The University of Kentucky gymnastics team held its annual Blue/White scrimmage at the Nutter Field House on Friday, Nov. 10.

The event was an early test for the gymnasts as they performed their routines in front of judges for the first time in preparationfor the upcoming season. A relatively young squad that includes just one senior, the Kats were given the opportunity to see wheretheir performances stood up against actual scoring.

Beth Coleman, UK’s lone senior, is joined on the 2001 squad by four juniors, five sophomores, and four freshmen. The juniorclass consists of Nicole Allen, Jessie Lemp, Jennifer Simmons and Katie Toups. Simmons returns to action after an ankle injurysidelined her for most of the 2000 season.

The sophomore class includes 2000 first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and SEC Freshman of the Year JuliaGore, along with Karla Adelt, Mindy Smith, Stephanee Stone and Melanie Zaharias, while freshmen Gina Augspurger, StaceyHackett, Aronda Primault, and Melissa Tucker prepare for their first collegiate competitions.

“They looked really good today,” assistant coach Robin Ewing said. “Jennifer has bounced back nicely from her injury, and thefreshmen performed well. The judges were really impressed, and the potential for everyone is definitely there.”

The GymKats invade Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, for the annual Excite Nite preseason extravaganza to usherin the new season. The team then takes to the mats for real the next week when UK entertains SEC-rival LSU in Memorial Coliseumon Jan. 12.