR 3

FEATURE

Meet the Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Award winner TAYLOR HILL-MILES RECEIVED THE AWARD FOR HER DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE

By Daniella Sevares Alligator Staff Writer

Taylor Hill-Miles learned her empathy and love for community service from her grandmother at a young age.

“From there, I developed just a love and passion for helping others,” Hill-Miles said.

The 17-year-old Eastside High School senior has volunteered more than 500 hours at Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, GRACE Marketplace and the Farm Share — all while being the captain of her cross country and soccer teams and student body president with a 4.7 GPA. Hill-Miles also received this year’s Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Award, given annually to an Alachua County high school senior who exemplifies outstanding achievement and leadership.

She delivered a keynote speech when she accepted the scholarship at Citizens Field on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In her speech, she highlighted the importance of racial equality and called on the audience to consider the impact of police brutality on the Black community.

“Now is the time to choose to love one another instead of hating and fighting against each other, because King said that hate cannot drive out hate,” Hill-Miles said. “Only love can do that.”

Hill-Miles cares deeply for her community and feels a responsibility to help those in need. She saw people in her community living paycheck to paycheck and how that affected them, she said.

“I try to help others who are in similar situations so they don’t have to go through that,” Hill-Miles said.

Hill-Miles said she is interested in biomedical engineering and would love to work for a humanitarian aid organization

to create low-cost, high-quality technology for developing countries.

Some of the colleges she applied to include UF, University of South Florida, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Hill-Miles said everything she’s accomplished could not have been done without the support of her parents, teachers and friends.

Janice Early, Hill-Miles’ mom, describes her daughter as unique, happy and selfdriven. As a little girl, Hill-Miles set high expectations for herself and that hasn’t changed. In high school, Early said she noticed Hill-Miles developed a strong sense of independence. Now, Hill-Miles often tackles projects without telling her mom first.

“I find out about a lot of things she’s doing after the fact,” Early said, chuckling.

Gabrielle Gonzalez, Hill-Miles’ best friend, said she is an amazing friend and student.

Gonzalez loves Hill-Miles’ positive attitude and said Hill-Miles motivates her to be a better person.

On her soccer team, Hill-Miles exemplifies leadership by setting an example for her teammates, said Terrie Ellerbe, dean of Eastside High School and the head coach of the girls soccer team. She considers HillMiles a role model for the freshmen and sophomores.

“Her dedication to the sport just transcends to others, which is just impeccable to me,” Ellerbe said, adding that Hill-Miles gained the respect and admiration of her peers as the student body president.

She even organized homecoming and united the entire student body to create a “flawless masterpiece,” Ellerbe said.

To Ellerbe, Hill-Miles has a bright future ahead of her and will leave an impact on society when she graduates high school.

“We will hear about her again,” Ellerbe said. “We definitely will.” @DaniellaSevares dsevares@alligator.org

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

Taylor Hill-Miles, this year’s winner of the Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Award, gives a keynote speech at Citizens Field on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She talked about the importance of demanding justice for the Black community.

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4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021

More than 200 Alachua County Republicans left the party since the week of US Capitol attack IT’S THE LARGEST DEPARTURE FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ALACHUA COUNTY IN THE PAST YEAR

By Corbin Bolies, Lianna Hubbard and Kevin Maher Alligator Staff Writers

Mason Pitts grew up embracing the Republican Party. Donald Trump’s attacks on the 2020 election led him to abandon it.

Pitts, a 22-year-old UF economics graduate student and Gainesville native, is part of a large number of Republican voters in Alachua County who have switched political parties in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead and more than 100 people arrested.

“Trump’s actions, most recently especially with COVID and continuing to give misinformation about having a fraudulent election, kind of gave me the motivation to officially change my party,” Pitts said. “I would not change it back.”

Between Jan. 8 and Jan. 20, 147 people in Alachua County left the Republican Party, according to data from the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections.

Almost 54% of those switched to no party affiliation, while the rest joined new parties: 27 joined the Democratic Party, 37 joined the Independent Party of Florida and four joined the Libertarian Party of Florida.

For Alachua County, the weeks following the insurrection marked the largest departure from the Republican Party in the past year, pointing to an uncertain future for the party following the Trump presidency and the start of Joe Biden’s presidency.

Trump lost to Joe Biden in Alachua County by more than 38,000 votes last year, according to Alachua County election data. Turnout was the highest since 2008, with about 75% of registered voters participating in the election.

Alachua County’s party affiliation trends parallel Central Florida’s, where hundreds

of people have left the Republican Party since Jan. 6, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

This month’s departures also surpassed the 95 Alachua County residents who left the Republican Party after the Nov. 3 election, according to voter registration data by the Florida Division of Elections.

State data from last year shows 33 people joined the Republican Party in January 2020 amid Trump’s first impeachment.

Mason Pitts switched his voter registration to no party affiliation, which he said is more in line with his moderate values.

But it was Trump’s incitement of an insurrection on the U.S. Capitol that confirmed his decision to leave the Republican Party.

At a rally the morning of the attack, Trump urged his supporters to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol and “fight like hell” against the certification of President Joe Biden’s win.

“I was thinking that a lot of the people that warned about Trump and that he was legitimately dangerous were probably correct at that point,” Pitts said. “He’s kind of created this bubble that’s doing nothing but dividing America.”

Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 7, the days surrounding the attack on the Capitol, 78 people changed their party affiliation — 58 of those leaving the Republican Party for a total of 205 defections since the week of Jan. 6.

While over 200 Republicans have switched parties since the week of the attack, only 15 Alachua County voters have joined the Republican Party: Five switched from no party affiliation, seven switched from the Democratic Party, three switched from the Independent Party of Florida and two switched from the Libertarian Party of Florida.

David Ashwell, a 53-year-old Gainesville attorney and world history teacher at Lincoln Middle School, said he changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat after the Jan. 6 riot. He was a registered Republican for about 15 years.

“This had been something I’d meant to do at least since Donald Trump emerged on the national political stage back in the 2016

race,” Ashwell wrote in an email. “But recent events gave the matter some urgency, as I want nothing further to do with the GOP.” Ashwell felt Trump incited the riot, which he said posed an existential threat to democracy.

The House of Representatives delivered its second impeachment of Trump a week after the insurrection, citing how Trump’s statements “encouraged and foreseeably resulted in lawless action at the Capitol.”

