Michelle and Finnley Duncan read to Poppi during the Purrs and Tails event hosted by the Humane Society of North Central Florida, Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. The event was meant to encourage kids to practice their reading skills and socialize with the cats. Read more on pg. 3.
A look into the contract of new UF president Stuart Bell
BELL WILL EARN A MINIMUM $2 MILLION ANNUALLY ACROSS FIVE YEARS
By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
The Florida Board of Governors approved an employment agreement for Stuart Bell, who was appointed as UF’s president at a July 1 special meeting.
Bell’s contract outlines a five-
Story
year term, a $2 million base salary and 20 performance metrics used to evaluate his performance, retention and potential contract extension.
His appointment took effect July 1 and runs through June 30, 2031.
Bell’s $2 million base salary matches that of current interim president Donald Landry, whose contract included the opportunity to earn up to $500,000 in performance incentives. Former
interim President Kent Fuchs earned approximately $1 million during his 12-month tenure leading the university Aug. 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025.
The agreement directs Bell to work with trustees to develop a university-wide strategic vision and execution plan while prioritizing the hiring of permanent leadership across the university.
The contract specifically calls for the appointment of a permanent
Melrose residents threaten lawsuit against WildFlowers Music Park
A LETTER TO THE
ALACHUA COUNTY COMMISSION ALLEGED THE PARK VIOLATED ITS TEMPORARY
USE PERMIT
By Logan McBride Alligator Staff Writer
In a five-page letter to the Alachua County Commission, a lawyer questioned on behalf of Melrose residents whether the new WildFlowers Music Park violated its temporary use permit.
Melrose is an unincorporated community shared between Alachua, Bradford, Clay and Putnam Counties. It has no local government or official municipality. The park’s 270-acre event space required a temporary use permit, which allows for special events of up to three days long.
Following a six-hour debate, the Alachua County Commission approved the temporary use permit in February with two conditions: WildFlowers must post no trespassing signs along boundaries of the park and no parking signs near private property on Northeast 35th Street.
The WildFlowers Festival of Music and Dance was held March 13-15.
Anthony Sabatini, a Lake City commissioner and lawyer for Sabatini Law Firm, said the dispute over the legality of the permit could grow if nothing changes.
“Depending on what the county finds, if they’re not willing to revoke this or change the conditions or stop the abuse of the permit,
then we’ll file a lawsuit,” Sabatini said.
Alachua County commissioners have previously said this was a one-time permit.
The letter outlined five major points: possible failure to comply with tent conditions specified in the permit, bypassing county permitting processes by constructing right-of-way improvements before approval, possible use of property outside its scope, a lack of an agricultural nexus and possible expansion beyond intended scope.
An agricultural nexus refers to the park’s standing as an agricultural tourism destination.
Sabatini said these patterns of noncompliance, paired with the out-of-control noise associated with the festival, have led residents to speak out.
“They’re very angry because their quality of life is being destroyed by the park,” Sabatini said.
Under the temporary use permit, the commission required permits be obtained one week prior to the event for tents exceeding 900 square feet. The letter said county records contained unresolved applications shortly before the event.
The letter also pointed out a construction of right-of-way improvements — specifically a limerock driveway connecting to Northeast 255th Drive. County records indicated the permit application may have been submitted after construction had already begun, the letter said.
Additionally, the document questioned whether the property
Alligator Staff
Get to know soon-to-be ACPS
board member Jancie Vinson
From town halls to the school board, Vinson leaves a lasting impression on
By Grace Larson Alligator Staff Writer
Alachua County residents may recognize Jancie Vinson from the crowd at school board meetings or as someone who regularly signs up for public comment. Soon, her voice will be heard not from the audience but from the podium in the front of the Alachua County School Board room.
This year, Vinson set out for a school board position for a third time — and her victory came early. She was the only candidate to qualify for the board’s District 5 seat.
Vinson is no stranger to Alachua County or its public schools. She grew up in southwest Gainesville as one of 11 children on a small farm.
“I understand how you have to work hard,” Vinson said. “My parents instilled that in me. They instilled the importance of education, too.”
Growing up in the civil rights era and witnessing desegregation firsthand, Vinson graduated from Buchholz High School and set her sights on UF.
UF didn’t accept many Black students at the time, Vinson said, but she was determined that if she applied herself, she could go anywhere.
Vinson found her way, eventually graduating from UF with her bachelor’s degree in business administration. During her time at UF and the years that followed, Vinson joined several clubs integral to her goal of increasing the rights of all Alachua County residents.
Vinson has long been a member of Delta Sigma Theta, a Divine Nine sorority she joined during her time at UF to empower Black women. She has also been involved in the American Association of University Women and the Gainesville Woman’s Club, which seek to promote equity and support for women.
Vinson has also been a member of the Alachua County branch of the NAACP, the largest and oldest civil rights organization in the United States.
Along with her involvement in these clubs and in town hall meetings, Vinson has remained committed to public education.
When asked why it matters to her, she simply replied, “Why not?”
Throughout the years, Vinson has spent time traveling the
world, observing other countries’ education systems.
“I would like to see us in the same shape,” she said. “That [we] take education seriously and make opportunities [available] to everybody.”
For Vinson’s friends, it’s no surprise she ran for the school board seat.
Parmela Marshall-Koons, the 64-year-old executive director of At the WELLness Network, met Vinson at a community event after moving to Alachua County 12 years ago. In her eyes, Vinson’s experience in the community makes her a strong future school board member.
“She really is a servant leader, standing in the gap for families when they're having concerns, standing in the gap for other people in the community,” Marshall-Koons said. “Those kinds of things you don't have to do, but she's done those. She has done those without being elected.”
This “genuine concern” is apparent in other parts of her life, she added. Vinson is currently raising her 9-year-old godchild — something Marshall-Koons said she doesn’t have to do, but chooses to do.
“She is from this community but then also has a genuine concern for our children and what is happening with them,” MarshallKoons said, “to make sure that they are … properly educated and have an opportunity to have an equal playing field.”
Vinson’s concern for children
Gainesville
in the community is also impacted by her time working in the Florida Department of Corrections. Vinson served the department for more than 36 years, eventually retiring as a probation supervisor.
Paula Stahmer, a 77-year-old lawyer, met Vinson in the ‘90s when Vinson was working as a community control officer. She said her experience makes her a strong advocate against the “school-to-prison” pipeline.
