March 10, 2000
From out of nowhere, the University of Kentucky gymnastics team showed everyone the talent and heart Coach Leah Little has been talking about all season, as they defeated No. 9 West Virginia in Friday’s Senior Night meet in Memorial Coliseum. The Kats tallied a 195.525, the highest score of this season and the third highest score in school history. The Mountaineers finished with a 194.525, after losing senior Shirley Lee to a possible torn ACL in the third rotation.
Kentucky senior Krissy Hoeferlin closed out her home career in grand fashion as she won the all-around competition with a career-high 39.325, while tying a career high 9.825 set last week on the uneven bars. Fellow senior Mila Chitwood also had a big night for the GymKats, notching a season-high 9.825 on the balance beam and a 9.875 on floor exercise, which tied Hoeferlin for first place in the event.
Other Kentucky gymnasts posting big scores were sophomore Nicole Allen and freshman Julia Gore. Allen posted a career high 9.725 on balance beam, and Gore set a new career high on floor with a 9.85, tied her career high on balance beam with a 9.775 and set a career high in the all-around with a 39.225, which placed her third overall.
As a team, the Kats (4-10, 1-4 SEC) posted their highest scores of the season on balance beam with a 48.975 and floor exercise with a 49.200, the third highest floor score in school history.
“I am so proud of the way this team performed tonight,” Coach Little said. “They finally put a great meet together, and now we know what the right combination is for this team. We spent this week keeping focused. They are coming on at the perfect time in the season, and this was a great way for Mila and Krissy to close out their home careers.”
The GymKats are back in action on Saturday, March 18 when they travel to Gainesville, Fla., to compete in the 2000 Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championships.
Kentucky Gymnasts in the Top 3:
Vault:
1. Krissy Hoeferlin 9.825 2. Julia Gore 9.775
Uneven Bars:
2. Jessie Lemp 9.850 3. Julia Gore 9.825
Balance Beam:
T1. Mindy Smith 9.850 3. Mila Chitwood 9.825
Floor Exercise:
T1. Mila Chitwood 9.875 T1. Krissy Hoeferlin 9.875 T3. Julia Gore 9.850 T3. Mindy Smith 9.850
