Jan. 3, 2002

University of Kentucky gymnast Jennifer Simmons suffered a season-ending injury when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during practice, Coach Leah Little announced Wednesday. The senior from Pasadena, Texas, has not yet decided whether she will seek a medical redshirt.

Simmons spent her 2001 season recovering from a broken ankle suffered in 2000. She came back strong, competing in the all-around in seven of the GymKats’ 12 meets. She led the team on vault with a career-high 9.781 average and scored a season-high 9.900 at Arizona State. Simmons also placed fifth on the vault at the NCAA Central Region Championships.

As a freshman in 1999, Simmons competed in all 12 meets, leading the team on the uneven bars with a 9.723 average. She also recorded her first 10.0 from a judge en route to a career-high 9.975 vault score at Auburn.

“I hate this most for Jennifer,” Little said. “She had a great season last year after missing most of her sophomore season with a broken ankle. She was working hard in practice and would have been one of our top gymnasts on vault and beam. It is a shame her career may end this way.”

Simmons, a kinesiology major with a business minor, will graduate from UK in May 2003.