The “school-to-prison” pipeline refers to school and community policies that push vulnerable school children out of classrooms and into criminal justice systems.
In 2025, 114 juveniles were arrested for first-time misdemeanor offenses in Alachua County, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
“I think she's seen lots of instances where young people could have been diverted successfully without posing a danger to the community and could have avoided a very problematic future,” she said. “So she's very anxious to see that the schools, to the extent they're able, are sensitive to those kinds of problems.”
School board elections will take place Aug. 18. Because Vinson is the only person to qualify for the District 5 seat, community members can expect her to take office in November.
and clear in its news reports and editorials. If you find an error, please call our newsroom at 352-376-4458 or email editor@alligator.org 352-376-4458 NEWSROOM:
Jancie Vinson speaks at a
by the
Feb. 16, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Purrs & Tales offers growing opportunity for young learners to read and cuddle with kittens
on June 18 and will continue until Aug. 8, held from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday through Saturday, with plans to continue during the school year.
By Emily Medina-Finsen Alligator Contributing Writer
As the new school year approaches, young readers practice their pronunciation, comprehension and add new words to their ever-expanding vocabulary. A local animal shelter argues there’s no better way to motivate them through challenging learning curves than with a kitten curled in their lap in silent support of their literary advancements.
This was 7-year-old Finnley’s reality on June 20 when his mother, Michelle Duncan, a 31-year-old veterinarian, brought him to the Humane Society of North Central Florida. The shelter hosted one of its new educational programs, Purrs & Tales.
Finnley loves to read graphic novels, his favorite being “The Legend of Zelda” comics. His dad promotes his reading with 10 to 15 minutes of practice a day.
His time reading to the cats of the humane society was well spent and rewarded with each kitten that purred into his hand.
Purrs & Tales began this year
The event is free, with books provided by the humane society’s thrift store. Not only does it help kids practice reading, but it also helps the animals get human exposure and increases their chances of adoption.
Over 100 animals were adopted from the shelter in June. Many were dogs that came to the humane society with serious medical needs and spent months receiving treatment with support from the community, the humane society said on its Instagram.
Finnley already has a cat and dogs at home. His interaction with the young kitten, “Katy Perry,” showed off her cuddly personality.
Even though Finnley’s family can’t adopt, his mother said they hope to spread the word so more cats can be adopted after seeing their personalities bloom.
She graduated this past Spring from UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Duncan now practices at Trenton Animal Hospital.
She completed her externship with the humane society, having also volunteered with Operation Catnip.
Katy Perry stands up and meows out of her cage during the Purrs and Tails event hosted by the Humane Society of North Central Florida, Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
The event helped kids work on their animal-handling skills and get excited about being involved with their shelter, she said.
“It is good to get the community involved with everything animal rescue and adoptions,” Duncan said.
Isabella Lentine, the events, education and outreach coordinator for the shelter, has worked with humane societies for over three years. She’s now spent about two years at the North Central Florida location.
This year, Lentine is helping the humane society implement
several new educational programs in an effort to involve the community.
Many of the programs are aimed at young learners, she said, offering field trips to the center and opportunities for the humane society to visit schools.
The shelter is also working to involve local Girl Scout troops and summer camps, with more ideas still in the works.
Like Duncan, Lentine also wants more people to learn about animal welfare and the shelter world. She hopes to invite people who have never been to a shelter
in hopes they want to become an adopter, volunteer or foster.
Purrs & Tales is one way to give kids their dog-and-cat fix while encouraging them to focus on learning. Seeing kids fall in love with the animals at the humane society is a sweet reward, Lentine said.
“The small wins of seeing a kid come in and being scared of cats, and then leaving wanting to adopt one is just a really great feeling,” she said.
For the cats at the humane society, just 30 minutes to an hour around kids gets them out of their shell, Lentine added. Their interaction can make the cats and children more confident and comfortable, as they can sometimes be nervous.
“Kids can pull on tails and poke animals in the eyes. It’s good for the kids and animals to learn how to be around each other and coexist,” said Lentine. Lentine is excited for all the upcoming programs to bring light to their shelter. The humane society runs on community support, and with more outreach to come, Lentine hopes to see it grow.
Emily Medina-Finsen is a contributing writer for The Alligator.
Kaley Mantz // Alligator Stafff
Melrose threatens lawsuit over music park
from pg. 1
was used outside of its scope. Under the permit, the property was approved for camping, vendor areas, parking and event infrastructure. However, the letter requested the county investigate whether unapproved activities took place.
Lastly, the letter called for the commission to determine whether the festival served as an agritourism event as the temporary use permit required. It alleges the event focused primarily on musical performances, camping and other commercial entertainment, including little to no agricultural activity.
Sabatini said the county is investigating these potential violations, and if the county doesn’t do the “right thing,” there may be further legal action.
Mark Sexton, the spokesperson for the Alachua County Commission, said the commission declined to comment on potential legal matters.
For Robert Karl Hutchinson, the park’s permit applicant, the most disruptive force was the neighbors, not the festival.
“The neighbors were saying to the government, ‘Please protect us from these peaceful people coming out to listen to beautiful music and nature,’” Hutchinson said. “In reality, what we needed to do is be protected against these neighbors who were threatening violence.”
Hutchinson described one resident who spent entire days honking an air horn to irritate festival attendees. He described others with firearms, including automatic weapons, shooting hundreds of rounds of ammunition into the air.
Hutchinson said he got involved with WildFlowers Music Park as a land conservation project to step away from the stress of public life. Hutchinson, a former Alachua County commissioner, was heavily involved in the introduction of the Wild Spaces & Public Places surtax and was the executive director for Alachua Conservation Trust.
Hutchinson said he knew there
would be concerns about traffic and noise, and the park would do everything it could to mitigate the concerns — but the conflict turned into something he didn’t expect.
Many opponents aren’t Melrose residents, he said, but instead individuals participating in what he called a “culture war.”
To Hutchinson, it felt like some individuals didn’t want people different from them entering their community and participating in cultural activities. He wanted the festival to be something that unites the community, he added.
Getting the permit was extremely complex, Hutchinson said, requiring hundreds of pages of applications, thousands of dollars spent on traffic engineering studies and nine permitting agencies.
