Gainesville Planned Parenthood to close due to decline in patients
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICIAL
SAID THE CLOSURE MAY CREATE A GAP IN GENDER-AFFIRMING
CARE ACCESS
By Julianna Bendeck Alligator Staff Writer
Planned Parenthood announced May 27 its Gainesville clinic will be closing its doors June 26.
In-person medical services like vaccinations will end, though some care will be available through telehealth services, like mental health appointments.
The closest Planned Parenthood locations are in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee, around 77, 126 and 150 miles from the Gainesville location.
The Gainesville location doesn’t offer abortion services but has provided gender-affirming care, screenings for sexually transmitted infections and other reproductive health services to North Central Florida.
Michelle Quesada, the vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood of Florida, said the closure is due to the Gainesville clinic’s declining patient volume.
Though the decision was made recently, she said the Gainesville location had been monitored for several years, and efforts were made to increase the number of patients.
“We just haven’t been able to succeed at that location,” Quesada said.
SEE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, PAGE 3
Farmers, local agriculture experts reflect on drought impacts
Recent rainfall provides some relief from the drought, but not enough, experts say
By Olivia Lofaso Alligator Staff Writer
A year after becoming first-generation farmers, the owners of River & Root Farm are facing one of the most severe droughts in over a century.
A Gainesville blueberry farm, River & Root relies heavily on irrigation. Farm coowner David Tuthill said the dry conditions have made him and his partner more reliant on their groundwater supply because of the lack of rainfall. During March and
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April, they had to water their crops every day to keep them alive, he added.
“It's a lot of long nights, early mornings, depending on what time you're watering,” he said. “There's no rain, and irrigation is missing places. Then trees die, and that impacted our production.”
Between freeze damage earlier this year and the ongoing drought, the farm estimates it lost 70% of its crop, according to its website. The losses forced the farm to end its blueberry season earlier than expected. Blueberry season begins in
mid-March and usually runs through May, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Much of Florida has been under extreme drought conditions since January, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Alachua County finds itself facing two varying degrees of drought intensity: extreme and exceptional. The latter is the highest drought intensity measured.
Drought conditions began in late 2025 because of less intense rainfall from tropical storms and hurricanes, said Jean Wil-
loughby, a senior planner with Alachua County's environmental protection department.
This lack of rainfall led to the driest April on record in 132 years.
Willoughby said many Florida crops and livestock owners rely on rainfall from storms to sustain them October through May, the drier months of the year.
The St. Johns River Water Management District primarily manages northeast and
SEE DROUGHT, PAGE 3
The Avenue: Movies & TV
‘Backrooms’ arrives at the big screen, pg. 5
Lovebugs
Gainesville sees unexpected swarm, pg. 4
Grace Sands // Alligator Staff
The Ones to Blame perform at Hipp Pride Sessions during Hipp Pride Week at the Hippodrome Theatre, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. Find this story in The Avenue on pg. 6.
UF to add early decision admissions option for Fall 2027 application cycle
THE BINDING ADMISSIONS OPTION WILL ALLOW APPLICANTS TO RECEIVE DECISIONS BY DEC. 11
By Hailey Kon Alligator Staff Writer
UF will implement an early decision admissions option beginning with students applying for Fall 2027 enrollment, the university announced May 28.
The early decision option will allow prospective students to apply as early as Aug. 1 and receive an admissions decision by Dec. 11, months earlier than UF’s early action and regular decisions, which were released in late January and mid-March this year.
Students admitted via early decision are contractually obligated to enroll at UF and withdraw applications from other schools.
According to UF’s announce-
ment, the change follows feedback from high school guidance counselors, students and families who have requested an earlier admissions option.
The university also said the early decision option will help UF compete with peer institutions that already offer an early decision option. Florida State University announced in April it will begin offering early decision admissions for the upcoming application cycle.
Many universities use early decision to increase enrollment yield rates and attract more competitive applicants who are prepared to commit to a school early in the application process.
In the press release, Mary Parker, UF’s vice president of enrollment management, said offering early decision will allow students who are confident about attending UF more flexibility when applying and the opportunity to finalize col-
lege plans sooner.
The early decision application deadline is Oct. 15. Applicants will be required to submit a signed agreement from the student, a parent or guardian and a high school counselor indicating their commitment to enroll if accepted through early decision.
UF will continue to offer nonbinding early action and regular decision options for students who may need more time to complete their applications or may not be ready to commit to UF.
According to university officials, all applicants, regardless of application type, will undergo the same review process evaluating both academic and nonacademic factors. Students who apply through the early decision process will remain eligible for all offered financial aid and scholarships.
hkon@alligator.org.
Changes in Midtown nightlife bring concern about its future
A TAMPA-BASED COMPANY OWNS FOUR OF MIDTOWN’S BARS
By Emma Fetter
Tampa-based SunPubs Hospitality Group has acquired four major Midtown Gainesville bars over the past two years after declining student attendance pushed longtime owners to sell.
The company entered the Gainesville market in 2024 by purchasing The Social, which it later rebranded as MacDinton’s Gainesville.
The firm quickly expanded by acquiring JJ’s Tavern, Lil’ Rudy’s and Rowdy Rudy’s — converted into The Grove, Fats and Rowdy’s, respectively. While the ownership changes stabilized the venues, employees and students say rising cover and drink prices are driving nightlife away.
Randy Esponda, the CEO of SunPubs, said he was approached by the former owners soon after his company entered the market. The sale was inevitable, he said.
“If we hadn't bought them, someone else would have,” Esponda said. “Both ownership groups of these bars wanted out.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, younger customers have been spending less at bars, Esponda said. Shifting purchasing habits and lower tipping rates aren’t unique to Gainesville, he added.
However, he said the company saw a strong opportunity to grow the MacDinton’s brand in a college market
and still sees about the same number of customers on an average night. The company sets cover and drink prices based on demand and nearby competition, he said.
When asked if SunPubs has future plans to expand further into Gainesville, he said, “Never say never, but it is highly unlikely.”
Jackson Ryan, a manager at MacDinton's Gainesville, said some UF students are also prioritizing academics over nightlife.
One study attributes Gen Z’s less frequent drinking to reasons such as changes in parenting style, social media use and encouragement of a healthier lifestyle.
MacDinton’s attendance had begun to slip before the ownership transition, Ryan added.
“Some days are dead, some days are busy,” he said. “It used to be busy every day.”
Some venues now charge cover fees earlier in the night — rather than charging cover only as the nights become busier — which further discourages patrons from going to the bars.
“No one is paying $20 cover when it's not that busy,” Ryan said.
Despite slower weekdays, both Esponda and Ryan said Midtown still fills during Wednesday drink specials and Saturday football game days. Fall semesters are consistently busier due to football season, Ryan said, which keeps students in town on weekends.
Parker Ayer, a 21-year-old UF finance master's student, said his peers have become more selective about going out, often drinking before leaving their homes to avoid high bar prices. SunPubs has greater influence over local pricing, he added, since the company now owns multiple Midtown properties.
“It's kind of annoying,” Ayer said. “They can charge higher prices because they have a monopoly on all the bars.”
Some longtime Gainesville residents said the ownership changes reflect a broader shift in Midtown. Marcus Richardson, a 40-year-old Walmart associate who grew up in Gainesville, said the local bar scene has become increasingly corporate.
Gainesville’s social scene once revolved around house parties, pool parties, postgame gatherings and promoters, Richardson said, and he rarely struggled to find something to do. Drink specials, including 5-cent drinks and buy-one-get-one margaritas, were far more common, he added.
“Most of the bars I used to go to in Gainesville have all closed,” he said. “[Bigger companies] are definitely taking over all the small-town, mom-and-pop local bars.”
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Sonaiya Brown // Alligator Staff
The Salty Dog Saloon on University Avenue near other midtown bars, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Julianna
Bendeck // Alligator Staff
Alachua County deals with monthslong dry spell
ing.
east-central Florida, including Alachua County. It’s been under a water shortage since February. The district declared a Phase 3 Extreme Water shortage May 13 due to lack of rainfall.
The water management district relies on rainfall to recharge the Floridan aquifer system, an underground water source that supplies much of the state’s drinking water and supports commercial uses like farming and landscap -
Because of the lack of rainfall, many livestock and farm owners have had to buy hay instead of relying on grass that would grow naturally, Willoughby said.
“When you have to pay for several months to keep your animals well fed, it's cutting into your farm's profits,” she said.
“It's certainly a huge impact to your bottom line, and farmers really struggle with just really, really thin margins in some cases.”
Even with recent rainfall, Alachua remains in a rain deficit. It
Gainesville clinic announces abrupt closure
could take several rainstorms for farmers and the county to fully recover, Willoughby said.
In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 61 counties across the South, including Alachua County, as Primary Natural Disaster Areas because of the drought.
Because of the designation, farmers can apply for emergency federal loans to replace livestock and equipment impacted by dry conditions.
In Marion County, which neighbors Alachua County to the
She attributed the lack of patients to the abundance of other reproductive healthcare resources in Gainesville, such as GatorWell Health Promotion Services at UF and Bread and Roses Women’s Health Center in northwest Gainesville.
Quesada said the decision doesn’t reflect a broader withdrawal from the region but rather an effort to adjust services to meet changing needs.
Planned Parenthood is committed to connecting patients with local resources and referrals during the transition period before the location’s closure, Quesada said.
Gender-affirming care is one area that will be heavily impacted by the closure, she added, given the region’s already limited access.
“I don't think that there's any other provider in the region,” she said.
Earlier this month, UF’s student health care center discontinued gender-affirming care services.
Planned Parenthood is exploring partnerships with local community providers to create a shared facility arrangement that would allow genderaffirming care to continue for patients in the area, Quesada said.
Meg Carso, a 20-year-old UF marine biology senior, is a co-director of the Brown Paper Bag Project, a UF student club dedicated to providing free sexual and reproductive health supplies to students through an anonymous, student-run delivery service.
The club is affiliated with UF’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter, which works closely with the Gainesville clinic.
Carso said the project receives emergency contraception like Plan B from the Gainesville Planned Parenthood.
The club has already had to apply for stipends and other outside resources due to funding challenges unrelated to the clinic’s closure, Carso said. The club will continue to rely on the outside resources after the clinic closes, she added.
Still, Carso said the clinic’s closure is upsetting.
“Already so many Planned Parenthoods have been shut down and closed, so I had been worried about it happening in Gainesville," she said. “It's also just worrisome that's happening near college campuses … That’s where we really need them.”
south, many farmers and ranches report similar concerns.
Caitlin Justesen, Marion County’s UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension livestock agent, said ranchers worry about the long-term impacts of the drought, including effects on cow reproduction if cattle don’t receive adequate nutrition.
Many farmers in Marion County have had to rely on harvested hay from last year to sustain their livestock throughout the drought, Justesen said. Some farmers are forced to purchase supplemental feed like hay to fill the gaps.
Because of dry conditions, Justesen said, many farmers have
jbendeck@alligator.org
had to buy fertilizer to help their crops grow, adding to cost as demand increases. Others have been hesitant to use fertilizer without sufficient water to help crops grow, she added.
“Unfortunately, a lot of rainfall is the only thing that really solves this problem,” Justesen said. “But [we’re] just trying our best to hold on tight and maintain [the] viability of as many operations as we can in the meantime.”
@OLofaso77652
olofaso@alligator.org PLANNED PARENTHOOD, from pg. 1
Gainesville’s skies are filled with a little more love this summer
EXPERTS SAY THIS SEASON’S LOVEBUG OUTBREAK HAS BEEN AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE
By Logan McBride Alligator Staff Writer
Every year, Gainesville residents are welcomed into summer by bug-splattered windshields and black-speckled walls — a sign of one of Florida’s most notorious seasonal occurrences: lovebugs.
This year, the insects are a little more prevalent, with clusters concentrated from Celebration Pointe to the windows of businesses across University Avenue.
For experts like Norman C. Leppla, a professor who studies pest management in the UF’s entomology and nematology department, their return is puzzling.
“In the recent past, they’ve been declining, so this current outbreak is unexpected,” Leppla said.
Despite a quick, unexpected spike in lovebugs, the swarm will be short-lived, Leppla said.
Lovebugs live just three to five days, and swarms typically last around four weeks. The bugs commonly appear in North Florida twice a year, at the end of the spring and summer seasons.
“It’s a result of larvae surviving over the winter, but why they were able to survive this year and not in recent previous years is anyone’s guess,” Leppla said.
Though they’re often considered a nuisance to Gainesville residents, Leppla said lovebugs aren’t dangerous.
They don’t bite, sting or spread disease — they actually provide ecological benefits. As critical decomposers, lovebugs consume decaying plant matter, which helps new plants grow by adding nutrients back into the soil.
Those looking to spray the insects away
won’t be in luck, either, Leppla said. While they may die from the products, new lovebugs will replace them almost immediately due to their rapid mating and short lifespans, providing little value in the usage of the products.
However, residents can find relief at night because the bugs are only active in the daytime. During the day, residents can monitor doors and windows, keep their air conditioning on and use fans as repellents. Despite folklore insisting lovebugs are the result of a UF lab experiment gone wrong, the bugs actually buzzed their way to Florida the old-fashioned way. They found their place in the Sunshine
State when they migrated from Central America to Texas. From there, the bugs moved to Florida, where they thrived in the state’s warm climate.
Their population peaked in Florida in the 1970s, Leppla said, and it’s steadily declined ever since, especially in the past four years.
For residents, this year’s uptick has been noticeable.
Anecio Torres, a 24-year-old who has lived in Gainesville since 2018, has seen lovebugs annually — but this year’s swarm feels different, he said.
“Your whole door is covered,” Torres said. “I wasn’t able to sit outside to smoke
a cigarette because there was so many lovebugs.”
Torres said he hasn’t been able to cook outside, either, a struggle that was especially noticeable on Memorial Day. When his family attempted to grill, they were forced to place multiple fans around the grill to turn away the pests.
Klarel Lamothe, a 31-year-old Ocala resident, commutes to Gainesville for work. The lovebugs have created issues during his drive, he said.
“Within like fifteen minutes of me coming into Gainesville, from just Archer Road to Newberry, the front of my car is covered,” Lamothe said. “The thing about it, it doesn’t last; it varies. One week you’ll have thousands of them.”
The insects are commonly found around interstates and parking lots because they are attracted to exhaust fumes and light paint colors.
Lovebugs often mistake vehicle exhaust fumes for decaying plant matter because the fumes contain the same chemicals. Furthermore, light colors resemble the colors of flowers they feed on.
Lamothe only recently moved to Ocala after living in Gainesville from 2012 to 2024. He said the prevalence of lovebugs had never been as bad as this year. At times, he feels like he can’t sit outside to eat, he added.
Earlier that day, lovebugs circled his drink while he ate lunch, he said. Later, some fell into it, forcing him to buy a new one.
