Feb. 21, 2003
The University of Kentucky gymnastics team scored its highest team total of the season (195.525) on Fri., Feb. 21, at Beard-Eaves Coliseum in Auburn, Ala. Kentucky senior Julia Gore set personal-bests on three events en route to a career-high mark of 39.375 in the all-around.
The Wildcats (4-8, 0-5) set season-high totals on floor (49.050) and beam (48.825), bettering their total team score by 1.425 points. Kentucky’s team score, however, was not enough to defeat the 15th-ranked Tigers, who posted their second-highest score in school history (196.650).
Competing in an away meet for only the second time this season, the GymKats opened the meet on the uneven bars. UK was led by Gore, who scored a 9.825. Sophomores Michelle Gales and Lindsay Cameron were not far behind, each scoring 9.750. The mark was a season-high for Cameron. The Tigers would score a school-record on vault to take a 49.150-48.500 lead after the first rotation.
The Cats moved to vault, where they posted their second-highest score of the season. Zaharias’ 9.875 won the event and the team would count nothing lower than a 9.750. Gore and Cameron each scored 9.850, a season-high for Gore and career-best for Cameron. Primault added a 9.825 to the GymKats total of 49.150.
Kentucky carried its momentum for the vaulting table onto the floor, where the GymKats would post a season-high score. Gales, Gore and Primault all set or tied their best scores of 2003. Gales’ 9.925 was Kentucky’s highest score of the evening. The event total of 49.050 marked the first time this year that the Cats exceeded 49.000 on floor.
The GymKats closed out the evening on the balance beam, where they again hit a season-high. Gore’s 9.850 was another season-high and earned the Pflugerville, Texas, native a tie for first-place in the event. Primault and Zaharias came in with 9.825 and 9.800 points, respectively.
Auburn pulled out the victory, scoring a school-record 49.400 on floor. Despite the loss, the GymKats improved their team average.
The Wildcats will remain on the road next weekend when they travel to Provo, Utah, the home of the Brigham Young Cougars, for a dual meet on Fri., Feb. 28, at 9 p.m. ET. Kentucky closed the month of January with a 194.075-192.475 victory over then-No. 16 BYU.
Team Results
Kentucky – 195.525
Auburn – 196.650
Attendance: 1,526
Event Results (Individuals are Kentucky only – full results available at http://www.auburntigers.com)
Bars
UK – 48.500; AU – 49.125
Julia Gore 9.825; Lindsay Cameron 9.750; Michelle Gales 9.750; Krista Roemerman 9.650; Krista Prestigiacomo 9.525; Aronda Primault 9.250.
Vault
UK – 49.150; AU – 49.150
Melanie Zaharias 9.875; Lindsay Cameron 9.850; Julia Gore 9.850; Aronda Primault 9.825; Michelle Gales 9.750; Kara Prestigiacomo 9.700.
Floor
UK – 49.050; AU – 49.400
Michelle Gales 9.925; Julia Gore 9.850; Aronda Primault 9.850; Melanie Zaharias 9.825; Krista Prestigiacomo 9.750; Kara Prestigiacomo 9.250.
Beam
UK – 48.850; AU – 48.975
Julia Gore 9.850; Aronda Primault 9.825; Melanie Zaharias 9.800; Mindy Smith 9.725; Staci O’Keefe 9.650; Michelle Gales 9.175.
All-Around
1. Julia Gore 39.375; 3. Aronda Primault 38.750; 4. Michelle Gales 38.600.
