BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Matching its second-best NCAA Regional Championships finish in school history with its highest ever regional score and defeating two higher ranked teams, the University of Kentucky gymnastics squad claimed fourth place with a team total of 195.150 at the Central Region Championships on Saturday, April 7, at the University of Alabama.
In finishing fourth, UK (10-17) also topped two higher ranked teams, No. 20 Kent State (192.675) and No. 21 Ohio State (194.925). No.4 Alabama pulled away from the competition with a 198.000 to claim the title. No. 9 Arizona State earned the second of two berths tothe NCAA Championships with a 195.950, while No. 16 Minnesota took third with a 195.800.
“Finishing only .800 points from qualifying is tremendous progress for this team,” Coach Leah Little said. “We competed reallywell, but just came short and took a couple of steps on landings. This was a very successful season, and we are on the verge of greaterthings. Next year we will have everyone back with the exception of Beth (Coleman).
“Beth did a phenomenal job after suffering whiplash in the vault warmups,” Little said. “To come back from that and compete is justgreat. Mindy (Smith) and Jennifer (Simmons) placed in the beam and vault and did very well. And Aronda (Primault) was just .100 fromqualifying for nationals as an all-arounder. I am just so proud of this team.”
The GymKats got the night under way on bars with junior Jessie Lemp leading the way with a 9.800. Fellow junior Katie Toups andfreshman Julie Joy each added a 9.775, while freshman Aronda Primault chipped in a 9.750. Rounding out UKs scoring on the openingevent was junior Jennifer Simmons with a 9.675 to give the GymKats a 48.775 going into the second rotation.
The beam was next for UK and for the 12th time this season sophomore Mindy Smith was tops on the team and tied for sixth in theregion with a 9.850, her 16th consecutive score of 9.800 or better. Primault finished with a 9.775, while Lemp added a 9.700. TheGymKats score of 48.500 gave them a team total of 97.275 going into the third rotation, a bye.
UK tumbled back into the competition in the fourth rotation on floor in fifth place, but with a solid score of 48.950 on floor, theGymKats moved past Ohio State into fourth place. Senior Beth Coleman and Joy each scored a 9.825 to head up the squad. Smith andPrimault each added a 9.800, while Allen scored a 9.700 heading into the fifth rotation.
The GymKats finished the night on their second-best event, the vault, and nearly matched their floor score of 48.925. Coleman, the11th-ranked vaulter in the Central Region, finished out her wonderful career with a 9.800. Simmons was tops for UK on the night with a9.825 to tie for fifth-place honors, while sophomore Melanie Zaharias also contributed a 9.800. Rounding out the scoring were Joy andPrimault, each with a 9.750 to help the GymKats to a fourth-place finish.
In the all-around competition, Primault finished a stellar freshman season totaling a 39.075 for seventh place, nearly earning a spotat nationals. Simmons was not far behind with a 38.650 for ninth place.
With the season over, the GymKats now look forward to the promise of the 2002 season.
UK Scores Vault 48.925 Bars 48.775Katie Toups 9.525 Nicole Allen 9.550Julie Joy 9.750 Jessie Lemp 9.800Beth Coleman 9.800 Aronda Primault 9.750Aronda Primault 9.750 Julie Joy 9.775Melanie Zaharias 9.800 Katie Toups 9.775Jennifer Simmons 9.825 Jennifer Simmons 9.675Beam 48.775 Floor 48.925Jennifer Simmons 9.600 Nicole Allen 9.700Jessie Lemp 9.700 Jennifer Simmons 9.550Nicole Allen 9.575 Julie Joy 9.825Aronda Primault 9.775 Mindy Smith 9.800Mindy Smith 9.850 Aronda Primault 9.800Melanie Zaharias 9.275 Beth Coleman 9.825All-AroundAronda Primault 39.075Jennifer Simmons 38.650Final Team Scores (Top 2 Advance to NCAA Championships)1. Alabama 198.0002. Arizona State 195.9503. Minnesota 195.8004. Kentucky 195.1505. Kent State 194.9256. Ohio State 192.675
