Raena Worley Named SEC Gymnast of the Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Fifth-year senior Raena Worley has been named Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday.
The Christiansburg, Va. native wins the conference honor for the second time this season following her first 10.0 on the uneven bars and 26 career all-around title.
In the most recent matchup against No. 24 BYU, Worley was nothing short of a standout on all four events. On vault, she recorded a 9.900 for her giant Yurchenko one and a half to kick off the evening in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
On bars, Worley recorded her first ever perfect score on the apparatus to secure the 13th individual win of her career. Her stellar anchor routine proved why she is No. 1 in the national rankings, tied with Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers who also scored a 10.0 on the event this week.
The balance beam was Worley’s lowest scoring event of Friday’s meet as she scored a 9.875. However, the score helped maintain her 9.900 average through seven meets so far this season. She currently ranks T9 nationally on beam.
Closing out Friday’s competition, the fifth-year senior stepped onto the floor where she earned back-to-back 10.0’s two weeks prior. Her electric routine captivated the crowd and the judges, earning an overall score of 9.975. The average included a perfect 10.0 from one of the judges. The big floor score elevated the Wildcats to their second-best tally on the event in program history, 49.675. For the third consecutive week, Worley is the top nationally ranked competitor on the apparatus.
Big Blue Nation can catch Worley and the Cats Friday on SEC Network as they travel to No. 16 Arkansas to face the Razorbacks at 8:30 p.m. EST.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
