LEXINGTON, Ky.? The No. 16 Kentucky Gymnastics squad posted the third highest score in school history, 196.025, en route to defeating two top 25 opponents Friday evening in Memorial Coliseum. The UK senior gymnasts went out in style as No. 15 Central Michigan finished second with a 195.700 and No. 21 Michigan State completed the meet in third place with a 193.975 mark.
?I am really proud of the team, they did really well,? said UK head coach Mo Muhammad. ?It was nice not to count a fall. The team came out with a mission, they wanted the seniors to end their career at home feeling proud when they walked off the floor, and they did that tonight.?
Junior Lucy Burgin tallied a career-high 39.025 in the all-around to lead the Wildcats (8-7, 0-6 Southeastern Conference). Michigan State?s Sarah Alexander won the meet?s all-around title with a 39.375 mark, while Central Michigan?s Kara Reighard finished second with a 39.325 on the four events. The Cats used a 49.150 score on floor to break open a close meet in the final rotation with the seventh-highest floor score in school history.
?Lucy stepped up when Krystle Cook hurt her ankle and couldn?t compete on floor,? said Muhammad. ?I could go down the list about the seniors. They had a great senior night meet. From Krista to Michelle, they all performed so well, it was exciting.?
Senior Michelle Gales ended her career in Memorial Coliseum on a high note, finishing first and tying her career-high with a 9.95 on floor. Fellow senior Krista Prestigiacomo also tied her career-high with a 9.85 on floor, and O? Shields tallied a 9.8. Gales finished with a 38.850 in all-around competition.
The Wildcats opened on vault and scored a 48.925 mark on the event, as each of UK?s six gymnasts registered a 9.7 or higher. Staci O?Keefe led the way with by tying a career-high 9.850 to finish in second place in the event, while Lindsay Cameron tallied a 9.825 and tying her season high.
?You can tell by the kids? emotions on the floor that they are ready to take this program to the next step,? said Muhammad. ?They believe in the program and in themselves and that will only elevate UK gymnastics.?
UK turned in a stellar 49.275 showing on bars, the third-highest bars score in school history. Krystle Cook tallied an impressive season-high 9.9 on bars, and each of the other four counted scores were above a 9.8 for the Cats. Burgin and Gales each registered 9.875 marks to help the Cats. Burgin?s score was a career-high, while Gales? mark was a season best, while Burgin?s was a career-high. Sarai Sevier?s notched a career-high 9.825 on the event. The Wildcats used a 98.200 score to take a commanding lead after two events.
Freshman Kristen O? Shields used a career-high 9.875, first place finish on beam to pace Kentucky to a 48.675 mark on the event. Junior Bethany Strauch tallied a 9.775, while sophomore Rachel Riley added a 9.725. The beam performance allowed UK to hold a narrow 146.875-146.800 lead over Central Michigan after three events.
?We need to go to George Washington and get a great road score to help our RQS score,? said Muhammad. ?It is getting near the end of the season and we need to hit 24 of 24 routines heading into the Southeastern Conference Championships.?
Seniors Cameron, Gales, Kara Prestigiacomo and Krista Prestigiacomo each were honored prior to competing in their last home meets in the Blue and White.
Kentucky returns to action next Saturday as it travels to Washington, D.C., to take on George Washington on Mar. 12. The Cats won the last meeting between the two squads in Lexington 195.525-191.150.
– UK –