He responded to multiple claims within the letter, such as the agricultural nexus claim, which he said was unfounded because anyone with a plot of land can get a temporary use permit. If the park wanted to hold festivals that didn’t require a temporary use permit, he added, it would have to hold agricultural activities in addition to the festival.
Hutchinson also said all tents at the festival were inspected and had fire ratings posted, along with extinguishers and exit signs. He suggested a county employee may have filed the paperwork late.
In response to the claim about right-of-way improvements without a permit, Hutchinson said the road inspector arrived March 10 and the site needed to add limerock to the entrance as required by the county. Hutchinson said the park filed an online application for a permit and was granted it two days later.
He also said he believed WildFlowers complied with the temporary use permit, and the event addressed several resident concerns about the park, like policing. The event was overseen by sheriff deputies, additional police and an ambulance crew around the clock.
The park also hired Arise Event Services, a professional first aid organization.
The additional oversight cost the park about $25,000, Hutchinson said.
He believed none of the festival attendees were problematic, he added, and said there were no conflicts or drug-related incidents.
Various state agencies have investigated the area in response to complaints, he said. Gopher tortoise and water management inspectors visited the site to investigate environmental complaints, he added, and inspectors cleared the
park in both instances.
“It’s been frustrating to watch the government be used as a way to harass us from people who are basically anti-government,” Hutchinson said.
@logandmcbride lmcbride@alligator.org
President Stuart Bell to earn $2
BELL, from pg. 1
provost, interim deans and other administrative leaders who are “firmly aligned with and support the principles guiding Florida’s approach to higher education.”
Five of UF’s 16 colleges are currently led by interim deans, including the College of Medicine, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Levin College of Law, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the College of the Arts.
The university’s provost position is also filled by interim Provost Joseph Glover.
The performance metrics task Bell with elevating the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education into the nation’s leading classical and civics higher education
program and continuing development of the university’s Jacksonville campus.
The contract also requires Bell to oversee reviews of faculty tenure and posttenure processes, conduct a strategic review of academic courses and eliminate programs with consistently low returns on investment.
Among the agreement’s more politically significant metrics, Bell is directed to prohibit the funding of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and political or social activism.
The agreement further states campus safety should remain Bell’s top priority. It specifically calls on him to increase outreach to Jewish students who may feel
million annually
threatened at other institutions and encourage them to attend UF.
Bell’s employment agreement arrives amid ongoing scrutiny from the Board of Governors regarding governance practices at UF. In a June 17 email to Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, Levine said some language in Landry’s interim contract appeared to grant Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini authority over personnel decisions that typically fall within a university president’s responsibilities.
Landry’s contract focused largely on appointing a permanent provost and filling UF’s interim leadership positions. All these appointments were stated in the contract to “require the approval of the Chair of the
Board of Trustees and notice to the Vice Chair.”
Levine’s letter said Hosseini agreed to remove the language from future contracts. Bell’s agreement does not include similar language.
Such governance concerns in the state’s university system are what Levine has attributed to the delay in the university’s presidential vote, which was initially meant to occur on June 24.
In the July 1 meeting where Bell was approved as president, he said he would work to ensure UF’s name lands among one of the nation’s top public universities.
@s_maharaj1611
Mily Moran // Alligator Staff
Citizens from Melrose are threatening legal action regarding a temporary use permit issued by the Alachua County Commission.
Democratic candidates share campaigns for Alachua County Commission District 2 seat
THREE CANDIDATES SPOKE AT AN OPEN FORUM EVENT JULY 7
By Olivia Lofaso Alligator Staff Writer
Voters gathered with candidates for the Alachua County Commission District 2 seat for the Democratic Party’s open forum at the Freedom Community Center July 7.
The seat will be open following current Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler’s retirement later this year. Four candidates have qualified for the ballot: Bryan Williams, Charlie Jackson, Donna Bradbrook and Tina Certain. The race includes a fully Democrat ballot; no Republicans qualified.
Williams did not attend the forum.
During the event, candidates answered questions on infrastructure development, homelessness, immigration, environmental issues and the potential for data centers in Alachua County. Candidates received the questions a week ahead of the event, according to Taylor Murphy, the vice chair of the Alachua County Democratic Party.
Donna Bradbrook
Bradbrook, an Alachua County resident and employee, has lived and worked in the county for 20 years. She previously served as the county’s strategic performance manager and worked with the Alachua County Citizens Academy, a free nine-week program that allows Alachua County residents to meet with commissioners and learn more about local government.
During the forum, Bradbrook advocated for the county’s climate action plan and opposed Florida’s property tax bill that will be on the ballot in November.
The bill, if passed, would give Florida homeowners a $250,000 tax reduction on property taxes that do not fund public schools. Bradbrook expressed concerns the bill would potentially cut $40 million from the county’s budget for non-discretionary services like animal resources and veteran services.
“These are the services that our citizens want in Alachua County, not what the state wants to dictate to us,” she said. “ I am ready to allocate money to fight the state on every point of service or program that may be reduced or eliminated as a result of this ballot item.”
Bradbrook also advocated for investigating how companies like Nestle use the Floridan Aquifer system for commercial use to bottle water.
In 2021, the Suwannee River Water Management District approved a permit allowing the Nestle-owned Ginnie Springs bottling operation to pump around 1 million gallons
of groundwater a day. The permit received criticism from residents concerned about the health of the Floridan Aquifer.
“I am absolutely willing to partner with state representatives to pursue a bill that would remove that egregious law and to put something in place that is more fair to the residents of Alachua County,” Bradbrook said.
Tina Certain
Certain, a Alachua County School Board member, is running for county commissioner after serving on the school board for eight years, she previously worked for Gainesville Regional Utilities as an accountant.
During the forum, Certain expressed her commitment to fighting state overreach in the county, supporting coordinated efforts between the city of Gainesville and Alachua County to address homelessness and supporting development in East Gainesville.
Growing up in Seminary Lane in Northeast Gainesville, Certain said she’s heard a lot of conversations surrounding development in East Gainesville. Recently, the count approved a development plan for Eastwood Preserve, which would bring 149 new housing units.
“In East Gainesville, there’s been a lot of promises, lots of studies over the years and many, many years of lack of investment,” Certain said. “When I read the approval of the Eastwood Preserve development, I was ecstatic. It’s a start.”
She said she’s spoken with residents of East Gainesville who want mixed-use infrastructure like grocery stores and housing similar to Celebration Pointe.
