Team 50’s Season Comes to a Close in Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kentucky gymnastics’ 50th season came to a close on Saturday in the final round of the Fayetteville Regional held at Bud Walton Arena. The Wildcats tallied a 197.475, but it was not enough to advance to the NCAA Championship.
The Road to Nationals ended for seven-seed Kentucky and No. 15 Minnesota (197.400) as Southeastern Conference opponents No. 2 LSU (198.250) and host No. 10 Arkansas (197.825) finished in the top two advancing to national competition.
Team 50 began the meet on the uneven bars which was the second-best tally of the evening, 49.400. Leadoff Hailey Davis and anchor Raena Worley opened and closed the rotation each with a 9.900. The middle of the lineup, Delaynee Rodriguez and Jillian Procasky, each earned 9.875 from the judges. Cecily Rizo and Bailey Bunn rounded out the Kentucky total with 9.850 each.
Moving on to the balance beam, UK started off strong as Rodriguez led off the rotation with a solid 9.875. Freshman Creslyn Brose set a new season and career best with a 9.925 on the event. Brose tied LSU’s Haleigh Bryant, Arkansas’ Sirena Linton, and Minnesota’s Ella Sirjord for third place overall. Bunn was the third spot of the lineup earning a 9.825 as she was followed by Arianna Patterson’s 9.900. To close out the second rotation of the day, Worley and anchor Isabella Magnelli each scored a 9.800. The event total for beam was 49.325.
Next on the floor exercise, Team 50 saw its best event score of the day – 49.475. Fifth-year senior Worley was the top score for the Cats with a 9.950. She tied LSU’s Aleah Finnegan and Minnesota’s Mya Hooten for the event win bringing her individual tally to 28. Davis and Brose rocked the house to scores of 9.900 with Magnelli earning a 9.875. Rodriguez opened the rotation with a 9.850 and Makenzie Wilson earned a 9.800 in the two spot of the lineup.
Finishing the evening on vault, Kentucky totaled 49.275. Magnelli stuck her vault for a 9.900 tying for fourth place overall with LSU’s Kiya Johnson and Minnesota’s Sarah Moraw. Worley’s big performance earned a 9.875 as the lineup was anchored by Wilson who tied Arianna Patterson’s score of 9.850. Rizo vaulted her way to a 9.800 while Procasky earned a 9.700 in the leadoff position.
Although Team 50’s season has come to a close, the Wildcats will wait for the final list of individual qualifiers who will represent the program at the NCAA National Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, April 18-20.
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