LEXINGTON ? For the final time in their careers, Kentucky seniors Lucy Burgin, Krystle Cook, Rachel Riley and Alison Sarucci will suit up for the Wildcats gymnastics team at Memorial Coliseum when the Wildcats host No. 14 Arkansas on Friday at 7 p.m.
The senior class will be honored prior to the meet for their accomplishments over the past three-plus seasons, including two NCAA Regional appearances and a consistent top 20 national ranking. The quartet is the first senior class to have been with current head coach Mo Mitchell for their entire career, coming to UK when he took over before the 2004 season.
?Our seniors are excited about this meet,? Mitchell said. ?Even though it?s the final home meet, its just the start of the second half of our season, and they want to get this part of the season going with a great performance. I think they?re ready to go out and post a great score in their last meet at Memorial Coliseum.?
Friday?s meet will be televised on a tape delayed basis and airs on March 2 at 5 p.m. on FSN.
?It?s a great opportunity for us to have this meet televised and shown throughout the region,? Mitchell said. ?We have the chance to really have a good performance and show everyone out there what Kentucky gymnastics is all about.?
The four seniors have been leaders for a youthful Kentucky squad this season that has regularly filled half of its lineup with freshmen, which will be no different against the LadyBacks. Cook along with freshmen Hillary Ferguson, Emily Green and Emilie Rymer are all slated to compete in the all-around for UK.
Cook has stepped up the past two weeks into an all-around role, leading UK against LSU while putting up another strong showing at Florida a week ago. In particular, she continued to shine on the uneven bars, where she registered her second 9.9 in three weeks to lead the Wildcats to a season high on the apparatus. She also paced the Wildcats with a 9.85 on floor.
Burgin has been consistently great all season on vault and bars. She has four bars scores of 9.825 or better this year and has gone 9.825 or better on vault three of the last four times out.
On the road last week against the top-ranked Gators, Ferguson and Green each had career highs in the all-around while Rymer posted three scores of 9.8 or better en route to the second highest all-around score of her career.
The team effort at Florida led to a season-high 194.800, shattering the previous mark by nearly half a point. Over the past two weeks, Kentucky has improved its overall score by over a point and should continue that progress entering the second half of the season.
Currently with the 19th highest Regional Qualifying Score in the nation, the Wildcats can continue to build upon their 193.820 RQS with another good showing Friday.
Last year against the LadyBacks, UK posted the second highest score in school history in Fayetteville, Ark., with a 196.250. However, Arkansas just bettered that mark with a season-best 196.350.