When asked about affordable housing, Certain said she’s supportive of investing county money in affordable housing projects and buying land for future affordable housing development. She said stable housing is very important for families in Alachua County.
“We need to ensure that folks understand that housing is a right,” she said. “We need to provide a safe and secure place. Everyone deserves to have that at a price point that they can afford to pay with the jobs that we have in our community.”
Charlie Jackson
Jackson, a Hamilton County-born Army veteran, served as Alachua County’s facilities manager and director from 2001 to 2022. During the forum, he spoke about the importance of supporting Alachua County residents by funding veteran services, job creation and affordability.
To address affordability issues in the county without taxing citizens, Jackson said he would support initiatives like private individual contributions and increasing taxes for corporations.
In Alachua County, he said, a $14 minimum wage is not enough for most residents to afford housing and other necessities.
“We got to get the minimum wage up, we got to bring jobs to this community,” he said. “Let’s get beyond taxing citizens to the point where they can’t eat, they can’t buy gas to go to work, they can’t take care of their homes, they can’t pay their own taxes … What about getting other means of bringing money into our community, other than hitting the same tax?”
When asked what role the county should take in immigration enforcement, Jackson said he supports treating all citizens equally and preventing racial profiling. However, he said he supports strict immigration enforcement.
“Let’s accept the fact: If you’re getting benefits, you’re not paying taxes, you’re going to schools and you’re not American, then something is grossly wrong,” Jackson said. “If they’re not legal citizens, we’ve got to get them out of the United States of America.”
Jackson also spoke about the potential for data centers in Alachua County. He said he would want to investigate the full impacts of data centers before opposing their construction entirely.
He added he would support building data centers on wetlands in Florida if they bring jobs to Alachua County and include opportunities for water recycling.
“I’ve lived all across the United States and seen a lot of things done differently,” he said. “People even said you can’t build on wetlands. That’s not true … Why can’t we bring a data center if it’s not affecting the environment?”
Among those who attended the meeting July 7 was Soorya Lindberg, a 44-year-old Alachua County resident, who said she attended the forum to specifically hear how the candidates view data centers.
After attending another candidate forum hosted at UF on June 28, Lindberg said she was disappointed to hear Jackson’s views on data centers.
“Candidate Charlie Jackson said it’d be good for jobs,” she said. “I wholeheartedly disagree ... Data centers are a very hot topic across the nation, especially here because of our water shortage, the aquifer and the environmental demands.”
Janice Garry, a 73-year-old attendee, said the event gave her a chance to delve into the complexities of Alachua County policymaking and learn more about each candidate.
“I was impressed with all the candidates,” she said. “For me, Donna Bradbrook really stood out.”
The Alachua County Commission election is Aug. 18. Voters can register to vote, check their registration status and find polling locations through the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website.
@OLofaso77652 olofaso@alligator.org
Everything you need to know heading into the school board election
THE ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN AUGUST
By Grace Larson Alligator Staff Writer
Three seats are open on the Alachua County School Board this election season, with two incumbents running.
Following the qualification period, Jancie Vinson has secured a seat on the board. The remaining two seats are contested, with new candidates running against current board members.
District 1
Three candidates are running for the District 1 seat, which encom-
passes Newberry.
Board member Tina Certain, who currently holds the District 1 seat, is vacating her position to run for the Alachua County Commission.
Janine Plavac, who currently fills the District 5 seat after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April 2025, is running for re-election. She will face Gabriel Lopez and Hunter Miller at the polls.
Plavac was previously interviewed by The Alligator for a story published in March.
Plavac, a 73-year-old teacher at Saint Francis Catholic Academy, said the application process strengthened her commitment to the board.
“To apply for that, I had to go through a pretty rigorous process,”
she said. “When I did that, I was committed to making sure that all parties and all stakeholders in this community have an equal serve and a voice in what goes on.”
Plavac describes her stance as conservative but open-minded. School board positions are nonpartisan, meaning candidates run without party affiliations listed on the ballot.
One of Plavac’s main goals is to find a permanent superintendent.
Kamela Patton was named interim superintendent in November 2024 following the firing of previous superintendent Shane Andrew. A year later, the board extended Patton’s contract until 2027.
In April, the board started looking for a search firm to find a superin-
tendent. The search firm will be selected by early August.
Plavac also hopes to enhance student performance and literacy rates by promoting old-school teaching methods like paper-based assessments and enforcing no-phone policies put in place by the governor in 2025.
According to standardized language arts test results for the 2024-25 school year, 55% of students in Alachua County passed with a three or higher. That’s just below the state’s 57% achievement rate.
In addition to enhancing literacy rates, Plavac also hopes to adjust disciplinary measures and student behavior to retain teachers.
“My goal is to be a support mech-
anism for them [teachers] but also let them be in charge of their classroom,” she said. “Let them decide what programs work for them and their teaching environment. They know better than any administrator.”
Plavac’s stance on administrative support comes from her experience as a teacher in the district. She taught at Gainesville High School for 17 years before moving to Saint Francis Catholic Academy, a private school in Gainesville.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
@graceellarson glarson@alligator.org
Mily Moran // Alligator Staff
Charlie Ray Jackson, Democratic candidate for Alachua County Commission District 2, presents his campaign plans during the County Commission forum on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2026
www.alligator.org/section/the-avenue
FOOD & DRINK
DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers soft opens first brick-and-mortar location
THE LOCAL FOOD TRUCK FOUND A NEW HOME, PROMISING THE SAME FRESH FOOD AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
By Brandy Sumner Avenue Staff Writer
Country music, conversations and the smell of searing burgers filled the air on July 8 as DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers served cus
For the restaurant’s co-owners, 34-year-old Miguel Cardona and 35-year-old Jose Nieves, opening a storefront location has always been the plan.
Growing up in Ocala, the two met on the first day of third grade, and they’ve been friends ever since. Both always wanted to start a business together.
In 2020, they made the jump to open a restaurant. The concept started as just a pop-up but eventually became a full-time food truck in 2022.
For the two friends, opening a restaurant came out of ne
to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. DJ’s is now their main project.
Nieves came up with the concept for DJ’s during his time at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, which he attended from 2009 to 2013.
The brick and mortar, located at 5141 NW 43rd St., marks the next big shift for the project.
Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/the-avenue.
