EAST LANSING, Mich. ? For the second consecutive year under third-year head coach Mo Muhammad, the No. 23-ranked University of Kentucky gymnastics squad will start the season 1-0 after disposing of Michigan State 192.775-189.225 in the season opener for both schools Friday night.
?I thought for the most part we did a good job,? Muhammad said. ?We made some mistakes but that was to be expected in the first meet. It is always good to get a win and this will surely helps us in the rankings. Our young kids did some positive things and our veterans showed some leadership as well.?
Junior Krystle Cook led UK (1-0) with a first-place finish in the all-around competition. Cook?s mark of 38.975 gave the Austin, Texas native a new career-high. Senior Lucy Burgin finished third in the all-around competition with a score of 37.475. Cook and Burgin finished tied for second on the uneven bars.
Newcomer Heather Hite had an impressive Wildcat debut, winning on beam with a score of 9.9 and becoming the sixth different UK gymnast all-time to record such a mark.
Michigan State (0-1) entered the meet receiving votes in a recent GymInfo Preseason Coaches? Poll.
Last season in Lexington, the Cats defeated the Spartans 196.025-193.975. The mark remains the third highest team tally in program history.
Up next, the Cats open the home season with their 23rd annual ?Excite Nite?, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. Olympic gold medalists Dominique Moceanu and Svetlana Boguinskaia will be in attendance. Also present will be UK great and 13-time All-American Jenny Hansen. Tickets for the event are $5 for adults with $2 tickets available for youth and seniors. Children up to the age of five get in free. Fans can also purchase UK gymnastics season tickets for just $10 online at ukathletics.com, in person at the athletics ticket office in Memorial Coliseum or by phone at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS.