Florida ace Elizabeth Hightower recently graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology.

“Graduating magna cum laude from a top five public institution is an incredible achievement and I couldn’t be more excited for Elizabeth.” Head Coach Tim Walton said. “Her commitment to her academics compliments her drive to excel on the field and I look forward to being able to witness her continued growth both academically and athletically throughout the rest of her career.”

A right-handed pitcher, Hightower will be entering her senior season on the Gators’ pitching staff this season. In 2021 she pitched the first no-hitter of her career against USF in the NCAA Gainesville Regional Championship game. It was only the fourth complete-game no-hitter thrown by a Florida pitcher in NCAA tournament play. Hightower finished the season with a 1.61 ERA that included 11 complete-games, seven complete-game shutouts, and six additional combined shutouts with three saves.

Academically, Hightower will pursue her master’s in Sport Management, while also contributing to an independent study that focuses on analyzing the diets of inhabitants that lived in St. Augustine during the 17th century.

“Graduating and receiving a degree from the University of Florida has set me up to become successful in the future.” Hightower said. “Without UF and Tony (Meacham), I would have never found a career path that I am so passionate about. The University of Florida breeds excellence and I am proud to continue that tradition in the classroom and the rest of my life.