LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Head Coach Mo Mitchell announced the University of Kentucky gymnastics team?s 2009 schedule which features five home meets in Memorial Coliseum.
UK continues to hold one of the most difficult schedules in the nation as five conference institutions are ranked among the top-10 in the nation, with Georgia holding the No. 1 position. Of the Cats? opponents in 2009, 11 of 15 schools are ranked in the top-40.
Kentucky finished the 2008 season ranked No. 21 after a record breaking season. The Wildcats broke the school?s overall Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) record with six totals exceeding 195.00. UK posted a 195.395 for an overall RQS tally, crushing last year?s total by .640. Kentucky also broke the floor exercise RQS record totaling 49.160, compared with 2007?s score of 49.125.
The Cats catapulted into the top-20 rankings with a university record eight-meet win streak in March, taking them from the No. 33 spot to No. 19. Kentucky also received a No. 11 ranking on floor, the team?s best finish in school history.
In the first meet of the season, Excite Night, the Wildcats will host Utah State who concluded the ?08 season ranked at No. 38. Kentucky met the Aggies during a quad meet at Texas Woman?s University where the Cats came out on top with a score of 195.200 and State finished third with a total of 193.900.
The Cats will face a new opponent in ?09 when they travel to Anchorage, Alaska, to compete with the Seawolves of the University of Alaska. UK will compete twice in the Last Frontier state on March 13th and 15th. Following the cross-country visit, Kentucky will head to Nashville, Tenn. for the 2009 SEC Gymnastics Championships held on March 21st.
The 2009 season looks just as promising for the Kentucky team. UK will only lose two seniors, Crissy Cannon and Kristen O?Shields, while bringing in three new faces.
The UK Ticket Office is now offering an Olympic Sport Pass which allows the ticket holder to gain admission to ALL olympic sporting events, ALL season long (2008-2009). Individual passes are $25, family passes (2 adults, up to 3 youth) are $40. The True Blue Club pass includes admission to Gymnastics, Men?s Soccer, Women?s Soccer, Volleyball, Softball and Baseball. To order, download and fill out the order form available online and send it back to the ticket office. You can mail in the form or fax it to (859) 323-1269 or call the ticket office at (859) 257-1818 or 800-928-2287.
For complete coverage of Kentucky gymnastics, please visit www.ukathletics.com.