Until the end of the swarm, Gainesville residents should keep their fans running, roll up their windows and consider a trip to the car wash.
@LoganDMcBride lmcbride@alligator.org
Employees, parents reflect on what it means to be a part of the ‘Foster family’
Foster Elementary School will close its doors in June
By Grace Larson Alligator Staff Writer
At the end of each school year, Foster Elementary School hosts Foster Frolics, a school carnival for teachers and students to celebrate the school year’s close.
This year’s Foster Frolics was different. Teachers and students celebrated more than the end of the school year; they honored the school’s 74 years of service to the Gainesville community.
The school will close its doors for the last time in early June, saying goodbye to the teachers, students and families it served.
The decision to close the school is part of the district’s “Our Schools — Future Ready” plan, which looks at rightsizing schools or closing and rezoning so they operate at capacity.
For Julia Gatson, a first grade teacher who attended the school as a student, this year’s Foster Frolics had her reflecting on more than 30 years of teaching at the
school.
She recounted the years she spent volunteering at the cotton candy machine during the end-ofyear celebration.
“I would walk away after two hours and be like, ‘It’s in my hair, it’s in my lungs. My arms are sticking, my legs are sticking,’” Gatson said.
She said her favorite memories include some of the school’s longstanding traditions like the Halloween costume parade, where students march around the school in their finest costumes to celebrate the holiday.
While Gatson certainly has her favorite memories, she said it’s difficult to share them all.
“It’s hard to summarize 34 years with the school in just a couple of memories,” she said.
“The motto used to be ‘Stephen Foster is the place to be,’ so yeah, it was the place to be.”
And for the students, the school’s traditions made it “the place to be.” Many of the tradi-
tions — and memories — have stuck with the school since its inception in 1952.
While celebration is not unique to Foster Elementary School, Gatson said, the traditions helped make the school what it was.
“We were really good at delivering those experiences for the kids,” she said.
Gatson is not alone in her sentiment. Stefanie Samara Hamblen, a former Foster PTA president, recalled traditions like spaghetti suppers, hay rides and field days.
Hamblen said the school’s lasting legacy will be as a “family school” and “a center point for the neighborhood.”
“For me, it’s always been the little red-brick schoolhouse on the corner where your family was a welcome part of the community,” she said.
Hamblen has been a part of the Foster community — or Foster family, as many teachers call it — since the ‘80s, when her oldest kid started at the school. Her
youngest graduated in 2003.
Hamblen said the school, which is the second-oldest in the district, served generations of students.
“We’re talking about generations of families that have been a part of this school,” Hamblen said, “and to take that away … it’s heartbreaking.”
Though her kids aged out of the school, the Foster family has continued to welcome Hamblen with open arms. She was among those who attended the school’s final farewell, an informal event held for current and former teachers, staff, volunteers and PTA members.
Karen Pearson, who’s worked as a counselor at the school for roughly 30 years, also attended the farewell party.
She said the school’s familyoriented environment makes it a great place to work.
“I wouldn’t have been here 30 years if I didn’t love it,” Pearson said. “It’s an incredible family
place, and you don’t get people to stay 30 years somewhere if it’s not something pretty wonderful.”
This family focus characterized Pearson’s experience at the school and how she approached her work.
One of Pearson’s favorite things to do, she said, was greet students’ younger siblings in the morning.
“They would so love to stay with their older brothers and sisters,” she said, “and I’ve always said, ‘As soon as you’re 5, you can come and spend the whole day with me.’ And I’ve had to stop saying that.”
It’s unclear what will happen to the school following its closure. Students will bid farewell to the school on June 2, with teachers leaving just three days later. The front office will close the following month, and “No trespassing” signs will soon adorn the front doors.
@graceellarson glarson@alligator.org
Riana Sage // Alligator Staff Lovebugs cover the outside of Frenchmen Street Food at 439 S Main St, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
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‘With Everything Going On’ music festival fosters community despite adversity
THE EVENT HELD AT HEARTWOOD SOUNDSTAGE DOUBLED AS JORDAN BURCHEL’S ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
By Brandy Sumner Avenue Staff Writer
Switching between the indoor and outdoor stages of Heartwood Soundstage, audiences hurried from set to set May 30. Many patrons weren’t deterred by the 5 p.m. rain showers and stuck around the festival until the end.
Jordan Burchel, a 35-year-old Gainesville musician, never planned for “With Everything Going On” to become a full-blown festival.
Originally meant as a celebration of Burchel’s new album of the same name, what began as a show with just a few artists quickly became a much larger production.
“We were trying to do something around the new album that was community-oriented,” Burchel said, “and it just spiraled out of control.”
The festival’s lineup included 12 artists across a wide spectrum of genres from Sterling Myles, an acoustic musician who helped put on the festival, to Lauren Woodall, who played with an indie rock band.
Rather than the type of music being played,
the festival’s through line was its message.
“With Everything Going On” was meant to be a space for humor during increasingly stressful times. Burchel wanted to include artists who mixed comedy with serious topics into their sets.
“There’s sad things, but there’s also acknowledgement of that absurdity and humor of daily life,” he said.
Spencer Thomas, a 34-year-old musician who travelled from Atlanta to participate in the festival, shared these goals in his own music.
Thomas sat alone on stage with just an
acoustic guitar, a keyboard and a self-deprecating sense of humor. He played songs full of jokes about difficult topics like politics and social media.
“It’s like working through the cynicism that we can find ourselves in in 2026 but have a positive and comedic spin on it,” Thomas said.
Even sets with sadder tones, like opening act Kyle Keller, had elements of levity throughout.
Keller’s song “Moonlight Saint” was in memory of a friend who’d recently died. Despite its somber tone, the singer mentioned
happy memories and jokes the two shared.
The festival was also a celebration of community, both among artists and their audiences.
The crowd was filled with families and groups of friends. Parents watched the sets while their children ran, played tag or Hula-Hooped on the hay-covered lawn.
Many artists had family and friends in the crowd supporting them.
Ginny Aiello, a 78-year-old retired Gainesville resident, was at the festival for her nephew, performer Colin Whitlock.
“It’s just wonderful to get together with everybody,” said Aiello, who sat outside with her family throughout the show.
As the sky slowly darkened and strings of lights flickered across the venue, Burchel’s set closed out the festival.
“With Everything Going On” will be Burchel’s second official album and carries the same theme as the rest of the festival: finding space for community and joy in the face of negativity.
Burchel said he hopes to put on another festival in the future and bring together the local community to see an even wider array of artists.
bsumner@alligator.org
Kane Parsons brings YouTube series ‘Backrooms’ to the big screen
DENSE ATMOSPHERE IS UNDERCUT BY WEAK CHARACTERIZATION AND A CLICHED ENDING
By Christopher Rodriguez Avenue Staff Writer
Twenty-year-old Kane Parsons made his directorial debut as A24’s youngest director with his movie “Backrooms,” released on May 29.
Parsons joins a cast of directors who find their origins on YouTube. “Obsession,” released earlier this month, was directed by Curry Barker, after finding success with his short film “The Chair” on YouTube. Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier, released “Iron Lung” in January, a movie he both directed and starred in.
The film “Backrooms” is a new installment in a web series Parsons debuted on YouTube in January 2022. The web series itself was inspired by a creepypasta — a kind of internet ghost story — of a fictional endless space that can be traced back to 2019.
Although the film is set in the same reality as the YouTube series, familiarity with the series is not necessary to enjoy the film.
