University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, January 9
Gainesville, Fla.
6:45 p.m.
North Carolina
at
Florida
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Gymnastics Prepares For Season Opener
January 8, 2026 | Women's Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Carolina gymnastics program is set to open the 2026 season on the road in Gainesville, Fla. at a quad meet hosted by Florida. The No. 24 ranked Tar Heels will compete against No. 3 Florida, Temple, and West Virginia Friday evening in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Competition is set for a 6:45 p.m. start on SEC Network +.
Carolina heads into the 2026 campaign with the program's highest preseason ranking since 2007. Seniors Kaya Forbes and Gwen Fink were named to the ACC Preseason Watchlist with freshman Sydney Seabrooks joining them on the Newcomer Watchlist. With experienced seniors and dynamic newcomers, the Tar Heels look to continue building the program this season while taking on challenging non-conference opponents starting Friday at Florida.
Tar Heel Tidbits
Carolina heads into the 2026 campaign with the program's highest preseason ranking since 2007. Seniors Kaya Forbes and Gwen Fink were named to the ACC Preseason Watchlist with freshman Sydney Seabrooks joining them on the Newcomer Watchlist. With experienced seniors and dynamic newcomers, the Tar Heels look to continue building the program this season while taking on challenging non-conference opponents starting Friday at Florida.
Tar Heel Tidbits
- The Tar Heels were ranked no. 24 in the WCGA Preseason Poll. UNC earned their fifth consecutive preseason ranking and highest since 2007.
- Carolina heads into their third season competing in the ACC. The league sponsored the sport just two seasons ago.
- The Tar Heels were picked fourth in the ACC Preseason Poll with Kaya Forbes, Gwen Fink, and Sydney Seabrooks featured on the league's watchlists.
- UNC finished last season ranked in the top 25 for just the fourth time in program history after finishing sixth at the Tuscaloosa Regional.
- Kaya Forbes moved into third all-time in program history after notching a career-high 9.925 on vault at the 2025 ACC Championships. The senior was the lone Tar Heel to qualify for the 2025 Gymnastics National Championships as an individual.
- JoJo Valahovic is prepped for her sophomore season after being named ACC Newcomer of the Year last season.
- Danna Durante heads into her fifth season at the helm and capped off the 2025 season with the highest team score in the Durante era (196.75). The score also marked the sixth best in program history. Durante was tabbed ACC Co-Coach of the Year.
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's GymnasticsMBB: Hubert Davis Post-Wake Forest Press Conference
Sunday, January 11
Carolina Insider: Rapid Reactions – Men’s Basketball vs. Wake Forest – January 10, 2026
Sunday, January 11
UNC Men's Basketball: Tar Heels Slide Past Wake Forest, 87-84
Sunday, January 11
DUNKS
Saturday, January 10