El Caimán
www.alligator.org/section/spanish
Local anti-ICE petition flagged as federal funding risk as city commission resolution approaches
LETTERS FROM THE REGION'S HOMELESSNESS AGENCY
COMPLICATE
IMMIGRATION PROTECTION PETITION DAYS BEFORE VOTE
By Aaron Zagal Yaji Alligator Staff Writer
Eight days before the Gainesville City Commission is set to review a proposal denouncing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, messages from the region's lead homelessness agency suggest passing it could jeopardize the city and county’s access to federal housing funds.
The messages, published by WCJB and the Alachua Chronicle on July 8, were from Jacob Torner, the vice president of programs at the TaskForce for Ending Homelessness.
Received days before a July 16 Gainesville City Commission meeting, the messages could affect a proposal the Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative has spent three months trying to get in front of commissioners.
GINI, a coalition of local advocacy groups
encouraging a more immigrant-inclusive community, first brought a five-point petition to the Alachua County Commission April 28, asking local governments to publicly oppose ICE operations in the county, reaffirm commitments to immigrant safety and keep local police out of 287(g) agreements. The state-federal partnerships allow local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement.
After GINI brought the petition to the Gainesville commission June 18, the city agreed to formally hear it at its July 16 meeting. The county is scheduled to take it up again Aug. 11.
Torner said a resolution "consistent with what has been requested at recent public meetings regarding generally lawful immigration enforcement" could lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to view Gainesville and Alachua County "less favorably" when awarding grants. This funding, Torner wrote, exceeds $11 million. It supports homeless services, domestic violence programs and sexual assault services across Alachua County and the surrounding region.
County spokesperson Mark Sexton confirmed to WCJB that commissioners are scheduled to review and discuss a sample resolution at the Aug. 11 meeting. He said it's being drafted to address immigration while staying within the bounds of the law.
The city's own July 16 vote is less than a week out.
Meaningful action or a symbolic gesture?
Before Torner's letters entered the picture, the resolution was already dividing local policymakers. The central question isn't whether officials support GINI's goals but whether a resolution can accomplish anything beyond making a statement — and whether that statement is worth the attention it draws.
For Katy Burnett, the strategic projects manager for the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the answer leans toward risk without reward. She said her office is legally required to maintain its 287(g) agreement no matter what the county decides, meaning the resolution can't touch this piece of the fight.
Florida Highway Patrol enforcement activity simultaneously shifted once the proposal became public, she added.
“That is the biggest conversation that we are having with commissioners; you're bringing a lot of negative attention,” Burnett said. “It's just anxiety-inducing.”
She said public attention on this proposal negatively impacts those it aims to protect, taking away time from the commission to rally for tangible issues and solutions.
“People need to be paying more attention to the costs,” she said. “The people we need to go yell at [are] our state legislators and our state senators, and they are getting almost no pushback, especially locally. And that's frustrating.”
County Commissioner Mary Alford raised a similar concern in an email statement to The Alligator. The public attention itself carries a cost, she said.
"I fear that bringing media attention to these sentiments increases the impacts to vulnerable individuals and families in Alachua County," Alford wrote.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
@azagalyaji azagal@alligator.org
Surrounded by Stories: Fostering love for reading in Alachua County
LOCAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
AND EDUCATORS
SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING LITERACY RATES IN ALACHUA COUNTY
By Kathia Montenegro Alligator Staff Writer
Alachua County students are performing below grade level, according to Alachua County Library District.
Nearly 20% of adults in Alachua County are functionally illiterate, according to the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. The National Center for Education Statistics also estimates 19% of students in the county are reading at or below a Level 1 proficiency. Only about half of Alachua County’s K-12 students are reading on grade level, according to the 2025 Alachua County Comprehensive Literacy Needs Assessment, and the scores among minority students are even lower.
UF student volunteers are working to improve literacy rates before students fall behind.
Student-led organization Surrounded by Stories aims to improve literacy rates by visiting Alachua County schools and encouraging children to develop a love of reading, said Ijeoma
Women’s tennis
Transfer Scarlett Nicholson prepares for first season with the Gators. Read more on pg. 11.
Nwankwo, a 20-year-old UF nutritional science sophomore and the organization’s external vice president.
The organization focuses on vocabulary development, word recognition and spelling while exposing students to future career opportunities. It’s also partnered with the National Black Child Development Institute in Miami to donate books to children.
"We're trying to work on the foundational aspects of literacy and reading so that from a young age more kids grow an affinity for it," Nwankwo said.
Alachua County falls behind many other Florida counties in reading achievement, she said. Students of color are disproportionately affected, she added.
"Typically the students that we are serving are Black American children, African American children and Hispanic/ Latino children," she said.
Having grown up in Palm Beach County, Florida, Nwankwo said she immediately noticed differences in available classroom resources after volunteering in Alachua County schools.
"I remember one of the schools we went out to didn't have a projector in the room, and I think those differences are a key aspect of why some of our kids are falling behind," she said.
She believes increased investment in schools is critical to improving literacy outcomes, she said.
"We need to make sure we are allocating money and government funding to build up the next generation," Nwankwo
said.
Gianmarcos Politi, a 19-year-old Valencia College mechanical engineering sophomore, works as a tutor at Huntington Learning Center in Orlando. By tutoring students preparing for the SAT, he said he’s seen firsthand how limited reading skills can affect academic performance.
"[My older students] tend to struggle a lot on the reading sections of the SAT as well as word problems in the math section," Politi said. "They definitely don't know how to read a lot of words. Their vocabulary isn't as big as it should be for someone their age."
Working with students from a variety of cultural backgrounds, Politi said he has observed that native English speakers often struggle more than students learning English as a second language.
"English comes so naturally [to them] that they don't really pay attention to the rules," he said.
Politi said he believes literacy serves as the foundation for success in every aspect of life.
"It affects your school, your career, your relationships with other people and even with yourself in everyday life," he said.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
KMontenegro@alligator.org
www.alligator.org/section/opinions
‘Shaine in Spain’: Reassimilating to life back home
After spending the past four months in Europe, I expected my summer at home to be very boring.
My semester abroad was full of adventure, new experiences and spontaneity. The thought of living back home seemed overwhelmingly mundane.
But now that I’m actually in the midst of it, it’s given me a lot of time to reflect and realize assimilating back to life in the U.S. is an experience of its own.