The series mostly focuses on the operations of the ASYNC lab, the shady corporation researching the backrooms. The film, however, revolves around two characters: Clark — played by Chiwetel Ejiofor — a failed architect who can’t even keep his marriage on stable ground; and Mary — played by Renate Reinsve — a therapist who struggles with her relationship with her mother.
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While the original web series was created through Parsons’ use of free visual effects software Blender, the film offers a grander production scale. Boasting a 30,000-square-foot set, the imagined space became quite real.
And this investment paid off. By far, the crowning achievement of “Backrooms” is its atmosphere.
The sickly yellow halls of the backrooms’ distorted architecture capture a sense of uncanniness that instantly triggers unease, further exemplified by an eerie ambient soundtrack created by Parsons in collaboration with composer Edo Van Breemen.
Watching the film’s characters traverse the liminal spaces calls back to the feeling of exploring somewhere you weren’t supposed to be as a child, a blend of curiosity and fear. “Backrooms” is at its scariest when nothing is happening at all — but it feels like something should be.
The film further leans into uncanniness by providing one of our first real looks at the backrooms’ inhabitants, in contrast to the series’ brief glimpses.
While I found some of the creature designs extremely unnerving and unique, I was disappointed to see the film’s main antagonistic creature had the most underwhelming design by far. It was reminiscent of tropes found in other internet horror media like Slenderman.
Disappointingly, the film’s weakest part is its climax, which abandons much of its foreboding atmosphere to devolve into a monster chase sequence — a cliched end to an otherwise extremely unique film.
Considering the film’s internet origins, the format comes into question. The main change from making the leap from YouTube to the cinema is framing.
On YouTube, the web series had a unique quality to it. Clicking through the archival installments of the web series lent the
Planned Parenthood anunció que su clínica en Gainesville cerrará sus puertas en junio. Leer más en la pagina 7.
project a rabbit-hole feeling, as if you were uncovering the mysteries of the backrooms by piecing together this shady anthology.
While the film still offers some analog segments, the majority of it is shot like any other horror movie, demystifying the liminal space.
But the film offers something the web series does not: the opportunity to develop more fleshed-out characters. Dialogue in the original series was sparse, and where it was present, it was almost always in discussion of the backrooms themselves. By developing the two leads, the film offers more to say than the original series.
The film also attempts to offer some cultural critique, brushing against ideas like the loss of a sense of place and rampant consumerism that characterized the end of the 20th century. However, none of these ideas are meaningfully fleshed out; instead, the film wastes screentime documenting the backrooms’ endless halls.
Unfortunately, neither the themes nor the characters are given much room for exploration. The most characterization we get is during the film’s therapy scenes, where the dialogue can feel a little forced. The ending of Reinsve’s character fell especially flat.
Ultimately, “Backrooms” is an exciting directorial debut from one of the industry’s youngest creatives. While it can fall into some common tropes, the film offers enough unique aspects to keep me excited for Parsons’ next work.
If you’re looking for a horror movie that doesn’t feel like the rest, consider giving “Backrooms” a watch.
@ChrisRodri29386 crodriguez@alligator.org
Brandy Sumner // Alligator Staff
Nick Lutsko String Band performs at Heartwood Soundstage on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
University Club’s ‘Mascuerade’ brings drag kings to the main stage
ALTERNATIVE DRAG SHOWS CELEBRATE THE TALENT OF KINGS AND QUEENS ACROSS FLORIDA
By Brandy Sumner Avenue Staff Writer
The main floor of Gainesville’s University Club was washed in a purple and blue light, cut by a bright spotlight trained on drag performers as they lipsynced and danced to different songs.
The crowd on a Tuesday night is much smaller than on weekends, and the music is quieter. People huddle at the edges of the performing area, chatting and watching the performances throughout the night.
Loren Meza, a 24-year-old who mans the spotlight for the club, said he thinks of weeknights at UC as community nights, compared to weekends’ constantly changing crowds.
“This place has been a queer bar for 36 years,” Meza said. “I really feel that sense of how much of a safe space this place is, how it stuck around for 36 years.”
Meza often sets the spotlight on Benedict Down and Phylaxxis, regular performers at UC’s new drag king shows.
UC’s weekly “Now That’s What I Call Tuesdays” show began a monthly drag king spotlight in January, called the Mascuerade.
The first Mascuerade show was founded by Gainesville performer Phylaxxis, a 35-year-old lab safety worker by day. The show was massively successful and was given a permanent home on the last Tuesday of every month, with Phylaxxis as its host.
Phylaxxis said they wanted to start a drag king-centered show at the club to increase representation because there were no similar shows in Gainesville.
“We just needed a space, because a lot of shows — even here in town, where I think we are pretty inclusive — do not have drag kings,” they said.
The drag king scene has seen a recent increase in popularity both locally and nationally, with reality shows like “King of Drag” airing in 2025 and bringing these performances to a larger audience.
Through their drag, performers take masculinity to its limits. They wear fake beards and muscles and accentuate their eyebrows and jawlines into a hyper-exaggerated version of what men are traditionally expected to look like.
Kings satirize every form of masculinity possible, dressing up as everything from Ken dolls to Michael Jackson.
“Playing with what it means to be a man — I think right now it’s so important,” Phylaxxis said. “I think it’s why so many people want to get into it right now, too. Gender equality is such a big topic.”
Humor surrounding gender stereotypes is an important aspect of these performances, and many of the drag kings lean into comedy and storytelling as part of their sets.
Inertia, who hosts the majority of Tuesday’s drag shows, dressed as an office worker for this Tuesday’s Mascuerade and spent her time sitting at a table pretending to do paperwork.
University Club also hosts other nights focused on alternative drag, like Sinister Sundays, which highlight performances with more gothic themes.
“I didn’t know that there was a space for alternative drag and drag queens and kings that were not just cis gay men,” said Stigmata Primadonna, a 26-year-old alternative drag artist in Gainesville.
Alternative drag spaces allow performers to explore gender expectations through aesthetics that aren’t always represented through traditional drag artistry.
“I love doing makeup,” Stigmata said. “I love cosplay, and I had no clue that it was accessible to me, too.”
These nights also provide a space for LGBTQ+ people who may not feel comfortable in the loud crowds of the club’s biggest nights.
Gary Greenblatt, a 25-year-old who works the doors at University Club, said Tuesday nights are especially important to him because he’s able to find community without the pressure of dancing and large crowds.
“It let me get introduced to a club environment and meet people and just see drag consistently for the first time,” Greenblatt said.
Phylaxxis and other Mascuerade kings are working to make drag more accessible to everyone and form connections between performers across the state.
The shows feature performers from Jacksonville and Tallahassee alongside local talent, and all types of performances, from campy humor to full glamour, are welcome.
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Hippodrome Theatre celebrates LGBTQ+ community with ‘Hipp Pride Week’
THE THIRD-ANNUAL PRIDE MONTH EVENT HOSTED LIVE MUSIC AND FILM SHOWINGS FROM MAY 28 TO 31
By Mackenzie Haas Avenue Staff Writer
The Hippodrome Theatre is a Gainesville staple with a rich history. Built in 1911 as a post office, it’s since transformed into the artistic display it is today.
As time has gone on, a colorful variety of events, shows, performances and artists have graced the Hipp’s stage.
The theater has consistently made it clear it looks to uplift varying voices across the Gainesville community.
This year, the Hipp continued its annual tradition of celebrating the city’s diversity with Hipp Pride Week.
The third annual celebration, which featured live music celebrations and film screenings, was meant to uplift the LGBTQ+ community and all voices, said Nyq Smith, the 26-year-old front-of-house manager at the Hipp.
