Nov. 14, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky gymnastics team opened its 2010 season with the annual Blue-White Meet Saturday at Memorial Coliseum. Each gymnast competed in their regular-season rotation.
“It’s a new team with new expectations, and we could see that,” Mitchell said. ” In this intrasquad, if you count just the top six kids on each event, we had three falls. It’s November and we’re looking to make those things better.”
Senior Emilie Rymer competed as an all-arounder for the first time since the 2008 season due to injury. Rymer was Kentucky’s lone all-around performer on the day. Mitchell is pleased with the progress Rymer has shown.
“She has been phenomenal,” Mitchell said. “Emilie has a great attitude toward coming back she’s working harder now than she ever has in her life. As a freshman, she led in the all-around and it’s good to have her back. But, she still has to fight to make the lineup.”
Freshmen Caitlyn Ciokajlo, Caitlin Satkowiak, Rachel Sarnovsky all participated in their first collegiate meet. Ciokajlo competed in three events, Satkowiak saw action in two events, and Sarnovsky competed on the beam.
Sophomore Whitney Rose, the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2009, participated on the vault, beam and floor. One of Kentucky’s top competitors on the vault and floor, senior Emily Green helped lead the Wildcats on both events. Seniors Jacque Behrendt and Jamie Reimann also turned in solid performances on the bars.
Emilie Rymer
Although it is still early in the season, Mitchell is pleased with the team’s progress. ” One of the things we need to change is not only falling, but getting clean routines. What we need to clean, we can clean. What we need to correct, we can correct. If we’re worried about sticks right now, and not about wobbles, then we are sitting in the right place.”
The scrimmage marked the first event in an exciting 2010 home schedule for the Wildcats. Hosting six regular-season meets, Kentucky will welcome Southeastern Conference opponents Alabama, Arkansas, Florida. Alabama took second place at the 2009 NCAA Championship and first at the SEC Championship., while Florida took fourth and Arkansas fifth, respectively, at the NCAAs.
Highlighting the 2010 home schedule is the NCAA Central Regional Championship. Kentucky hosts this season’s regional April 10th at Memorial Coliseum. Despite being the host school, the Wildcats must earn one of the five regional berths.
After the Wildcats travel to Ball State for an exhibition contest on Dec. 5, they return home to begin regular-season action with “Excite Night” against Texas on Jan. 9.
Reserved regular-season tickets for Gymnastics events are $5 each, regardless of age. General admission tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors and youth. Season tickets are available for $15. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 1-800-928-2287. Tickets are also sold at the Joe Craft Center Ticket Office on the night of the event. Group tickets (20-plus people) are available by calling the ticket office in advance of the event.
For complete coverage of Kentucky gymnastics visit www.ukathletics.com.