Most of my friends are scattered around the country at their respective summer jobs, and there’s overall just not a lot going on in my area — besides the World Cup.
But this has made me realize that even when I’m in the most comfortable setting — which in this case is the neighborhood I was born and raised in — there are always going to be uncom-
fortable moments.
Coming back home didn’t mean I stopped growing. It just meant the challenges looked different than they did in Madrid.
At work, I’ve been meeting so many new people in a professional setting. Everything I’ve learned abroad about meeting new people, exuding confidence and being friendly is something I’ve utilized at my job. I have been way more comfortable introducing myself to other interns and colleagues than I would have been six months ago.
And while, yes, playing Scrabble most nights with my parents can be considered boring, it’s comforting to come home to.
Overall, it has been nice being home — especially when I’m out to eat and don’t have to pay for water or a seating fee. Or just sleeping in my own bed.
I do miss the walkability, the environment and the prices of Madrid. When I had to fill up my gas in the U.S. for the first time since coming back, I was dumbfounded. Luckily, it’s a little better now.
Even though I’m not thousands of miles away anymore, growth never stops. It can happen even in the places where you think you’re most comfortable.
Shaine Davison opinions@alligator.org
@shaine_in_spain sdavison@alligator.org
Further Steps: The Youth Civic Liaison Program must go on
After my opinion column was published May 18, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward invited me to discuss the Youth Civic Liaison Program, a proposal aimed at increasing youth participation in local government. During our conversation, he said he supported the idea.
The YCLP would use the city of Gainesville’s myGNV app as a civic engagement tool to encourage high school students to report key neighborhood issues like potholes, fallen trees and illegal dumping. These problems constantly remind us of what is hindering the natural beauty and charm of our city, ultimately leading to feelings of dismay and disappointment.
Taking initial steps through partnerships with local Key Clubs can allow students to submit their own reports and take charge of tracking the city’s progress in resolving these
issues.
Beginning in August, the YCLP will launch with Key Club members at Eastside High School, who will report community issues through the myGNV app. I also proposed the mayor’s office establish a volunteer recognition award for students who complete their community reports. Such a program would not only motivate students to participate but also to be recognized and rewarded for their time, dedication and contribution to the community.
One important civic lesson I learned from my conversation with the mayor was that the myGNV app operates only within the city of Gainesville’s boundaries. Even residents who use a Gainesville mailing address but live outside the city limits must report issues directly to Alachua County, as the county doesn’t currently have an interactive reporting tool simi-
lar to myGNV.
To address this gap, I have proposed the development of a joint civic engagement platform for the city of Gainesville and Alachua County. This system would allow residents across both jurisdictions to report community issues through a single platform, making it easier to communicate concerns to local governments. Furthermore, patrons would be satisfied in knowing their concerns are being directly sent to the local government, which is willing to get the problem solved.
The goal of YCLP is to help our communities become safer, cleaner and healthier through youth-led civic engagement. Ultimately, I hope to establish a precedent for this youth-led, community-supported initiative that lasts beyond my graduation. Accomplishing this would require lasting partnerships between schools and local governments,
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.
ensuring the program continues to make lasting and meaningful impacts on communities.
Justice Nah opinions@alligator.org
After meeting with the mayor, I strongly feel the YCLP must move forward. The entire community should work together, step by step, to make this initiative a success. With the support and encouragement of the mayor’s office, I am confident the program will succeed.
Justice Nah is a rising senior at Eastside High School. He can be reached at 27awesomejustice@gmail.com.
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1. MOVIES: Which 1997 film features a villain named Dr. Evil?
2. HISTORY: When was the Declaration of Independence officially signed?
3. GEOGRAPHY: The country of Eritrea is located on which continent?
4. TELEVISION: Which 1980s-90s sitcom includes a neighbor named Winnie Cooper?
5. U.S. CITIES: Which city is home to the Mall of America, the largest mall in the United States?
6. ANATOMY: What is the largest muscle in the human body?
7. SCIENCE: How much of Earth's water is saltwater?
8. MEASUREMENTS: How many ounces is 3/4 of a cup?
9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby goose called?
10. MUSIC: When was Taylor Swift's first album released?
1. On Jan. 9, 2010, which Detroit
player scored the 10-millionth point in
history?
2. Which two figure skaters appeared together on a February 1998 FOX TV special titled "Breaking the Ice: The Women of '94 Revisited"?
3. In 2024, endurance runner and activist Deo Kato completed a 518-day, 7,730-mile trek between which two cities?
4. Which stadium was home to the American Football League's San Diego Chargers from 1961 to 1966?
5. In December 1982, which team upset the No. 1 ranked Virginia Cavaliers, 77-72, in a college basketball game in Honolulu?
6. Name the West German boxer who was knocked out by Muhammad Ali in the seventh round of a 1971 non-title fight in Zurich, Switzerland.
7. Which Dallas Mavericks star scored the first 6020 triple double in NBA history when he recorded 60-21-10 against the New York Knicks in 2022?
Ben Gordon.
Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding.
Cape Town, South Africa, to London, England.
Balboa Stadium.
The Chaminade Silverswords.
Pistons
NBA
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2026
www.alligator.org/section/sports
ATHLETICS
New president, new era: How Stuart Bell could shape Florida athletics
AFTER A DECADE LEADING ALABAMA, BELL ARRIVES IN GAINESVILLE WITH SEC EXPERIENCE AND A VISION THAT PLACES ATHLETICS AS A CORE PART OF THE UNIVERSITY’S MISSION
By Lily Perkins Sports Writer
Stuart Bell officially became UF’s 14th president July 1, inheriting one of the country’s most successful athletic departments.
Florida has won 49 national championships and 270 SEC championship titles. Alongside UF’s widespread athletic success, the university is currently gearing up for a $1.45 billion renovation of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, one of the largest projects in school history and the most expensive stadium renovation in college football history.
As Bell begins his tenure in Gainesville, attention turns to the role he could play in shaping the future of Florida athletics.
Unlike many university presidents, Bell enters the role with extensive experience overseeing one of college athletics’ most notable programs. During his time at the University of Alabama from 2015 to 2025,
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Fans inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during a football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators, Saturday, Oct. 4th, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla..
the Crimson Tide won three national championships and six SEC championships under football coach Nick Saban, solidifying UA’s athletic department as one of the nation’s best.
