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The University of Kentucky gymnastics team fell to the No. 8 Louisiana State Tigers in its season opener, 194.000-193.000, onFriday, Jan. 12.

Kentucky opened up competition on the vault, an event that has a different look for the 2001 season. Until last year, gymnastswere allotted two opportunities and were awarded the higher average of the two judges’ scores. This season, each gymnast has onlyone opportunity, making each trip down the track very important. The GymKats posted a strong 48.575, led by junior JenniferSimmons, who made her return after sitting out the 2000 season with an ankle injury, with a 9.775. Simmons’ score was goodenough to claim individual honors in the event. The Tigers posted a 47.825 on the vault, led by Adrienne Couret’s 9.700.

In the second rotation the GymKats hit the uneven bars, posting a 48.150 after being forced to count a fall. Junior Jessie Lempand sophomore Julia Gore led UK with a 9.725 each, which tied them for fourth on the event. Junior Nicole Allen also had a strongshowing, notching a career high 9.700 on the event. LSU had a strong bar team, posting a 48.725, including a first-place 9.825performance by Beth Boudreaux.

The Kats struggled in the decisive third rotation, counting two falls on the balance beam. The beam once again proved lucky forsophomore Mindy Smith, who has yet to count a fall in a collegiate meet on the event. Smith posted a career-high 9.850 to lead herteam and claim the individual honor. While the beam proved to be a foe for the Kats, the Tigers found their rhythm, scoring theirhighest event total of the evening with a 48.750.

The Kats fought hard to make up lost ground in the final rotation, where they posted a 48.675 on floor to LSU’s 48.700 on thesame event. Once again, Smith came up big for UK, notching a 9.775 for a second-place finish overall. Allen and Gore alsocontributed strong performances with a pair of 9.750s.

Two UK freshmen saw action for the first time as Wildcats as Julie Joy competed on vault, bars and floor exercise, and ArondaPrimault showed her skills on the vault, balance beam and floor exercise.

The Kats took second and third place in the all-around as Gore posted a 38.400 for third and Simmons notched a 38.775 forsecond. LSU’s Nikki Arnstad had a solid 39.000 performance to claim the individual all-around title.

“For our first meet, we did some good things,” Coach Leah Little said. “I’m disappointed, because we were very prepared, butwe gave it away on the beam. Our goal is to come out and do well, but we had to count two falls on beam. It’s hard enough to win inthe SEC without having those problems. We have tremendous potential.”

The GymKats return to action on Friday, Jan. 19, when they travel to Auburn, Ala., to face the Auburn Tigers at 8 p.m. inBeard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.

UK Scores
Vault        48.575Uneven Bars  48.150Beth Coleman           9.600Nicole Allen      9.700Katie Toups         9.675Jessie Lemp       9.725Julia Gore           9.700 Julie Joy                9.050Aronda Primault          9.700 Jennifer Simmons  9.675Jennifer Simmons       9.775  Katie Toups              9.325Julie Joy              9.725     Julia Gore               9.725Balance Beam            47.600     Floor Exercise          48.675Nicole Allen             9.700     Nicole Allen             9.750Julia Gore           9.225      Julie Joy                9.625Aronda Primault          9.225   Aronda Primault          9.675Jennifer Simmons         9.600     Julia Gore               9.750Melanie Zaharias         9.025     Jennifer Simmons         9.725Mindy Smith           9.850      Mindy Smith              9.775