Kentucky Gymnastics Opens Season at Eastern Michigan
YPSILANTI, Mich. – After months of preparation, the Kentucky gymnastics
team will take the floor for its 2017 debut at Eastern Michigan on Friday, Jan.
6 at 7 p.m. The meet will take place at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti and
can be watched live on ESPN3 and
the WatchESPN app.
Kentucky enters its 36th season of competition in 2017. In that time, the
Wildcats have had individuals qualify for the NCAA Championships 18 times, won
eight individual NCAA Championships, had six All-America selections, nine
individual SEC Champions, five SEC Freshmen of the Year and 17 All-SEC
selections. Last year, Sidney Dukes and Alex Hyland qualified for the National Championships
in the all-around and Sidney
Dukes took home All-America honors for her performance.
The Wildcats have faced the Eagles five times and UK holds a 4-1 record
over the Eagles.
WILDCATS START THE SEASON IN TOP 25
The Kentucky gymnastics team will begin its 2017 campaign with a top-25
ranking after checking in at No. 21 in 2016 Preseason Coaches’ Poll released by Road to Nationals with 1,084 points. With the No. 21 ranking,
the Wildcats have now been ranked to start the season in each of the last six
seasons. All eight SEC gymnastics squads appeared in the top 25.
UK RETURNS ALL-AMERICAN SIDNEY DUKES
Kentucky freshman Sidney
Dukes represented the Wildcats at the NCAA gymnastics national championships as
an individual all-around
competitor. Dukes executed a nearly flawless routine of 9.8875 on the balance
beam, the fourth-highest score, making here a first team All-American. Dukes
became the first All-American for the Wildcats since 2002, in which alum Aronda
Primault earned second team honors. She joins UK hall of famer Jenny Hansen as
the only other First Team All-American in the program’s history.
TWO QUALIFY FOR 2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Freshman Sidney Dukes and
Alex Hyland qualified for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. Dukes scored a
39.125, good for a tie for second, and edged Boise State’s Sandra Collantes for
the final all-around spot. Hyland was named the all-around champion of the
regional, posting a meet-best 39.175 for the title at the regional. Hyland and
Dukes were the 13th and 14th UK gymnasts to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
WILDCATS FEATURE YOUNG TEAM
Kentucky does not have a senior on the squad. While the team features
nine returners, only three – Katie Carlisle, Cori Rechenmacher and Sydney Waltz
– are juniors. Seven freshmen – Erynne Allen, Tatiana Bunch, Mollie Korth,
Alaina Kwan, Hailey Poland, Bailey Stehler and Marisa Varrone – will compete
for the Cats.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan also opens its season on Friday. EMU competed in an
exhibition with nearby Michigan.
EMU features a first year head coach in Sarah Brown, who was previously an
assistant coach for the Wolverines.
LOOKING AHEAD: FLORIDA
Following the meet with Eastern Michigan, Kentucky will travel down to
Gainesville, Florida to face Florida on Jan. 13 at 6:45 p.m. ET. Last season,
the Wildcats were dropped by the Gators 197.525 – 196.65 in Memorial Coliseum.
For complete news and updates on the
Kentucky Gymnastics program, go to UKathletics.com. Season tickets
can be found on UKathletics.com/Tickets. News and updates on the team can also be found on
Twitter at @UKGymnastics and at @UKCoachGarrison and Facebook at Facebook.com/UKGymnastics.