This year, it was held from May 28 to 31, just in time for Pride Month. Smith, who started the tradition,
Rocky Horror Show,” a notable musical in the LGBTQ+ community because of its numerous queer characters. In 2024, the play “Perfect Arrangement” was performed, which focused on the lives of four LGBTQ+ individuals in the 1950s, all in lavender marriages with one another to conceal their identities during the Lavender Scare.
Even back in 2017, the theater put on “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” a comedic story about a reluctant drag queen.
On and off the stage, the Hipp persists in being a safe place for Gainesville’s LGBTQ+ community.
kick back to music together as a community.
From May 29 to 31, the theater focused on screening movies with its Hipp Pride Cinema segment. It showed queer-focused films, such as “Paris is Burning,” “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.”
said they wanted to provide more opportunities for local artists to perform. They found the perfect gap in the Hipp’s schedule several years ago to make the specialized event happen.
“We are a small town,” Smith said. “That means that there are few opportunities for platforming local artists. Every opportunity to
platform local artists is something that we hold a significant amount of pride in.”
But Hipp Pride Week isn’t the only way the theater has opened its arms to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s made its love for the community well known through the shows chosen for its stage.
In 2025, the Hipp put on “The
Hipp Pride Week consists of representation from across the Gainesville community. It was created with the intention of giving Gainesville audiences a place to feel represented during Pride Month and to give local artists and performers a chance to be authentically themselves.
The festivities opened May 28 with Hipp Pride Sessions, which featured live music performances from several local artists, including The Ones to Blame, A.Sunroom and Rusty Razor. The event gave audiences the opportunity to experience a comfortable, welcoming environment, celebrate their identities and
Audience members of the Hipp’s latest show, “Million Dollar Quartet” — like 38-year-old home health aide Candace Ahearn — recognize how much the theater contributes to the culture and uniqueness of the community, even outside of Hipp Pride Week.
“There’s a lot of freedom and self-expression,” she said. “There’s also a lot of people discovering themselves that goes on here, too.”
Elizabeth Murphy, a 38-year-old barista and another “Million Dollar Quartet” audience member, also sees what the Hipp brings to the community in general — and the importance of it.
“Creativity is always a good thing,” she said, “being able to express yourself.”
mhaas@alligator.org
Grace Sands // Alligator Staff
A sign outside The Hippodrome is illuminated in rainbow colors, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Riana Morales // Alligator Staff Phylattis performs to “Face to the Floor” by Chevelle, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at University Club in downtown Gainesville, Fla.
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La clínica de Planned Parenthood en Gainesville cerrará debido a la disminución de pacientes
UN FUNCIONARIO DE PLANNED PARENTHOOD DIGA QUE EL CIERRE PODRÍA GENERAR UNA BRECHA EN EL ACCESO A LA ATENCIÓN DE AFIRMACIÓN DE GÉNERO
Por Julianna Bendeck
Escritora
de El Caimán
Planned Parenthood anunció el 27 de mayo que su clínica en Gainesville cerrará sus puertas el 26 de junio. Los servicios médicos presenciales, como las vacunaciones, cesarán, aunque algunos servicios, como las consultas de salud mental, seguirán disponibles a través de telemedicina.
Las clínicas de Planned Parenthood más cercanas se encuentran en Jacksonville, Orlando y Tallahassee, a aproximadamente 124, 203 y 240 kilómetros de la clínica de Gainesville. La clínica de Gainesville no ofrece servicios de aborto, pero ha brindado atención de afirmación de género, pruebas de detección de infecciones de transmisión sexual y otros servicios de salud reproduc-
tiva en el centro-norte de la Florida.
Michelle Quesada, vicepresidenta de comunicaciones de Planned Parenthood de Florida, dijo que el cierre se debe a la disminución en el número de pacientes de la clínica de Gainesville.
Aunque la decisión se tomó recientemente, Quesada dijo que la sede de Gainesville había sido monitoreada durante varios años y que se habían realizado esfuerzos para aumentar el número de pacientes.
“Simplemente no hemos tenido éxito en esa sede,” dijo Quesada.
Atribuyó la falta de pacientes a la abundancia de otros recursos de salud reproductiva en Gainesville, como los Servicios de Promoción de la Salud GatorWell en la Universidad de Florida y el Centro de Salud para Mujeres Bread and Roses en el noroeste de Gainesville.
Quesada dijo que la decisión no refleja una retirada generalizada de la región, sino más bien un esfuerzo por adaptar los servicios a las necesidades cambiantes.
Planned Parenthood se compromete a co-
nectar a los pacientes con recursos y referencias locales durante el período de transición previo al cierre de la clínica, dijo Quesada.
La atención de afirmación de género es un área que se verá gravemente afectada por el cierre, dijo, dado el acceso ya limitado en la región.
"No creo que haya ningún otro proveedor en la región,” dijo.
A principios de este mes, el centro de salud estudiantil de la Universidad de Florida suspendió los servicios de atención de afirmación de género. Planned Parenthood está explorando alianzas con proveedores comunitarios locales para crear un centro compartido que permita que la atención de afirmación de género continúe para los pacientes de la zona, dijo Quesada.
Meg Carso, estudiante de último año de biología marina de la UF, de 20 años, es codirectora del Proyecto Bolsa de Papel Marrón, un club estudiantil de la UF dedicado a proporcionar suministros gratuitos de salud sexual y reproductiva a los estudiantes a través de un servicio de entrega anónimo
Elio Piedra: From Latin Radio to Telemundo
THE JOURNEY OF A CUBAN IMMIGRANT WHO HELPED BUILD LATINO MEDIA IN GAINESVILLE
By Gian Giron Alligator Staff Writer
On May 28, Gainesville’s Latino community selected one of their own, Elio Piedra, as the new lead ambassador for Telemundo Gainesville, a newly launched Spanish-language television affiliate serving North Central Florida. The launch of Telemundo Gainesville marks an expansion of Spanish-language media in the region, which has relatively limited access to Spanish-language television programming. The channel
will provide news, community and entertainment content to the area’s growing Latino population.
As the station’s lead ambassador, Piedra will help Telemundo Gainesville establish its presence in North Central Florida, serving as a liaison between Telemundo Gainesville and the region’s growing Latino community.
Piedra has spent a decade building Spanish media through his radio station, Tu Fiesta Radio, the only Spanish-language station in Alachua County. Through Tu Fiesta Radio, he has promoted Latino cultural celebrations, community organizations and local events, such as watch parties for the 2026 World Cup.
Piedra came to Gainesville nearly 15 years ago after growing up
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in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He began studying music at 9 years old and was a gifted pianist and percussionist. He went on to study at Cuba’s most prestigious conservatory, where he practiced with some of the most renowned Cuban jazz and salsa musicians, he said.
At 19 years old, he followed his now-wife, whom he knew since his childhood in Cuba, to UF, where she was studying. What began as a move to be with his spouse would eventually form the foundation of his life and his career in North Central Florida, Piedra said.
When he arrived in Gainesville, Piedra spent much of his time finding a balance between working long hours and adjusting to life in a new country. He worked as a dishwasher at a local restaurant while
gestionado por estudiantes. El club está afiliado al capítulo Generation Action de Planned Parenthood de la UF, que trabaja en estrecha colaboración con la clínica de Gainesville. Carso dijo que el proyecto recibe anticonceptivos de emergencia, como la píldora del día después, de la clínica Planned Parenthood de Gainesville. El club ya ha tenido que solicitar becas y otros recursos externos debido a problemas de financiación ajenos al cierre de la clínica, dijo Carso. El club seguirá dependiendo de estos recursos externos tras el cierre de la clínica, dijo.
