Former Olympian to Compete for Wolverines
Taking a break from Southeastern Conference competition, the Universityof Kentucky gymnastics team plays host to No. 5 Michigan on Friday, Jan. 26,in Memorial Coliseum. Action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Joining theWolverines for her second meet as a collegian will be Elise Ray, captain of the2000 US Olympic Gymnastics Team.
The GymKats (0-2, 0-2 SEC) are looking to rebound from last week’snarrow 0.075 defeat at Auburn. Despite the slow start as a team, however, UKis still ranked 28th in the nation with a team high score of 193.600 and hasseen a lot of promise from all the gymnasts who maintain rankings regionallyand nationally. Regionally, Kentucky holds on to the No. 6 position.
Junior Jennifer Simmons, who is returning to the team after sitting outmost of 2000 with a broken ankle, is the team’s leading all-arounder. Herseason-high total of 38.775 is good for 11th in the region.
Traditionally one of Kentucky’s strongest events, the vault is no differentin 2001. UK is tied for 13th nationally on the vault and fourth in the region witha season-high score of 48.725. Leading the way for the GymKats is sophomoreJulia Gore with a 9.800. Simmons has tallied a 9.775, while freshman Julie Joyhas notched a high of 9.750.
Led by junior Katie Toups’ 9.800 against Auburn last week, UK’s top score of48.250 is ranked seventh in the region and 36th in the country. Junior JessieLemp and Gore each have notched a 9.725, with junior Nicole Allen just behindwith a 9.700.
The beam has been UK’s trouble spot in the first two meets. However,the GymKats high score of 47.950 is 10th in the region, and one GymKat inparticular has shown excellent skill on the beam. Sophomore Mindy Smithopened the season with a 9.850, tying her career high, and then followed thatup with another career high of 9.900 at Auburn. Smith is tied for 13thnationally and first in the region, while Gore and Allen have earned solid scoresof 9.725.
Kentucky’s 48.675 on the floor in each of its opening meets has it ranked35th in the country and ninth in the region. Smith leads the team here as wellwith a season-high 9.800. Joy and Allen are just 0.050 behind at 9.750, andSimmons has tallied a season-high 9.725.
The Wolverines opened the season at the Super Six Challenge in Tuscaloosa,Ala., where they finished fourth behind SEC powerhouses Georgia and Alabamaand Stanford with a score of 194.475. They rebounded in their next meet todefeat No. 12 Oregon State, 194.075-190.925.
Last week, UM added Ray to the lineup and scored a season high 196.200 todefeat nationally ranked Iowa and Minnesota. Ray joined the Wolverines aftersitting out the first two meets due to an NCAA ruling concerning a non-bindingcontract she signed to compete in a post-Olympic Tour. However, the NCAAresolved the issue and declared Ray eligible after two meets.
It is “Winter Wonderland” night Friday at the Coliseum, and local meteorologistBrian Collins will be on hand to warm up the crowd with doses of weathertrivia.