Ten Republicans joined Democrats in impeaching Trump, making it the most bipartisan impeachment and the first time a president has been impeached twice.

His trial is set to start Feb. 8, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Friday.

Trump, whose initial comments on the attack reiterated his claims of a stolen election and led to a ban of his accounts on most social media platforms, has since condemned the violence.

Stephen Craig, a UF political science professor who specializes in public opinion, sees party switches after the Capitol riot and a second impeachment as symptoms of internal divisions within the Republican Party — those favoring the party’s traditional values versus Trump’s devout supporters. It’s a battle that could push some to abstain from a party affiliation entirely, he said.

“No party affiliation can be considered a halfway house for Republicans who have become disaffected with what the political party has come under Trump,” he said.

What these party switchers mean for the Republican Party in the long term isn’t clear, Craig said. It’s uncertain if a larger party switch could be coming or if some Republicans will wait in NPA purgatory until the party sorts itself out.

“We’re gonna have to wait till the smoke clears,” he said.

Ed Braddy, chairman of the Alachua County Republican Party, said he fears losing the 205 Republicans will cause a downward trend in the party’s plans for the next election. He believes voters shouldn’t

judge the entire party on the actions of a few rioters.

“You saw the action of probably fewer than 1,000, maybe fewer than 500,” he said.

Federal authorities believe roughly 800 people stormed the Capitol, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Braddy condemned the Capitol riots as “unsettling” and “unlawful” but hopes Trump supporters will keep their energy with the party to help win seats in the 2022 midterm elections.

Some Republicans may be leaving because of Trump’s makeover of the party, but others could be leaving because it didn’t change enough, Braddy said.

“Someone might leave the party because they believe the party is not Trumplike enough,” he said. “The other mindset is that the party has become too Trumplike.”

While Trump caused some to leave the party, Carter Mermer, president of UF’s Turning Point USA chapter, believes the GOP can survive beyond him. Turning Point USA is a conservative nonprofit that caused controversy at UF in 2019 by hosting Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk.

“Trump was the face of the Republican Party, but he’s not the Republican Party,” said Mermer, a 22-year-old UF business administration senior. “The conservative movement is going to change and adapt over time.”

Mermer said those who sympathized with the Republican Party before Trump should give it another chance.

“If people want to come back to the Republican party, that’s good,” Mermer said.

He just wants them to make up their minds. @CorbinBolies cbolies@alligator.org @Hubbard.Lianna lhubbard@alligator.org @kevinmaheruf kmaher@alligator.org

Ashley Hicks // Alligator Staff

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5

‘They’re looking for a hand up’: New affordable housing available for insecure families THE PARTNERSHIP CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES FACING HOUSING INSECURITY

By Michelle Holder Alligator Staff Writer

A long blue ribbon stretched out in front of a newly renovated housing unit as Gainesville community members celebrated the success of their project.

Family Promise of Gainesville, a shelter and housing program for families who have experienced homelessness, and Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, a home repair program for homeowners with lower income, officially opened their affordable multi-family housing quad Friday morning.

The one-building property, located at 4327 SW 71st Terrace, includes four units, two of which are ready for tenants to move in Feb. 1, said Shari Jones, the program director of Family Promise of Gainesville. The complex features a red brick exterior and a renovated interior, with marble kitchen countertops and quality donated furniture.

The units are for the families

that are part of the Family Promise of Gainesville programs.

Low-income housing is hard to come by in the city and Alachua County, Jones said. The purpose of these units is to help families and promote closer family relationships. Mothers in the Family Promise program often work two or three jobs to make ends meet, limiting the time they can spend with their children.

While some units in the county charge more than $1,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, the rent at Family Promise housing costs around $650.

“These families are not looking for a handout; they’re looking for a hand up,” Jones said. “We’re hoping that through our projects that we can empower these families so that we can break this cycle of survival and change into a cycle of thriving.”

The TD Charitable Foundation, which is part of the TD Bank, donated $125,000 toward purchasing and renovating the property, said Jayne Moraski, the executive director of Family Promise of Gainesville. Other local funders include First Federal Bank and the Alachua County CARES grant

GPD, from pg. 1 environment, GPD spokesperson Graham Glover said. While the department has received many calls asking them to address road safety, by changing the speed limit or adding speed bumps and barriers, those actions are not in GPD’s jurisdiction.

The city commission met Jan. 21 to discuss a seven-part traffic safety plan proposed by commissioner Harvey Ward, which passed in a 4-3 vote.

Mayor Lauren Poe and commissioners Reina Saco and Adrian Hayes-Santos voted against the plan. Poe said he isn’t confident barriers would make the busy road any safer and might even encourage higher speeds.

Because University Avenue is a state road, the city is unable to make permanent changes without the Florida Department of Transportation’s input, so Gainesville can only educate and enforce the law, Poe said.

“Nothing will change unless the state of

for shelter renovation.

In the United States, there isn’t one metropolitan area where the minimum wage allows you to have affordable housing, according to U.S. & World Report News.

“There’s no way to work full time and actually afford a place to live in Gainesville if you’re making minimum wage,” Moraski said.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on further financial hardships for many people, leaving more people housing insecure.

Once the federal eviction moratorium expires in March, there will likely be an uptick of evictions, Moraski said.

Family Promise of Gainesville and Rebuilding Together North Central Florida plan to continue their partnership to create more affordable housing opportunities in the future.

“It takes a village to do this kind of thing, and that’s what we had, just a whole community supporting what we do,” Moraski said. @michellecholder mholder@alligator.org

Florida says so,” he said.

The commission said it plans to receive updates from City Manager Lee Feldman, who will approach the state department to discuss turning over responsibility of University Avenue and its intersection at 16th Street to the city of Gainesville.

If FDOT doesn’t agree to this, Commissioner David Arreola said, lobbying might be the next course of action.

“I believe that the families deserve to exhaust every single opportunity,” Arreola said.

Commissioner Ward discussed temporarily closing two blocks on the intersection of University Avenue and 17th Street while the city collects information on how to make the area safer. Ward said the traffic deaths in recent years are enough reason to close the intersection.

Lisa Paxton, the mother of Paxton, spoke during the public comment section of the meeting.

“I appreciate the work you’re doing as commissioners, but figure it out,” she said

Former Gators football player arrested Saturday LUKE ANCRUM WAS ARRESTED AFTER AN ALTERCATION AT FAT DADDY’S

By Grethel Aguila Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville Police arrested former Gators defensive lineman Luke Ancrum Saturday following a confrontation at Fat Daddy’s, a popular Midtown bar.

The 23-year-old, who donned No. 98 from 2015-2019, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault as well as aggravated battery, simple battery and criminal mischief Saturday, according to the GPD arrest report.

When two bouncers told him there was a $5 entrance fee, Ancrum threw $3 at their feet and tried to enter the bar, according to the report. The bouncers then told him to leave, and Ancrum flung several drinks at one of them.

Ancrum punched one of the

bouncers, giving him a swollen left eye, according to the report. He then hurled a metal barricade toward the bouncers, which struck a third victim’s hip. The report didn’t specify if the victim was another bouncer or a bystander.

Fat Daddy’s wasn’t spared from the flying barricade, and a window shattered on impact from Ancrum’s throw, according to the report. After being identified, Ancrum sat in a police car awaiting transport to the jail. He told a friend the situation “had him hot.”

The interaction, caught on the police car’s footage, continued.

Peeking in the car window, the friend said “F*****’ around at Fat Daddy’s!”

“First and last time,” Ancrum responded.

Ancrum is being held at the Alachua County Jail with his bond set at $130,000. @GrethelAguila gaguila@alligator.org

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

A white Honda Accord involved in the car crash on West University Avenue that killed Sophia Lambert and hospitalized five others on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. A memorial service in honor of Lambert was held at the Chabad UF Jewish Center on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. during the meeting. “This is not okay and we’re not going anywhere.”

@Anna_wilderr awilder@alligator.org @jack_prator jprator@alligator.org

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More than 400 attended memorial service SOPHIA, from pg. 1 the Miami native stepped onto UF’s campus Fall 2020 as a double major in theatre and psychology, Farkas said.

“Her energy and charisma is what attracted people to her,” she said. “She has such a bright light that anyone who even just met her for the first time is just so attracted to.”

Lambert was a passionate person with

a sincere and influential connection to her faith, Farkas said. As an active member of the UF Jewish Gator community, the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority and Dance Marathon, her involvement at UF was reflective of these qualities.

In a Facebook post shared shortly after Lambert’s death, the sorority called her a “bright light” within the sisterhood who “cared for others and loved deeply.”

“Sophia’s passion for theatre and in-

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

A girl recites a blessing after lighting a candle at the Jewish Greek Gator Unity Shabbat at the Chabad UF Jewish Student Center, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021.

‘Her light will never dim’ MAGGIE, from pg. 1 sions forced her to quit, Lisa said.

In high school, she joined the lacrosse team, where she earned the nickname “Pitbull Paxton,” close friend Kylee Borg said.

“She may have been 5 foot tall, but she would knock you over like she was 7 foot tall,” Borg, an 18-year-old UF criminology freshman, said.

Paxton loved UF, where she was proud to be accepted as a student, Lisa said. She began Summer 2020 as an environmental engineering sciences major and later switched to natural re-

source conservation.

She was motivated and dedicated, especially when it came to school, her 16-year-old sister Holly said. Paxton was Holly’s best friend — they did everything together. When she hears “Jukebox Hero” by Foreigner, Holly remembers playing Guitar Hero with her sister on a cruise, she said.

“I feel like she knew me more than I knew myself,” Holly said.

“She always had the best advice for me.”

Paxton joined UF’s Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in August after she was drawn to the sisters’ genuine natures, Lisa said. The chapter posted a statement about

Meghan McGlone // Alligator Stafft

Photo of Maggie Paxton’s memorial stone plaque at UF’s Kappa Kappa Gamma house. Paxton died in a hit and run along West University Avenue in December.

volvement in Dance Marathon, Chabad, Hillel, politics and Delta Phi Epsilon is a true testament to her character — beautiful inside and out,” according to the post.

Outside of her involvement at UF, Lambert spent her Memorial Day weekends in high school as a volunteer for Camp Jenny, a non- profit organization run through the Union for Reform Judaism, Camp Jenny Coordinator Julie Marsh said. Lambert would have been on Camp Jenny’s college staff this year beginning in February.

“Her campers I’m sure left camp knowing that she loved them,” Marsh said. “And without a shadow of a doubt, I truly believe that they left camp loving Sophia.”

Lambert usually worked with the fourthand fifth-grade students whom she connected with through a shared sense of humor and strong mentorship skills, Marsh said.

“I really believe that she showed them why it’s important to be a good person to other people,” she said. “And I also truly believe that the impact and the positivity that she brought to their lives will last a lifetime.”

In a statement made Wednesday, the Gainesville Police Department said it is earnestly investigating the accident, and the Traffic Homicide Investigation Unit is seeking to determine the contributing factors to the incident.

Two petitions were created urging for increased safety measures on University Avenue. As of Sunday, the traffic safety for UF

Paxton’s death Dec. 11 on Instagram. Kappa Kappa Gamma also placed a stone marker for Paxton outside of the chapter’s house, Lisa said.

“Maggie is so special to all of us and has impacted the lives of each person who had the honor of knowing her,” according to the post. “To know Maggie is to love Maggie.”

But Paxton should be remembered as more than just a UF student, Borg said. She was also a daughter, an older sister and a best friend, Borg said.

Paxton and Borg — lifelong friends — were both born Aug. 25, 2002, in the same Jacksonville Beach hospital, Borg said. Paxton genuinely listened and always knew what to say, Borg said.

“Even if you only met her once, you really remember her just because the way she would look at you and make you feel like you were being heard,” Borg said. “It was a privilege, honestly, to get to know her, even if it was only for a little bit.”

Paxton was passionate about the environment, women’s rights, mental health and other social issues, Haley Mainwaring, a 20-year-old UF behavioral and cognitive neuroscience sophomore, said. Paxton and Mainwaring met in August through Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Mainwaring later became Paxton’s big sister within the sorority, she said.

“She was just one of those kinds of people that when you meet them, it just kind of feels like you’ve known them your whole life,” Mainwaring said.

The Gainesville Police Department released a statement Jan. 20 regarding Paxton’s death and the death of UF student Sophia

Courtesy to the Alligator

Sophia Lambert, a first-year UF theatre and psychology major students petition had over 21,800 signatures and the petition to install speed bumps on University Avenue had over 14,800 signatures.

Donations to Camp Jenny can be made in Sophia’s honor through a fundraiser set up

by Lambert’s friends and family.

