No. 10 Kentucky Posts Fifth Straight 197+ in Defeat at No. 9 Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. – Despite four event wins and a fifth straight team score of 197+, No. 10 Kentucky (5-5, 2-4 SEC) came just short of the program’s first-ever win in Athens, falling 197.200-197.150 to No. 9 Georgia (5-5, 3-3 SEC).
Isabella Magnelli, Hailey Davis, Creslyn Brose, and Delaynee Rodriguez all took event wins on the night. Magnelli won her third vault title of the season and eighth of her career with a 9.900, thanks to a stuck front handspring pike half. Davis won her first career title on the uneven bars thanks to a career high posting of 9.925. Brose took her second consecutive floor title—and fourth of her career—after another 9.950 score. Rodriguez claimed her second career all-around title with a score of 39.425, just .025 off her career high.
Kentucky started the night on bars, scoring a 49.225 team total. Davis led the way for the Cats, followed closely by a 9.875 from Rodriguez. Jillian Procasky and Skylar Killough-Wilhelm each added 9.825s, while Isabella Rivelli’s score of 9.775 was the final counting mark in the first rotation. The Wildcats bested Georgia on bars as a team by one half-tenth.
Rotating to vault, the Cats posted another 9.825, thanks to stuck vaults from four of the six gymnasts. Procasky led off with her first vault of the season, sticking her Yurchenko Full to earn a 9.850. Cecily Rizo added a 9.800 for her Yurchenko Full and Makenzie Wilson scored a 9.825 for her stuck front handspring pike half. Magnelli kept the stick train rolling to lead her team, while Killough-Wilhelm and Rodriguez closed the rotation with scores of 9.850 and 9.775, respectively. Kentucky also bested Georgia on vault, as the Dogs only posted a 49.100.
The Cats kept the momentum going on the floor exercise, scoring 49.400 as a team for the third straight meet. Procasky led off with a 9.850, matching her season best. Magnelli added a 9.825 to follow, setting up a career high score of 9.925 from Rodriguez. Killough-Wilhelm posted her second 9.850 of the night before Brose stole the show with the meet’s highest score. Davis closed the rotation with a 9.800, her first score below 9.900 this season.
Entering the final rotation, Kentucky had a one-tenth lead, but was only able to post a 49.300 on beam. Rodriguez posted a solid 9.850 in the leadoff spot, setting up Brose’s 9.900—her second straight week at that mark or higher. Sharon Lee continued the hot start to the rotation with a 9.875, but a wobble from Procasky earned her a 9.750 and a fall from Killough-Wilhelm left her with only a 8.850. Magnelli responded well with a 9.925 out of the anchor position, continuing her 9.9+ streak, but it was not enough. Georgia scored a season best 49.450 on floor to leapfrog the Cats and escape with the half-tenth victory.
The Cats will face a short turnaround and return to Historic Memorial Coliseum for their final home meet of the season, hosting Arkansas on Friday, March 7. First vault is set for 7 p.m. and the meet will be streamed live on SEC Network +. The meet will also serve as senior night for Kentucky’s six gymnasts in their final season of eligibility. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster.
The Cats will hit the road for the first time in three weeks with an away contest at No. 12 Georgia on Sunday, March 2 at 6 p.m. ET. The contest from Stegeman Coliseum in Athens will be televised on the SEC Network.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