Aun así, Carso dijo que el cierre de la clínica es lamentable.
“Ya han cerrado muchas clínicas de Planned Parenthood, así que me preocupaba que esto sucediera en Gainesville,” dijo. “También es preocupante que esto ocurra cerca de los campus universitarios… Ahí es donde realmente las necesitamos.”
jbendeck@alligator.org
Gainesville
learning English through pop-up classes offered at UF’s English Language Institute. Piedra said these early years of his life in Gainesville helped develop the discipline and mentality he uses at work today.
“When people think about me, I want them to think about an immigrant that came to the United States with nothing and believed it was possible,” Piedra said.
Over time, Piedra gradually returned to his musical roots, performing in venues throughout Gainesville. Through the performances, he said, he began to build relationships within the local Latino community. He soon recognized the lack of Spanish entertainment and media available to residents.
Rather than expanding his musical reach to larger cities, Piedra
Meet the midfielder moving to Gainesville from the Pacific coast, pg. 11
realized Gainesville needed its own Spanish-language media platform, he said. This idea led to his creation of Tu Fiesta Radio, the first and only Spanish-language radio station in Alachua County.
“A lot of people told me, ‘You need to move to Miami or Orlando because there’s not much here,’” Piedra said. “But that’s exactly why it’s good, because when there aren’t many things, we can create them.”
For Piedra, the opportunity to represent Telemundo Gainesville builds upon years of work connecting with Spanish-speaking residents throughout North Central Florida.
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@_giron_gian_ ggiron@alligator.org
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‘Shaine in Spain’: Reviewing where I’ve been
During my four-month study abroad experience, I was fortunate enough to travel to nearly a dozen cities. Here’s a rundown of everywhere I’ve been and my experiences there.
Valencia, Spain - Feb. 6 to Feb. 8
Valencia was my first trip out of Madrid during my semester abroad. I went with my dad, who was in Spain on a biking trip.
Considering the fact it was early February, the weather was fantastic. I walked around comfortably in a sweatshirt.
Valencia has an amazing mix of history and modern culture. You can explore buildings damaged by Napoleon’s invasions — but you can also go to the beach, which spans miles, and visit the arts and sciences district, which features museums, an opera house, an aquarium and a botanical garden.
My dad and I are both vegetarians, so we couldn’t try paella — what Valencia is arguably most known for — but I’m sure it’s amazing.
Seville, Spain - Feb. 20 to Feb. 22
Aside from Madrid, Seville is my favorite place I’ve been in Spain. Similar to Valencia, the weather in Seville was amazing. It was pushing 75 degrees in the middle of winter.
Seville was incredibly walkable. I was only there for a weekend, but
I feel like I really saw everything. Whether it was Plaza de España or the Alcazar of Seville, the architecture was beautiful. I also felt incredibly immersed in Sevillan culture. Flamenco dancers and bands were positioned on most street corners in the main town. The people were extremely friendly and welcoming.
However, the Sevilla oranges are very sour — maybe they weren’t ripe yet. Eat with caution.
Porto, Portugal - Feb. 27 to March 1
One weekend, some friends and I decided on a whim to take a bus from Madrid to Porto. The bus dropped us off minutes from our hostel, and we were immediately met with traditional pastel homes clumped together along the river.
Porto was very walkable and very green. I could’ve easily wandered all day looking at the tiled houses and old churches. I also tried my first pastel de nata — and about three more throughout the weekend — when I was there. If you ever have the chance to try the egg-and-tart pastry, I highly recommend it.
The city also becomes quite lively at night. There were two main streets lined with different bars where people sat outside and enjoyed their nights.
Prague, Czech RepublicMarch 12 to March 15
Prague was the trip I most looked forward to, and it didn’t disappoint.
With its classic architecture and abundance of World War II history, I really felt transported back in time.
I highly recommend the city if you are interested in that era of history.
The streets and parks were very clean, with minimal litter and trash, and the nightlife was very prominent. There were always people out on the streets, and the atmosphere was very lively.
Lisbon, PortugalMarch 19 to March 22
I’m sure I would’ve loved Lisbon if I hadn’t gone on a weekend when it was pouring rain. It really is one of those places — like many others — where the weather makes or breaks your trip.
I still had a lot of fun, and we did get one sunny day where we explored Sintra.
But the weather definitely affected my ability to see the city. For two days, my friend and I tried walking around to explore, but we ended up hopping in and out of shops when the rain picked up.
The landscape in Lisbon is beautiful — and hilly, so get ready for some serious steps if you ever visit.
Venice, Italy - March 26 to March 27
I only spent about a day in Venice before heading north, but it was a lot nicer than I expected. I had heard there was a lot of pickpocketing, but I was way less nervous about it once
I was there. It was also so nice not having to cross the street and wait for cars; my friends and I could just cross bridges over the canals. I liked Venice, but I’m not sure whether I liked it enough to invest in going back.
The Dolomites, ItalyMarch 27 to March 31
My friends and I planned this trip last minute, and it worked out pretty well. The Dolomites were incredible to hike through. It felt like walking through a green screen. It was a bit cold and snowy, but it made the hikes even more rewarding.
Sicily, Italy - March 31 to April 3
I was hoping Sicily would be a relaxing few days after hiking, but it was still the island’s rainy season. The water was beautiful, but it was hard to enjoy in bad weather.
Just when I thought I’d escaped the snow, we hiked Mount Etna, a volcano where it was actively snowing. It was very cool, and I have zero regrets — but it definitely didn’t make for the spring break I envisioned.
Berlin, Germany - April 3 to April 6
Similar to Prague, Berlin is packed with history from the World Wars and Soviet rule. I thought it was so cool walking around and learning about things as precise as a bullet hole in a building.
UF should support its local musicians
In the last year, UF has hosted concerts featuring popular musicians, from pop duo The Chainsmokers to country star Morgan Wallen. The last two Gator Growls even included nationally recognized musicians like Dustin Lynch and Steve Aoki.
However, many students still complain. They may envy Yale students for getting to see Zara Larsson, or UC Santa Barbara for Dominic Fike, or maybe UPenn for Flo Rida.
Not everyone will be satisfied with any given musician. Some students prefer rap, others opt for country. Some prefer Drake, others, Kendrick Lamar.
Yet there’s a simple solution: Support Gainesville musicians.
UF has a long musical history. The first name that comes to mind is Tom Petty, who formed Mudcrutch in 1970 with fellow Gainesville native Tom Leadon. Later, Petty teamed up with Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch and Ron Blair — all of whom grew up in Gainesville — to form the Heartbreakers.
But the town has more to offer than Petty.
The early 1990s gave rise to platinum-selling Sister Hazel, named after local advocate for the homeless Dr. Hazel Williams. Stephen Stills — from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — spent his
childhood in Gainesville, attending Finley Elementary School — now Parker Elementary School — and Gainesville High School.
The city’s influence is most felt in the punk scene, with bands like Against Me! and Less Than Jake getting their starts with college shows.
And, of course, there’s “The Originator,” Bo Diddley, who helped revolutionize rock ’n’ roll music and spent much of his early career in Gainesville.
UF, as a nationally recognized institution, has the unique opportunity to give local musicians a chance in the spotlight.
Its best chance to do so comes during Homecoming Weekend in October. At that time, swarms of alumni come to campus to relive the days they long for. Meanwhile, students flock to Gator Growl — UF’s annual student-run pep rally. The headliner is traditionally a musician, but this year welcomes comedian Nikki Glaser instead.
So, who will fill that musical void in the program? Why not a local musician?