“She did care for everyone around her,” Farkas said. “The world is missing out on one of the brightest lights it could have had.” @abbeyhasebroock ahasebroock@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

Maggie Paxton, an 18-year-old UF natural resource conservation first-year Lambert, who died Jan. 16 after a car struck Lambert and four others on West University Avenue.

According to the statement, GPD initiated the Gator Special Traffic Enforcement Program, or Gator STEP, which is a program aimed toward increasing safety measures for Gainesville residents and students.

A “Gators Against Student Pedestrian Deaths” Facebook page and petitions have been created

by community members to make University Avenue safer and prevent this from happening in the future, Lisa said.

“You guys should feel safe walking across the street, and that place is nuts,” she said. “And they need to do something about it.” @juliana_f616 jferrie@alligator.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021 www.alligator.org/the_avenue

MUSIC

Sub Rosa Shows is secretly bringing back live music THE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES PRIORITIZING COVID-19 SAFETY KICKED OFF SATURDAY

By Heather Bushman Avenue Staff Writer

Local music’s best-kept secret might be right down the road.

Sub Rosa Shows, a new outdoor concert series, kicked off at the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery Saturday. Conceived as a means to enjoy live music in a safe environment, the series will be making stops in various natural spaces around Alachua County.

The catch? Aside from the

performers and ticket holders, no one knows where exactly the show will take place.

The series is part of a larger effort to reintroduce live music while also abiding by COVID-19 safety guidelines. Sub Rosa will enforce a mandatory mask policy and 6 feet of distance between each group of people attending the show together.

Guests will sign a waiver agreeing to the terms before attending, said Sub Rosa organizer Chelsea Carnes.

Carnes, a 32-year-old outreach project specialist at Santa Fe College, helped organize the series as a replacement for the annual Riverine Reunion, a part-retreat, part-festival weekend of indie folkrock performances in O’Leno State Park. When Riverine 2021 was

Courtesy to The Alligator

Saturday’s show at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, one of the natural spaces under the protection of the Alachua Conservation Trust, featured Gainesville psychedelic country group Palimony.

called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnes and her team developed Sub Rosa as a way to keep the essence of Riverine in a safer environment.

“The spirit’s still there,” Carnes said. “It’s still going to be a really beautiful setting, which is a huge part of Riverine.”

Carnes is a musician herself, a member of the local bands Wax Wings, Palimony, Rancho La Chua and Mourning Glories. Palimony, along with country-rock artist Kyle Keller, performed at Saturday’s show with Carnes on trumpet and violin. These artists, both rooted in Southern rock, match the intimacy of the event, Carnes said.

Sub Rosa Shows won’t involve the usual “singing around fires and dancing in a barn,” as Carnes said Riverine Reunion typically entails.

She said this year’s events still maintain the sense of community and togetherness that Riverine elicits – just with a little distance.

“It’s COVID-19,” she said. “You have to do what you can without putting people in danger.”

That sense of intimacy will be supported by the shows’ secrecy.

‘Sub Rosa’ is Latin for ‘under the rose,’ which describes a secret meeting place the flower marks, and this sentiment can be seen in the series’ execution.

To enforce the audience capacity, only the performers and attendees will know the show’s location, which will rotate through various natural spaces in Alachua County throughout the series.

Guests will only receive the location via email after they’ve purchased their tickets.

“We don’t want randos showing up,” Carnes said. “And, since we’re outdoors, it’s not like we have a door that people have to get in through.”

After being awarded a $500 grant Oct. 2020 from the Alachua County Arts Council, Sub Rosa partnered with MusicGNV, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists creatively and financially, and the Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), a nonprofit created to “protect the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources in and around North Central Florida,” according to their website.

Heather Obara, a 33-year-old outreach coordinator with the ACT, said the idea of bringing back live music while still promoting safety is what drew the group to partner with Sub Rosa.

Along with preserving the natural resources of 16 counties in North Central Florida – as far north as Hamilton County and as far south as Sumter County – the ACT also works to educate the public about conservation and the nature in the area.

Obara said the secret shows will not only allow the audience to enjoy live music but also offer an up-close and personal experience of nature.

“I think that the really cool concept is you don’t know where you’re going, but you’re going somewhere potentially new that you’re going to learn about,” Obara

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said.

Sub Rosa has tentative plans for another show at the end of March, after which they’ll decide whether to continue the series. With a capacity of 50 audience members, Sub Rosa is a decidedly smaller event. But Carnes said the quick sellout – tickets for the Jan. 23 show were gone in just 24 hours – was indicative of the greater longing for live music.

“It’s just a dose of joy and happiness and art and music,” Carnes said.

More information on Sub Rosa’s upcoming shows can be found on its Facebook Page. @hgrizzl hbushman@alligator.org

FASHION

UF alumna behind Lion’s Den Creative collaborates with Lee Jeans VANESSA VILLARREAL WORKED WITH LEE JEANS TO GIFT CELEBRITIES NINE HAND-PAINTED JACKETS

By Katie Delk Avenue Staff Writer

Vanessa Villarreal cried when she read the email.

About a year after her first pop-up sale with Lion’s Den Creative, the 23-year-old UF alumna received a request to collaborate with Lee Jeans.

A representative from the label wanted her to paint nine denim jackets to gift influencers for the holidays.

As a self-proclaimed “jean hoarder,” Villarreal started Lion’s Den Creative in September 2019, handpainting designs on items of her extensive denim collection.

Villarreal’s best friend, Aniyah Morinia, was one of the first to hear about the Lee Jeans email.

Morinia, who described herself as a behind-thescenes public relations person of Lion’s Den

Creative, said she knew the message was urgent when she received a text from Villarreal of her name in all capital letters.

“It was just really sentimental and a moment that we’ll definitely always remember, especially as bigger things happen,” Morinia said.

“We were also grateful that her business had grown to this level where she could get recognized from a major denim company; that’s like the dream.”

Villarreal spent over 50 hours adding her unique art to the jackets for celebrities such as Sam Smith, Jessica Alba, Heather Morris and Stephen “tWitch” Boss.

During the collaboration, Villarreal said Lee Jeans gave her creative freedom. She sketched two designs for each celebrity, which were inspired by their respective social media color palettes and talents. From there, she sent the ideas to a representative who offered suggestions.

