Jan. 13, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 23 University of Kentucky gymnastics team concluded its first Southeastern Conference meet of the season by falling 196.650-191.975 to No. 11 Arkansas at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday night.
In all, Kentucky had 19 of 24 routines performed by freshmen and sophomores in the meet, while five Wildcats made their collegiate debuts on an event in the meet.
The Wildcats started the night on uneven bars, earning a team score of 47.825. Seniors Whitney Rose and Storey Morris led Kentucky with Rose earning a 9.7 and Morris a 9.65. Freshman Sara Shipley finished third on the team with a 9.625 in her first collegiate bar lineup, while sophomore Kayla Hartley scored a 9.45. Freshman Alexis Gross completed the UK scoring with a 9.4, while junior Caitlyn Ciokajlo went 8.9.
Kentucky’s youth shined on vault with freshman Kenzie Hedges leading the way with a 9.775, while sophomore Holly Cunningham was second on the team and tied a career high with a 9.75. Shipley went second in the lineup and scored a 9.725, while sophomore Audrey Harrison went 9.7. Morris posted a 9.65 followed by freshman Shelby Hilton, who was making her collegiate debut, earning a 9.475. Kentucky scored a 48.6 as a team on the event.
UK went 48.425 on floor exercise after Hilton led the team in her collegiate debut on the event with a 9.75. Fellow freshman Shannon Mitchell earned a career-high 9.7 on floor, followed by a 9.65 score by Gross. Sophomores Hartley and Harrison went 9.6 and 9.55, respectively. Hedges, who was competing on floor for the first time in her career, went 9.475.
The Wildcats concluded the night on beam with a team score of 47.3. Gross led UK on the event with a career high 9.75, while fellow freshmen Hedges and Mitchell performed well with career-high scores of 9.625 and 9.5. Harrison earned a 9.25, while Cunningham scored a 9.175 and Morris a 9.1.
The Wildcats return to Lexington on Friday to continue Southeastern Conference action against No. 3 Florida. Tickets to the event are available by calling the UK Ticket Office at (859) 257-1818 or toll free at 1-800-928-2287.
For more information on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow “UKGymnastics” on Twitter and Facebook.
AGATE
Team Scores: 1) Arkansas 196.650, 2) Kentucky 191.975
UK Scores: Vault 48.6, Bars 47.825, Beam 47.3, Floor 48.25
VAULT: Morris 9.65, Shipley 9.725, Harrison 9.7, Hedges 9.775, Cunningham 9.75, Hilton 9.475
BARS: Rose 9.7, Gross 9.4, Hartley 9.45, Shipley 9.625, Ciokajlo 8.9, Morris 9.65
BEAM: Mitchell 9.5, Harrison 9.25, Cunningham 9.175, Gross 9.75, Morris 9.1, Hedges 9.625
FLOOR: Mitchell 9.7, Hedges 9.475, Gross 9.65, Hilton 9.75, Hartley 9.6, Harrison 9.55