Local musicians may not have the popularity or experience to headline sold-out shows in Ben Hill Griffin like Morgan Wallen did, but they could certainly open for bigger acts.
And students love the local music scenes.
Rapper Fie Scoobie has gained immense popularity in the
I went to visit a friend studying there, and she showed me around the museums, statues and monuments. I don’t know what I had in mind when I went to Berlin, but it was definitely not what I expected architecturally.
The city was rebuilt because practically everything had been bombed in World War II. Now, everything looks very industrial and pretty sparse.
I would love to go back to Berlin and spend more time learning about its history.
Mallorca, Balearic Islands, SpainApril 17 to April 19
Mallorca had some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen. It was extremely cold but very pretty to look at. Palma also had one of the most beautiful churches I’ve seen, with stained glass windows reflecting rainbow light into the building. If I were to go back, I would definitely rent a car. The island is pretty big, and my friends and I were limited in what we could do.
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@shaine_in_spain sdavison@alligator.org
last year alone, and students frequently repeat his catchphrase: “I’m from Gainesville, b----.”
Scoobie’s already made his intentions to play an on-campus show clear on his Instagram.
“I’m up next to perform at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium,” he wrote in the caption. “I really rep for my city.”
Timothy Dillehay opinions@alligator.org
Indie rock band The Nancys is also popular among students. The group has been active in the musical scene over the last few years, and that momentum has paid off. The band’s merch is a relatively common sight around campus.
Not everyone will be pleased with whichever musical guest comes to Gainesville. But when that musical guest comes from only a few miles away, students may be more receptive because they feel connected to that musician’s early history.
The first time that artist plays in an arena won’t just become part of the musician’s history. It will become part of UF’s — and students’ — history, too.
Gainesville has a rich musical background. By inviting local artists to perform — even if just as openers for bigger acts — UF has the opportunity to be a part of that history and give back to the city it calls home.
@timothydilleh tdillehay@alligator.org
Shaine Davison opinions@alligator.org
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
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1. TELEVISION: What are the names of the three girls in the animated series "Powerpuff Girls"?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Which ocean lies between Australia and Africa?
3. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman numerals MMXXVI?
4. MUSIC: Who won Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys?
5. U.S. STATES: Which state is an archipelago?
6. MOVIES: Which classic movie has the tagline, "From the moment they met it was murder"?
7. GAMES: How many basketball players can be on the court at the same time?
8. SCIENCE: What is the heliosphere?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is vexillology?
10. HISTORY: Who was the only English king to be executed for treason?
Trivia Test Sports Quiz
2. Name the Kenyan runner who became the first man to run an official marathon in under two hours when he finished the 2026 London Marathon in 1:59:30.
3. In 1947, the Detroit Tigers' Roy Cullenbine set the Major League Baseball record for consecutive games with a walk with how many?
4. What placekicker from South Korea made 37 of 39 field goal attempts and led the Atlanta Falcons in scoring with 144 points in the 2020 NFL season?
5. What is the official mascot of San Jose State University's athletic teams?
6. Name the actor and martial artist from Sweden who played Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in the 1985 sports drama film "Rocky IV."
7. In November 2025, what troubled former Major League Baseball star received a presidential pardon for a 1995 tax evasion conviction?
The Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sabastian Sawe.
Younghoe Koo.
Sammy the Spartan.
Dolph Lundgren.
Darryl Strawberry.
Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles.
The Sun's solar winds and magnetic fields create a protective bubble around our solar system.
The study of flags.
Charles I in 1649.
2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury won three Stanley Cup titles (2009, 2016 and 2017) with what team?
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026
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VOLLEYBALL
How family, competition shaped Florida freshman Nadi’ya Shelby
LONG BEFORE ARRIVING IN GAINESVILLE, SHELBY’S SPORTS-CENTRIC CHILDHOOD PREPARED HER FOR HER COLLEGIATE CAREER
By Lily Perkins Sports Writer
Long before freshman Nadi’ya Shelby stepped onto Florida's volleyball court as an opposite hitter, sports was a part of her daily life.
Growing up in Friendswood, Texas, she was surrounded by athletes. Her father, Shannon Shelby, played football at the University of Arkansas. Her older brother, Ty Shelby, was a linebacker at Louisiana Monroe before pursuing a professional career with the Los Angeles Chargers. Her other brother, Braylan Shelby, is in his junior year as a defensive end at the University of Southern California.
Competition was woven into the Shelby household’s daily routine. Driveway basketball games and races between siblings were regular occurrences. Nadi’ya often joined her brothers’ workouts and training programs.
“It was always just something really competitive,” Nadi’ya said. “Like who could finish their food the fastest.”
Following suit with her older siblings, the 6-foot player spent much of her childhood balancing multiple sports at once. She started as a basketball player, adding track and eventually volleyball to her schedule. For years, she juggled positions on basketball and volleyball
SOCCER
travel teams.
Her mother, TyNeshia Shelby, said she remembers the moment she realized athletics weren’t just a hobby for her daughter but instead something she wanted to intentionally pursue. When Nadi’ya was as young as 10 years old, she began seeking out extra training on her own, running with her brothers and finding ways to improve her athleticism.
“That’s when we knew she was serious about wanting to play a collegiate sport, because she identified that self-drive herself,” TyNeshia said.
Her work ethic continued into high school. She organized extra workouts, called additional practices and constantly searched for ways to improve her game and her teammates around her. When college recruitment began, Nadi’ya was prepared after watching her two brothers go through the same process.
When former Florida coach Mary Wise recruited, the conversations focused on more than volleyball. Players joined recruiting calls; coaches discussed academics. Team relationships were prioritized alongside performance.
After Ryan Theis took over the program, Nadi’ya said she never truly doubted where she wanted to go.
“I genuinely felt like this was the school,” Nadi’ya said. “I felt like I was going to miss out on things if I chose a different school.”
A big part of that confidence came from the girls who were already on the Gators volleyball team.
Before the move to Gainesville, current players regularly reached out to form a relationship with her. Once she arrived, they in-
vited her to meals, outlined team activities and helped transform the new environment into a place the Texas native felt comfortable in.
Although she’s officially entering her freshman volleyball season this fall, Nadi’ya graduated high school early and has already spent the spring semester acclimating to life as a Gator athlete in Gainesville.
For Theis, Nadi’ya’s quick transition stood out immediately. The coach said he was “blown away” by her maturity as such a young player.
Instead of arriving overwhelmed, the freshman quickly immersed herself in the program. By the time spring practices ended, she had become one of the more energetic personalities in the gym.
“There was no deer in headlights,” Theis said. “She was smiling and laughing day one.”
Nadi’ya’s athleticism gives her the potential to contribute on the court sooner rather than later, Theis said. During spring practices, she already flashed the physicality that landed her on the 2025 AVCA High School Player of the Year Watch List and on the roster of the 2025 USA Volleyball Open National Championship Team.
Part of that talent, Nadi’ya said, comes from her family.
“Sometimes people are like, ‘Oh, how’d you get that ball up?’” she said. “It’s all the training that I’ve done, especially with my siblings … that will prepare me for that split moment.”
As Florida prepares for the upcoming season, Nadi’ya hopes to extend her impact beyond her development on the court.
“I want people to enjoy everything that
they’re doing,” she said. “If you’re not having fun, I feel like we’re just doing it wrong.”
Theis said she has been a part of pulling the team closer.
One of her priorities is to continue creating connections. Whether it’s cracking jokes, encouraging teammates or simply helping her peers feel more comfortable on the court, she wants to continue to improve the team environment.