Although working with denim isn’t a new medium for Villarreal, she had to adapt her process for this project. Normally, she paints jean pockets white as a base layer to sketch her design on. Since the jackets were dark denim,

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pencil drawings weren’t visible, so she had to place trust in her hands.

For the pieces she sells at Lion’s Den Creative, Villarreal said small flaws eat her up. But for this project, she didn’t have time to find faults. She only had five days.

Each jacket took her five hours to paint, except the one for Sam Smith, which took 15 hours.

For Smith’s, Villarreal originally drew simple flowers inspired by their merchandise. However, without the luxury of a thin brush, she said the flowers looked “like blobs.” Rather than start over, she decided to make the design intricate and added more color and lines.

“That one was super stressful, but I’m really happy with the product,” she said. “And to see that Sam Smith reposted it, it was completely worth it.”

Heather Morris also publicly recognized Villarreal’s work. The dancer and actress posted a picture with her jacket, and she messaged Villarreal, saying sometimes her son steals the jacket from her closet.

From the time Villarreal read the first email

to when celebrities celebrated her work, she felt disbelief. And the timing, she said, was divine.

“When it comes to Lion’s Den, I just have to give glory to God for all that’s happened, because it definitely wasn’t my doing independently,” Villarreal said. “I was just taken aback.

Again, this is like a ‘God, is this you?’ type moment.”

Although she has made handiwork since she was four, like lined-paper bird houses and crocheted blankets, she didn’t begin painting until two and a half years ago. She didn’t study art either. So for a long time, Villarreal said the title “artist” felt like it didn’t fit right. But the Lee collaboration allowed her to believe it.

“I’ve come to the realization, in reality, I am an artist. I’m a creator. I create. I paint,” she said. “And I’m pretty good at it.”

With orders shipped from California to New York, and now to celebrities’ homes, Villarreal’s art — and her belief in it — only continues to grow. @katie_delk kdelk@alligator.org

Heating up

The lacrosse team will kick start its season next month after a premature ending brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, pg. 12

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El Caimán

LUNES, 25 DE ENERO DE 2021 www.alligator.org/elcaiman

Como estudiantes Latinos pueden usar los recursos de La Casita esta primavera CÓMO LOS ESTUDIANTES HISPANOS PUEDEN APROVECHAR EL AÑO NUEVO Y ENCONTRAR SU SEGUNDO HOGAR

Por Kristine Villarroel Escritora de Caimán

Para muchos estudiantes, el Instituto de Culturas Latinas/Hispanas cumple el rol de una segunda casa en el cual pueden congregarse con la comunidad local de estudiantes afines. La Casita, el afectuoso nombre dado por tal comunidad a la sede del instituto ubicada en 1504 W University Ave, ha funcionado como un espacio seguro para la socialización de estudiantes hispanos en UF por décadas.

“La gente venía a pasar el rato en los sofás, tomar siestas, estudiar, comer juntos, salir al patio”, ilustra Angie Todd, embajadora de HLA y estudiante de psicología de segundo año en UF de 19 años.

Hoy este espacio tiene una cara distinta. La luz entrando por los ventanales en el primer piso del edificio ilumina la mayormente desolada sala principal de La Casita. La edificación, tal como el resto de espacios de congregación disponibles para estudiantes, ha visto una gran reducción en cuanto a números de visitantes dada la actual pandemia del COVID-19.

“Ahora ves a lo mejor a dos o tres personas venir a lo largo de varias horas, y usualmente se mantienen en las salas de estudio. Ya no ves a personas interactuando en los sofás

como antes”, continúa Todd. “La pandemia pegó bastante fuerte”.

El uso obligatorio de mascarillas faciales, enforzamiento del distanciamiento social a seis pies de distancia, registración virtual al entrar al edificio, reducción de la capacidad y el cierre temporal de algunos espacios son algunas de las medidas de seguridad que se pueden encontrar al visitar La Casita. Al llegar, embajadores de HLA le dan la bienvenida a los visitantes y les ofrecen un breve recorrido por los espacios de La Casita. Dentro de las paredes del edificio se puede sentir el espíritu de comunidad e inclusividad que inspiró la creación del instituto.

En el segundo piso del edificio se encuentra un gran mural detallando la trayectoria e historia de la comunidad hispana en UF y el contexto histórico del surgimiento de La Casita como espacio seguro para la congregación y socialización de estudiantes hispanos.

Establecida en 1994, La Casita es el resultado del activismo vigoroso y organización efectiva por parte de los estudiantes latinos e hispanos de UF. Con el enfoque primario de servir no sólo como un espacio de convivencia sino también como un espacio en el que se fomenta la educación comunitaria, La Casita tiene una larga historia como ambiente para conversaciones abiertas y honestas sobre las distintas experiencias compartidas por los estudiantes que ocupan este espacio.

Una de las metas principales del instituto ha sido combatir la alienación y aislamiento que los estudiantes latinos e hispanos enfrentan al

salir de regiones altamente hispanas tales como el Sur de Florida y llegar a una institución predominantemente blanca como lo es UF. Al proveer un espacio seguro y abierto para estos estudiantes, La Casita enfatiza el sentido de comunidad y unidad dentro de la universidad. Sin embargo, luchar contra este sentimiento de soledad en medio de un año de distanciamiento social y aislamiento preventivo resulta un desafío sin precedentes.

“Ser un estudiante de primer año en este tiempo es tan difícil, y los que somos estudiantes de años superiores sabemos como todo cambio,” comentó Victoria Grant, presidenta de la Asociación de Estudiantes Hispanos – HSA por sus siglas en inglés – y estudiante de neurociencia de cuarto año en UF de 21 años.

“Hay muchísimas oportunidades de involucrarse y conocer gente, pero a veces vas a tener que hacer un voto de confianza y confiar que tienes lo que se necesita y que vas a encontrar gente que es afín a ti, que tiene una mentalidad similar a la tuya, y con esa confianza salir al mundo”.

Mediante una gran variedad de eventos virtuales, la comunidad latina e hispana de UF ha mantenido el espíritu de colaboración y congregación que se retrataba en los espacios de La Casita en los tiempos pre-pandemia.

Grant hace énfasis en la herramienta de Gator Connect como puente entre los estudiantes y las distintas oportunidades de participación en la comunidad, sugiriendo contactar directamente a los miembros de la directiva de cualquier

organización en la que esté interesado. También menciona el rol de las redes sociales y el sitio web de HSA como recurso para encontrar información sobre la organización así como las organizaciones afiliadas a HSA. “Encuentra un lugar que funcione y encuentra un hogar allí; y si no lo encuentras en un lugar lo encontrarás en otro, solo toma tiempo y esfuerzo”.