Bell also served as president of the Southeastern Conference from 2023 to 2025 and on the Southeastern Conference Executive Committee from 2021 to 2025, advising commissioner Greg Sankey during one of the most significant periods of change in college athletics.
For Bell, athletics are a key part of the university’s broader mission.
“Athletics is just one of those things that I think brings everyone together on campus and just unites us,” Bell said during a June interview with 1010XL. “Who doesn’t like winning? Florida has a great tradition of that in athletics. But it’s
really important for the university what athletics brings to the table.”
His leadership has also earned praise from people who worked alongside him at Alabama – like Saban himself.
“Dr. Bell is an outstanding person and was a great leader at the University of Alabama,” the College Football Hall of Fame coach said in a statement. “He is a … passionate supporter of athletics and is someone who made a significant impact on the university and Tuscaloosa community. I know he will do wonderful things in Gainesville.”
Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin echoed these sentiments following Bell’s confirmation. In his eyes, the president brings “a strong understanding of the important role athletics plays in advancing a uni-
versity’s mission,” he said, and his familiarity with the SEC makes him well-positioned to lead Florida.
Bell arrives during a large leadership transition in Florida athletics.
Jon Sumrall will coach his first football season in Gainesville after replacing Billy Napier, while Tammi Reiss begins rebuilding the women’s basketball program. Together, the new coaches and Bell represent a fresh chapter for the university’s athletic department.
Bell has indicated he intends to be an active supporter of those programs.
“We’ve got great people running our athletic programs, but they definitely need to feel the support,” he said in his interview with 1010XL.
Alongside a shift in leadership, Bell will also oversee the renovations of The Swamp. At Alabama, he led major projects to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, as well as upgrades and renovations to the Crimson Tide’s softball stadium, golf practice facility, athletic facilities and men’s and women’s basketball training facilities.
His role at Florida begins as college athletics continues to evolve. The rise of Name, Image and Likeness compensation, the popularity of the transfer portal and shifting NCAA governance have transformed the responsibilities of university leaders. Presidents now arguably play a larger role in athletics than ever before.
To Bell, fulfilling that role starts with awareness.
“I think the president really has to understand and appreciate what athletics means,” Bell said during his June interview with 1010XL. “If you don’t know what’s going on, you’re probably not going to do a very good job of supporting what needs to be done.”
He’s also acknowledged the importance of engaging with Gator traditions. During his radio interview, he said he hopes to restore the “Gator Bait” cheer, which, by UF president Kent Fuchs, was discontinued in 2020 due to concerns about offensive imagery associated with the phrase.
Whether the tradition ultimately returns remains to be seen, but Bell’s comments suggest he intends to be visible in Florida athletics, rather than serving strictly behind the scenes.
Although his experience at Alabama doesn’t automatically guarantee championships in Gainesville, it does show that Florida is heading into its next era with a president who values the role athletics can play in a university’s success. As the Gators enter the fall season, Bell’s influence may extend beyond the president’s office.
@lily_perkins10 lperkins@alligator.org
How Scarlett Nicholson stayed competitive in her ineligible season at Florida
THE JUNIOR WILL PLAY HER FIRST MATCH AS A GATOR THIS FALL
By Sofia Alamo Sports Writer
Wearing orange and blue for the first time, Scarlett Nicholson stood on the sidelines as the Florida women’s tennis team prepared for its second match of the spring season against then-No. 11 North Carolina State. The former Georgia Tech player knew her midseason transfer made her ineligible to compete, but nothing could overpower her excitement to be part of a new team.
That feeling quickly flatlined when, right before the start of the match, associate head coach Axel Damiens asked her to change out of the Gators’ team uniform. NCAA rules didn’t allow non-competing players to wear the kit.
“I went to the bathroom and cried,” Nicholson said. “I just felt kind of disconnected.” After feeling like she was plateauing last
season at Georgia Tech, Nicholson cut short her two-year career as a Yellow Jacket. The junior said the university athletics program started to stagnate in the midst of Name, Image and Likeness lawsuits and funding cuts for non-revenue sports like tennis.
“It was kind of depressing,” Nicholson said. “Every single day was like ‘budget cut this’ and ‘we can’t afford that.’”
Looking to get a fresh start, Nicholson spoke to her coaches from home to find a better school. The decision to transfer in the middle of the year wasn't easy, but the 20-year-old knew coaches prioritize players with multiple years of eligibility, making it even harder to find a new program as a senior.
Florida always came to mind for Nicholson when thinking of where she wanted to go. The former Georgia Tech player faced the Gators twice in her last season as a Yellow Jacket. Ranked the No. 16 player in the country, Nicholson took a surprising three-set loss to Xinyi Nong in the round of 32 at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regionals last October.
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Her fate against Florida was no different at the ITA Sectional Championship in November.
After taking the first set from Gabia Paskauskas, she dropped the next two to take a 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 loss.
“If you can’t beat them, join them,” Nicholson said. “I was really impressed with the coaching.”
But the losses weren’t what she remembered most.
What really sold Nicholson was how excited and hopeful the Florida coaching staff was about her possibility of joining the team. Crossing off all other universities on her list, she said no one believed in her more than coach Per Nilsson.
Nicholson followed her gut feeling and officially made the switch to Florida in January. Her immediate feeling that she didn't belong flipped quickly once she familiarized herself with the team.
“Nobody was making me feel left out,” Nicholson said. “The coaches were still invested in me.”
She did almost everything the team did, in-
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cluding following the regular practice schedule. The Toronto native trained before every game and watched her teammates tackle tough opponents, learning from their mistakes and triumphs.
Being a spectator to the Gators’ matches only made Nicholson hungrier to compete. The energy within the team, she said, made it easy to stay motivated.
“Everyone is really motivated to make a name for ourselves again,” Nicholson said. “They’re focused on tennis and building the team up.”
The Gators are well on their way to bringing Florida back to the top. They ended the 2026 spring season with a 17-8 record after coach Nilsson built a team from scratch — Nikola Daubnerova was the only player from the previous year’s roster to remain with UF in 2026.
Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports. @alamosofiaa salamo@alligator.org
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For updates on UF athletics, follow us on Twitter at @alligatorSports or online at www.alligator.org/section/sports.