For TyNeshia, watching Nadi’ya begin to carve out her place in the program has been reassuring.
“As a parent, we always worry about our kids when they leave our nest and go off to college,” she said. “The fact that she is so happy there eased my mind.”
From games of HORSE under the basketball hoop in her driveway to preparing for her first season in orange and blue, competition has been no stranger to Nadi’ya’s life.
While her volleyball accolades will continue to grow, the people who know her the best are just as excited to head to Gainesville to see her thrive in a new setting and continue balancing three athletic careers, as they’ve always done.
“It’s going to be a little bit tricky to manage,” TyNeshia said of supporting all of her children. “But we’re definitely game for it … We’ll be there to support Florida and to support Nadi’ya.”
The first serve of her collegiate career is still ahead of her. But for Nadi’ya, becoming a Gator started long before the 2026 season.
@Lily_Perkins10 lperkins@alligator.org
Meet Courtney Hogan, the midfielder moving to Gainesville from the Pacific coast
THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE IS ONE OF EIGHT FRESHMAN SOCCER RECRUITS FOR THE GATORS
By Colby Kistner Sports Writer
Courtney Hogan’s athletic journey started with going on walks alongside her parents at 8 years old. On one of those strolls, she noticed a soccer team practicing at a complex two minutes from her home.
The Camarillo, California, native was immediately fascinated.
“I really wanted to be like them, so I convinced my parents to sign me up for club soccer,” Hogan said. "That's where it all started.”
Given her lack of experience playing the sport, the challenge was greater than the mystique. But she wasn’t out of luck just yet.
Klaren Jubilee, the founder of Elite Soccer Performance and head coach of the Eagles Soccer Club, had something in store for Hogan before her first season.
He had just created a third team for the Eagles, two levels below the main squad.
Hogan’s raw athletic ability and aggression stood out to
Jubilee — so much so that in year two, she moved up to the second team and played with the top team by her third year.
“He transformed me [from] this player that had no clue what she was doing to someone that actually had a passion for wanting to play,” Hogan said.
In high school, Hogan was also proficient in track and field, winning a silver medal at the 2023 Ventura County track and field championships.
“I learned a lot about myself while competing individually in track that I transferred over to soccer,” Hogan said.
Soccer helped her through her first two years of high school as she dealt with depression, she said.
Her life changed for the better when Nick Zimmerman, then Mississippi State’s head coach, reached out to Hogan at the end of her sophomore year. He immediately got the recruiting process moving.
Hogan committed to Starkville, Mississippi, in September 2024 and decommitted 15 months later when the University of Florida hired Zimmerman as its next soccer head coach.
He recruited Hogan to the Gators later that month, and she signed with them at the beginning of the new calendar year.
With seven other freshman recruits, the midfielder enters Gainesville as part of a new era. During a March visit to UF, Hogan said she immediately clicked with fellow recruit Mia Gray.
“It was great that I had someone that I connected with …
because she knew what I was going through,” Hogan said. Similar to Hogan, Gray will also be joining the Gators from thousands of miles away from her hometown of Rochdale, New York.
Hogan’s goal for the upcoming season is to learn how to support her team and grow as a person.
Jubilee said he saw Hogan’s college potential while watching her play in high school.
“She was battling some of the best kids in Southern California and sometimes coming out on top,” Jubilee said. “I was pretty confident she would go on to playing at least a pretty high level.”
Jubilee still keeps in touch with Hogan even though he hasn’t coached her since she was 12.
“Can’t wait to see what the future holds for her as well, and that’s just another start of another journey,” he said.
Courtney’s father, Paddy Hogan, said he always thought college soccer was a possibility for his daughter.
He’s now eager to see how she develops with the Gators and how her talents fit in with the coaching plans.
“I felt there was always an opportunity to improve once she got into the college, into the Division I, and then just to see how that progresses through the season,” Paddy said.
@colbykistner22 ckistner@alligator.org
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India Houghton sets sights on professional tennis after Florida career
THE FORMER GATOR PLANS TO BEGIN COMPETING LATER THIS SUMMER AFTER INJURY RECOVERY
By Sofia Alamo Sports Writer
Five years from now, India Houghton has a clear vision of what she’ll be doing: battling an opponent on center court at the U.S. Open. Her grand slam dream may not be too far away. After five seasons of collegiate tennis, the former Gator is preparing to begin her professional tennis career full time.
“If you have one foot in the door and one out, it's tough to be successful,” Houghton said. “I want to go full pro.”
Houghton steps into professional tennis having built a strong foundation in college, first competing at Stanford University for four years. Despite spending much of her time as a Cardinal battling multiple injuries, Houghton made the matches she played count.
The Tiburon, California, native amassed a 39-15 singles record and 20-8 record in doubles while helping Stanford win three consecutive Pac12 championships.
After graduating from Stanford with one year of eligibility remaining, Houghton chose to spend her final collegiate season at Florida. The move was completely different from the collegiate sports experience she had on the West Coast.
“I had no idea what it was like playing in the SEC,” Houghton said. “It was a really eye-opening experience.”
At Florida, Houghton grew into a different player from the one who
Florida tennis players India Houghton and Gabia Paskauskas celebrate a point during an NCAA women’s doubles tennis match against Missouri, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
first arrived in Gainesville. But head coach Per Nilsson knew she was going to succeed from the start.
“She needs matches more than anyone,” Nilsson said after a Feb. 13 home win against Louisiana. “She’s going to be special, too.”
Nilsson’s coaching intuition proved right. After opening the year without a singles victory through the Gators’ first three matches, Houghton turned her early-season struggles
into motivation.
By the middle of the season, Houghton had moved up to Florida’s No. 1 singles playing spot. She claimed three victories over top20 opponents and was named SEC Player of the Week in March. Her improvement extended to doubles. Alongside partner Lucie Pawlak, Houghton overcame a slow start to the season, building a record seven matches undefeated in the
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
mid-season.
“We improved and got so much closer just playing together,” Houghton said. “We felt like we were a different team.”
One of the duo’s biggest wins came against defending national champion then-No.1 Georgia. Houghton and Pawlak defeated the Bulldogs’ duo of Anastasiia Gureva and Emma Dong to claim the day’s only win for the Gators.
The Florida pair worked to-
ward improving their performance throughout the season by developing better communication and chemistry. In the end, Pawlak credited Houghton’s intelligence and their relationship for their doubles success.
“She’s the brain of the team,” Pawlak said. “I’m so sad she's going to leave.”
Finishing with a 10-6 doubles record, Houghton and Pawlak plan to extend their success beyond collegiate tennis.
“We were hoping that maybe later this summer, we could play a couple doubles tournaments together,” Houghton said.
Houghton said her season at Florida set her up for success on the professional tour. Many players struggle with loneliness as they transition from college tennis to professional, having to travel without a team and playing in front of smaller crowds. Houghton, who plans to travel alone or with her family, said she’s prepared for the adjustment.
“I don't think that discourages me at all,” Houghton said. “I'm more prepared to handle tough moments on the road by myself now.”
The former Gator is expected to begin competing in tournaments later this summer after she finishes treatment for the injuries she played through during the season. She plans to begin with lower-level pro tournaments in California before making her way to Europe.
As she prepares for the next chapter of her career, Houghton said her focus is no longer on the score alone.
“I want to keep focusing on my development as a player and a person,” Houghton said, “not so much on the outcome.”
@alamosofiaa salamo@alligator.org
Caroline Walsh // Alligator Staff
Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff Florida tennis player India Houghton serves during an NCAA tennis match against Oklahoma,