Aparte de proveer un espacio físico para fomentar la comunidad, La Casita también sirve para conectar a los estudiantes a los distintos recursos a su disponibilidad dentro del campus. Como edificio, La Casita ofrece espacios de estudio, una cocina a disponibilidad de los estudiantes y salones de conferencia en los cuales

Por Manny Rea, Sofia Echeverry y Valeria Pagnani Escritores de Caimán

Traducido por Valeria Pagnani Los esfuerzos de distribuir pruebas de COVID-19 de UF se han mantenido constantes durante la primera semana y media de clases. Durante los últimos siete días, las tasas de positividad se han estancado en un promedio de alrededor del 2%.

La universidad recibió 2.663 pruebas negativas de profesores, personal y estudiantes más 37 pruebas positivas recogidas de sus laboratorios el lunes. El

lunes pasado, 4.547 dieron negativo y 47 positivo.

Los resultados positivos totales de COVID-19 en los afiliados de la UF alcanzaron los 7.562 y el número de personas en cuarentena se redujo de 1.286 el jueves a 925 el martes, según el tablero.

Esta primavera, el 40% de los estudiantes se están preparando para clases presenciales.

Con 350 salones disponibles y 4,908 clases presenciales para primavera, los estudiantes y la facultad de UF están confiando en protocolos como pruebas obligatorias, uso de mascarillas y distanciamiento social para permanecer a salvo del COVID-19. ¿Qué ocurre si alguien en una clase presencial da positivo para COVID-19?

Las clases presenciales no se moverán a en-línea, pero los individuos que den positivos se unirán a una alternativa enlínea o HyFlex mientras que esperan por el OK en su estatus One.UF de “regreso a las instalaciones”, escribió la Directora de

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Envíanos un twet @alligatorElCaiman.

Read more online

kvillarroel@alligator.org.

Isabella Barnet // Alligator Staff

Un foto de La Casita.

¿Qué pasa si mi compañero de clase tiene COVID-19?

LAS PRUEBAS QUINCENALES, EL RASTREO DE CONTACTO Y LAS ALTERNATIVAS DE HYFLEX REVOLUCIONAN LOS ESTUDIOS PRESENCIALES

algunos profesores ofrecen instrucción auxiliar.

“Como embajadora, amo cuando la gente viene y me pregunta [sobre los recursos disponibles] porque me da mucho placer darle a todos los mismos recursos que yo tuve”, comentó Todd. “Definitivamente diría que vengan y pidan un recorrido, e inmediatamente te sentirás incluido en una gran familia. No tienes que conocer a nadie aquí; todos son tan amables y abiertos que se va a sentir como una segunda familia”.

La Casita está abierta de lunes a viernes las horas entre 10 a.m. y 5 p.m.

Asuntos Estudiantiles, Sara Tanner.

Los individuos que den positivo deben autoaislarse durante 10 días desde el inicio de los síntomas. Los individuos asintomáticos deben autoaislarse durante 10 días después de su colección de laboratorio, según la línea directa Screen, Test & Protect. Ellos tampoco serán obligados a hacerse pruebas nuevamente durante 90 días debido a que cualquier prueba positiva resulta del cuerpo deshaciéndose del virus.

Los estudiantes en la clase no serán notificados de que alguien en su clase dio positivo a no ser que han estado en contacto cercano con un estudiante positivo para COVID-19. El contacto cercano se define como la distancia de 2 metros (6 pies) por al menos 15 minutos a partir de las 48 horas antes del inicio de los síntomas hasta que la persona esté aislada, escribió Tanner.

De ser este el caso, los oficiales de salud pública se comunicarán con las personas de infección sospechosa o confirmada

El Caimán is the Spanish-Language version of The Alligator. Read more at Alligator.org.

para recordar a quien sea que han podido contagiar y alertar a esos contactos, según la iniciativa de Screen, Test & Protect de UF Health. Personas con contacto cercano tendrán que autoaislarse durante 14 días.

Los miembros de la facultad tendrán acceso a ver quien ha sido autorizado para asistir a clases, pero la aplicación de la ley por permanecer fuera de clase recaerá en la responsabilidad de cada individuo o sanciones escolares como suspensión y expulsión, escribió Tanner.

“El ayudar a mantener a nuestra comunidad sana es una responsabilidad compartida”, escribió. “Es la responsabilidad del individuo seguir las normas y quedarse en cuarentena/aislamiento como es apropiado”.

En el otoño, no hubo casos de propagación comunitaria en el aula, escribió Tanner. En el otoño se vieron un 35% de clases presenciales o híbridas en las secciones de cursos de pregrado, posgrado y profesionales.

Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org

Síganos para actualizaciones Para obtener actualizaciones so El Caimán, síganos en línea en www.alligator.org/elcaiman

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solution on page 10 Release January 25, 2021 Release Date: Date: Monday, Wednesday, January 20, 2021

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MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021 www.alligator.org/sports

FEATURE

Softball is a family affair for the Goelz sisters KINSEY AND AVERY GOELZ WILL SUIT UP FOR THE ORANGE AND BLUE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FEB. 13 AGAINST USF

birth story, T.J. and Liz welcomed Avery, their second daughter, without complications on June 21, 2002.

By Zachary Huber

Growing up, the sisters, while different, shared an inseparable bond.

As a 4-year-old, Avery tried to give herself a haircut — a story among Kinsey’s favorites.

Kinsey said Avery picked up scissors and gave herself an impromptu haircut. The first time she did, she was only missing strands in some spots. A couple of weeks later, she messed her hair up in the front.

“She had to get her haircut basically like a boy,” Kinsey said. “I remember my dad saying that if she ever got ahold of the scissors again, that they would just shave her entire head, so she never cut her hair again.”

Kinsey always lived life by the book, T.J. said. Avery was always outgoing and spunky.

“We think she’s (Avery) going to be a good lawyer because she makes really good arguments quickly on her feet,” he said. “There’s times where we tell her something and she comes back with something, and I’ll look away and go ‘Damn, she’s right.’”

The sisters see parts of who they are in their parents.

Kinsey said she inherited her father’s blonde hair and has to work to get good grades in school like her mother.