Noah Lantor// Alligator Staff
BASEBALL
Liam Peterson joins Florida’s first-round legacy under Kevin O’S ullivan
FLORIDA SAW THREE PLAYERS AND ONE COMMIT HEAD TO THE BIG LEAGUES IN DAY 1 OF THE 2026 MLB DRAFT
By Colton Veres Sports Writer
Since Kevin O’Sullivan took over as Florida baseball head coach in 2008, the Gators have established themselves as one of the premier programs in the country for developing future MLB talent. Year after year, Florida has produced players capable of competing at the highest level of the sport, and the MLB Draft has become another stage showcasing the success of the program’s player development.
Junior starting pitcher Liam Peterson became the latest Gator to follow that tradition when he was selected 19th overall by the Cleveland Guardians. Peterson becomes the 21st firstround selection in Florida baseball history and the 15th first-round pick of the O’Sullivan era.
Peterson’s selection continues a recent stretch of first-round successes for Florida, marking the fifth Gator selected in the first round since 2022. His selection adds another chapter to a program that has consistently turned talented recruits into MLB prospects under O’Sullivan.
The first-round legacy of the O’Sullivan era began in 2012 with catcher Mike Zunino. The All-American backstop was selected third overall by the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first Florida player drafted in the first round under O’Sullivan. That same year, John Olerud Award-winner Brian Johnson was also selected in the first round, going 31st overall to the Boston Red Sox.
Florida’s pipeline of elite talent continued to grow in the years following. Pitcher Jonathon Crawford was selected 20th overall by the Detroit Tigers in 2013 after throwing a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman in the 2012 NCAA regional.
In 2015, shortstop Richie Martin was selected 20th overall by the Oakland Athletics, beginning a stretch of consistent first-round selections for the Gators. From 2015 through 2018, Florida produced at least one firstround pick each year, totaling seven selections during that span.
The 2016 draft class highlighted the depth of talent within the program. Starting pitcher A.J. Puk was selected sixth overall by the Oakland Athletics, while fellow starter Dane Dunning was taken 29th overall by the Washington Nationals. The class also featured three second-round selections, including Pete Alonso, who went on to become the NL Rookie of the Year and a Home Run Derby champion.
Florida’s 2017 national championship team showcased the amount of talent developed in Gainesville. Pitcher Alex Faedo was selected 18th overall by the Detroit Tigers, but it was the following year’s draft class that featured one of the most impressive groups in program history.
The 2018 draft class was headlined by three first-round selections. Third baseman and future NL Rookie of the Year Johnathan India was taken fifth overall, while starting pitchers Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar were selected 18th and 33rd overall, respectively. India anchored Florida’s lineup, while Singer and Kowar formed a dominant pitching duo during the Gators’ championship run, further displaying the program’s ability to develop impact players.
Florida has continued producing first-round talent in recent sea-
sons. Outfielder Sterlin Thompson was selected 31st overall by the Colorado Rockies in 2022, and a year later Wyatt Langford became the second-highest selected Gator of the O’Sullivan era when he was taken fourth overall by the Texas Rangers. Starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep was also selected in the first round that year, going 24th overall to the Atlanta Braves.
Most recently, Gator Jac Caglianone was selected sixth overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2024. The Florida all-time home run leader’s collegiate success has translated well to the big leagues, and Caglianone will participate in the MLB Home Run Derby Monday.
Now, Peterson joins that group of Florida players who have heard their names called on the opening night of the draft.
The Clearwater native entered Florida with the tools scouts look for in a future MLB pitcher. His fastball velocity, which reaches into the triple digits, combined with his secondary pitches and athleticism on the mound, made him one of the most intriguing arms in the draft class.
During his junior season, Peterson posted a 4.59 ERA with 111 strikeouts over 84.1 innings. While his numbers fluctuated throughout his Florida career, his physical ability and long-term potential remained highly valued by professional evaluators.
Along with the eye-catching firstround selection of Peterson, the Gators produced a trio of third- and fourth-round selections on Day 1 of the MLB Draft.
Outfielder Kyle Jones was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the No. 102 pick in the third round, while high school recruit Kevin Roberts Jr. and Gator right-handed pitcher Russel Sandefer each found homes
Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff Florida right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson (12) pitches during an NCAA college baseball game against Auburn at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, April 17, 2026.
in the fourth.
Roberts Jr. was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the No. 110 pick, and Sandefer followed close behind, heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the No. 132 selection.
The third-round selection of Jones didn’t come with much surprise. The redshirt sophomore batted .317 with 16 doubles and 6 home runs while leading Florida in stolen bases with 17 in his second year with the team. He also ended his season by being named to the Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team after going 7-14 with nine RBIs and five runs scored.
The outfielder was a stalwart for the Gators, appearing in 58 games and starting 56 of them in center field. The Brewers are known for their keen prospect evaluation and advanced player development, which makes Milwaukee a perfect landing spot for Jones.
As for Roberts Jr., the Gators knew some of their top signees wouldn’t make it to Gainesville.
The 17-year-old from Jackson Preparatory School in Mississippi was ranked as the No. 136 overall draft prospect by MLB.com heading into
the draft but was taken at pick No. 110. Teams only use their top picks on high school players if signability is basically a guarantee.
The 6-foot-5 17-year-old is known for his physical traits, having wellabove-average raw power and speed and running the 200-meter dash and the long jump. The Orioles entered the draft targeting high school outfielders, highlighted by their selection of Eric Booth Jr. at No. 7 earlier that day.
Junior right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer was the final Gator taken during Day 1, and his selection was well deserved. After starting the season in a bullpen role due to a preseason injury, the junior battled back. After some encouraging midweek starts, the Tampa native was able to solidify his role as the Sunday starter after pitching seven shutout innings while striking out 11 Ole Miss batters.
Sandefer has a fastball that sits around 93 mph but can get up to 98 mph when he lets it rip. However, much akin to Peterson, his best strikeout pitch is his slider. The breaking ball sits in the mid-to-low 80’s with lots of spin. He finished his Florida career with a 4.42 ERA while striking out 60 in 57 innings. The Dodgers are known to take college pitchers at the top of the draft, selecting six with their first 10 picks in 2025.
With Peterson’s early selection and Florida’s consistent presence in the draft, O’Sullivan’s impact on Florida baseball’s professional pipeline continues to grow. In less than two decades, the Gators have transformed into one of the most reliable sources of MLB talent, and Peterson is the newest name added to a firstround legacy built in Gainesville.