Unlike Kinsey, Avery said she’s book smart like her father. She also has her mother’s personality quirk of not backing down in an argument.

On the softball field, Avery inherited her mother’s athleticism and speed, Kinsey said.

“I’m nowhere near as athletic as Avery,” Kinsey said. “I always joke that I got my dad’s athleticism because he was a pitcher and didn’t have to do all the super-athletic stuff that a middle infielder would have to do.”

Sports Writer

It’s rare to witness siblings become Division I athletes. The chances are even slimmer to see them compete side by side. But Avery and Kinsey Goelz are an unusual duo — even if it’s not obvious when they step out on the softball diamond.

The powerful pairing almost didn’t come to fruition, but they’ll now both suit up in orange and blue this spring.

Avery and Kinsey weren’t the first Division I athletes in their family. Their parents, T.J. and Liz, played baseball and softball at the University of North Florida, where they met during a workout.

T.J. said they met in the weight room. Toward the end of baseball’s workout, softball came in.

“She came in, and I said, ‘Who’s that?’” T.J said.

Their relationship blossomed and a fairytale romance turned into 25 years together.

Shortly after their marriage, the Goelz became pregnant with their first child. Five months into the pregnancy, Liz’s routine checkup became a rush to the hospital. Doctors told T.J. his wife was in labor.

“I almost fell down after hearing the news,” he said.

He then glanced down at his smart watch, realizing it was four months too soon.

While at the hospital, doctors did everything they could to delay the birth because the baby’s lungs weren’t fully developed yet, he said.

If the baby were born at 24 weeks, her chances of survival would increase from 1015% to 40%, he said. He met with clergy while doctors were doing everything they could to stop Liz from going into labor.

“That was pretty eye-opening,” he said.

“They wanted me to make funeral arrangements just in case the baby didn’t make it.”

On April 30, 1999, the baby girl was born — 10 days after the doctors started treatment to slow down her pregnancy. T.J. and Liz, while admiring their new baby girl through a neonatal intensive care unit incubator, were flipping through a baby names book. They stopped at the sight of the name Kinsey, meaning victorious in Middle English.

“We needed her to win that battle and be victorious so that she could live,” T.J. said.

And that baby was Kinsey Goelz, who still had to fight for her life.

She was born at 1 lb., 8 oz., and lost 4 oz after her birth. At two months, she had eye surgery, weighing only 2 lbs. She was so small that T.J. could take his wedding ring and slide it over her hand and onto her shoulder.

After 88 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, the Goelz strolled out of the hospital and into the parking lot for the first time as a family.

Despite waves of emotions with Kinsey’s

*

*

*

*

*

*

As time went on, their connection only grew.

In 2015, the sisters were in a travel ball tournament championship game in California.

It was one of the few times the duo played on the same team because of their four year age difference.

Kinsey came up to bat late in a scoreless game with a runner on third. Avery watched in the dugout as Kinsey sent a chopper over the third baseman’s head, scoring the gamewinning run.

Avery said she was jumping and screaming in the dugout, repeating ‘That’s my sister!

That’s my sister!’

The sisters also fondly reflect on when they both clobbered an out-of-the-park home run on Kinsey’s senior night. The game was memorable, they said, because they shared the spotlight.

But 700 miles limited their dynamic.

When Kinsey graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Florida, she committed and enrolled to play softball at another SEC school — Mississippi State.

While on a visit, Avery realized she wanted to be a Gator and committed in ninth grade

After an 0-5 start in conference play, the women’s basketball team won two straight in an attempt to turn their season around before the SEC Conference Tournament.

Gaining Momentum

even though her father was a diehard FSU fan.

Despite telling her Gator fan mother she could never go to Florida, she realized UF was a solid option for academics and softball. Her father, she said, was supportive and wanted her to do what she wanted, so she wouldn’t have to transfer like Kinsey.

Kinsey left Mississippi State for Florida after two years as a Bulldog. During her freshman fall, the infielder suffered an elbow injury. In the last game of the fall season, Kinsey played shortstop when a slapper hit the ball up the middle. She knew she had to field and throw the ball quickly because the batter was a speedster. After she fielded the ball, she threw it sidearm, getting it to the first baseman in time to get her out.

When she released the ball, she felt a pop in her elbow.

The trainer told her to ice it, but the pain persisted. The next week, she returned to the trainer and told her that her elbow still didn’t feel right.

Another week went by and it was the end of the fall season when all infielders had to complete a velocity test. Her throwing speed, she said, was 10 mph slower than normal.

That’s when Kinsey knew something was wrong. The trainer, however, still wouldn’t let her see a doctor about her elbow.

She decided to go to her head coach Vann Stuedeman, who yelled at her and insisted that she didn’t need to see a doctor about her elbow, she said. Eventually, Stuedeman compromised and allowed her to see a doctor to help her recover from her injury mentally and physically.

Meanwhile, Kinsey kept her family updated on what was going on in Starkville, Mississippi, T.J. said.

“They almost kind of blew it off like they thought it wasn’t real,” he said.

When Kinsey came home for Christmas break, T.J. said he had to get involved after seeing Kinsey in pain.

“I had to go back up there and basically insist that she gets checked out and get a full MRI,” he said. “I think that they (Mississippi State) even got mad at me for that, but I’m super thankful that I did.”

Even after the MRI revealed that Kinsey had a partial tear in her elbow, the coaches and training staff tried to convince her that she didn’t need to redshirt.

Kinsey is a shortstop and throwing is a pivotal part of her position. T.J. said he told the coaching staff that she would get Tommy John surgery and miss the season.

Kinsey didn’t have to miss a full year after the surgery, but she was still sidelined for half the year, T.J. said.

Frustrated by the coaching staff, T.J. said Kinsey’s injury wasn’t taken seriously even though she would do anything for her team.

He recalled a fall showcase game that he coached where she ran for a long foul ball on a windy day while playing shortstop. The ball kept blowing away from her but she stayed with it and ran face-first into the fence and caught the pole. She somehow managed to make the spectacular catch while T.J. hurried over to make sure she was alright.

“She got up and she’s bleeding and her teeth are all messed up, and she’s just trying to

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spit and she’s like, ‘I’m okay, Dad. I’m okay.’”

He told Kinsey that he’d substitute someone for her even though she didn’t want to leave the field.

“For them to assume that she was faking it or that it wasn’t a real injury is crazy,” he said.

The Alligator made several attempts to reach out to Mississippi State University athletics for comment but the phone calls and emails went unreturned. Stuedeman was relieved of her coaching duties after the 2019 season. She currently isn’t coaching softball.

When she decided to transfer, Kinsey said the road to Florida was a “no-brainer” because her sister was already committed. *

*

*

Unlike Kinsey, Avery overcame her biggest obstacle before she laced her cleats to compete at the collegiate level.

Her high school softball team, the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs, coached by her father, were undefeated and considered the country’s best high school softball team.

Their hopes for the 2020 season shattered when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the nation.

Avery was heartbroken. She felt like all the stars aligned for the Mustangs to win a state championship based on their key players returning. Their roster had seven players who were committed to play Division I college softball. They also had won 38 out of their last 39 games.

“I cried about it for a little bit,” she said. “I never knew that would be my last high school game. There's no senior night. There's no state championship. Like, we're just done, like, there's nothing we can do to make that up.”

However, the Goelz family is thrilled that the sisters are on the same team again. Liz and T.J. said they’ll covet Feb. 13. It will be the first time they get to see them take the field at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for the first time — together.

“It’s going to be pretty emotional,” T.J. said. “It was incredibly special for them to get the opportunity to be at the same school and playing together again.”

Florida head coach Tim Walton said he’s thankful to have the Goelz sisters suit up for the Gators.

“They have a unique opportunity in front of them that not all siblings get to share at this level,” he said. “I look forward to seeing them grow as players, as people and as sisters competing together for championships as Gators.”

Feb. 13 will be a marvelous moment for the Goelz family after all the heartache they’ve endured.

Avery and Kinsey will climb the concrete dugout steps, emerging from the Florida dugout for the National Anthem when the Gators play the University of South Florida. They’ll line up along the third base side with the rest of the Florida players, but Avery and Kinsey will stand out because of what’s stamped on the backs of their jerseys: Goelz.

Follow us for updates

For updates on UF athletics, follow us on Twitter at @alligatorSports or online at www.alligator.org/sports

@zacharyahuber zhuber@alligator.org

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021

LACROSSE

A look ahead to the Gators lacrosse season US LACROSSE MAGAZINE PREDICTS THE GATORS TO BE RANKED EIGHTH AFTER RANKING SIXTH LAST SEASON

By Karina Wilson Sports Writer

The last time the Florida lacrosse team laced up was March 10, 2020 against Navy at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

It was an emphatic 17-9 win over the No. 19 team in the country. However, UF’s dominant victory would

be its last in 2020, before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The squad finished the season ranked sixth in the nation with a 6-2 record. Now, the Gators are more than ready for 2021.

“Our team is coming off of a strong fall and is ready to take on the spring,” head coach Amanda O’Leary said. “Across the board, people made some giant strides forward individually, and I think as a team we’ve made some really positive strides forward.”

US Lacrosse Magazine has the Gators ranked eighth. O’Leary, how-

Courtesy to The Alligator

Midfielder Shannon Kavanagh cuts toward the goal during a 15-14 win over Maryland last season on Feb. 15. She scored a career-high eight goals in the upset win in the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex at College Park, Maryland.

ever, anticipates a lot of challenges for the upcoming season.

“We are on the road for the first eight games, so we’re going to have to make sure we’re focused,” she said.

While seniors were stripped of their season, defender Cara Trombetta will be returning to the lineup with the extra year of eligibility she’s been granted due to the pandemic.

“I didn’t really feel finished yet,” Trombetta said. “I didn’t want all that hard work to amount to nothing.”

Trombetta finished the 2020 season with six honors. The defenseman made Inside Lacrosse’s Division I Preseason All-America First Team as well as the Tewaaraton Watch List. She was also the AAC Defender of the Week Feb. 10 and 17 and March 2.

Her performance off the field and in the classroom landed her on Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll and the AAC All-Academic Team.

She closed out the brief season on ILWomen’s All-America First Team.

“I still get up, work out, go on the fields with my teammates and work hard every day,” Trombetta said. “I want to win the national championship. That’s something that means so much more to me than individual awards.”

Senior midfielder Shannon Kavanaugh also has high expectations for the 2021 season.

“I’m definitely excited just to get out on the field again,” Kavanaugh said. “So, I’m definitely looking forward to being able to play some good competition again.”

Kavanaugh was the player to beat last season, finishing with eight accolades. Similar to Trombetta, Kavanaugh began 2020 on the Tewaaraton Watch List as well as Inside Lacrosse’s Division I Preseason AllAmerica Second Team.

Player of the week is Kavanaugh’s specialty, as she was US Lacrosse’s National Player of the Week Feb. 17 and IWLCA’s National Offensive Player of the Week Feb. 18.

Kavanaugh was the AAC’s midfielder of the week Feb. 10 and 17 and March 2 and 9.

Academically, she made Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll as well as the AAC’s All-Academic Team.

She ended 2020 on ILWomen’s AllAmerica First Team.

Heading into 2021’s season, Kavanaugh is eager to pick up where the team left off last March.

“Going into each game and just focusing on winning each one is what’s going to be most important,” Kavanaugh said.

To O’Leary, the pandemic is the biggest concern. She said she has urged her players about the importance of staying safe during the offseason.

“Playing our season is the main priority, so we need to do everything

we can to make sure that we’re taking all precautions,” O’Leary said.

However, Florida’s head coach is optimistic about the spring season.

O’Leary’s roster remains nearly identical, adding only seven new recruits.

Brie Catts is a two-time Georgia state champion and four-time Under Armour Underclass All-American. In 2017 and 2018, the midfielder was invited to Nike Elite 120 and Under Armour 150 — two invite-only recruiting events. Catts was a varsity starter all four years of high school.

Goalkeeper Elyse Finnelle made Inside Lacrosse’s Top-40 Young Gun Junior Watch List. The Heather Leigh Albert Award finalist was an Under Armour All-American Baltimore Champion in 2019-20. She was a four-sport varsity athlete in high school.

The duo will be joined by fellow freshmen midfielder Josie Hahn, attacker Emma LoPinto, defenseman Celeste Forte, midfielder Macy Zaban and defenseman Alexa Waters.

Going into its 12th year, the program is ready to chomp.

“We have the same goals that we always do. We want to win a conference championship, we want to compete for a national championship,” O’Leary said. @kk_rinaa kwilson@alligator.org