Feb. 28, 1998

Lincoln, Neb. – The eighth-ranked University of Kentucky gymnastics team (4-5, 2-2) placed third with a score of 192.350 in Nebraska’s eighth annual Masters Classic Saturday.

The field is one of the most competitive in the event’s history with No. 20 Nebraska defending their Masters Classic 1997 Championship title (193.350), No. 19 Michigan State taking second place (193.300) and Rhode Island finishing in fourth place (190.075). The GymKats, competing without key all-arounder Kristen Hoefferlin who suffered a dislocated left elbow in the last meet vs. No. 3 Alabama, were led by freshman Ashley Burkholder, who placed third in the all-around competition with a score of 38.525. Freshman Beth Coleman made her all-around debut with a 9.500 on bars, 9.625 on vault, 8.600 on beam and 9.600 on floor.

“The overall performance of our team was not bad considering that we were competing without Krissy,” said UK Coach Leah Little. “This tournament was an excellent warm-up for our road trip to Georgia next week.” After the second rotation, the GymKats were leading the meet with a combined score of 96.700 from the bars and beam routines. On uneven bars, UK senior Whitney Ellis tied for 5th place with a personal best score of 9.800. Junior Misty Marinik placed third with a score of 9.875. Freshman Ashley Burkholder and junior Shawnte Hall placed third and fourth respectively in the vault competition. Burkholder scored a 9.775 and Hall scored a 9.750.

Senior Jennie Maxwell returned to competition since a stress fracture to her left foot was discovered after the first meet of the season vs. Florida. She scored a 9.550 on the vault. The GymKats are currently ranked sixth on floor in the nation, 13th on the balance beam, 19th on the uneven bars and eighth on the vault. UK will see action next vs. No. 1 Georgia in Athens, Ga. on March 8.

AGATEUK Vault           48.325   UN Vault    48.275Shawnte Hall        9.750   Courtney Brown      9.425 Jennie Maxwell      9.550   Amy Ringo           9.475Mila Chitwood       9.000   Jess Swift          9.650Misty Marinik       9.625   Nicole Wilkinson    9.650 Beth Coleman        9.625   Heather Brink       9.800 Ashley Burkholder   9.775   Misty Oxford        9.700 UK Bars 48.175              UN Bars 47.700Beth Cluxton        9.650   Laura Ohlendorf     9.125 Shawnte Hall        8.400   Jess Swift          9.300Ashley Burkholder   9.350   Misty Oxford        9.175 Beth Coleman        9.500   Nicole Wilkinson    9.900 Whitney Ellis       9.800   Heather Brink       9.425 Misty Marinik       9.875   Laurie McLaughlin   9.900 UK Beam 48.525              UN Beam 48.375Beth Cluxton        9.600   Heather Brink       9.775 Beth Coleman        8.600   Amy Ringo           9.850Whitney Ellis       9.725   Laurie McLaughlin   9.725 Ashley Burkholder   9.650   Courtney Brown      9.125 Misty Marinik       9.800   Misty Oxford        9.200 Mila Chitwood       9.750   Nicole Wilkinson    9.825 UK Floor    47.325          UN Floor    49.000Beth Coleman        9.600   Jess Swift          9.725Shawnte Hall        9.750   Nicole Wilkinson    9.800 Misty Marinik       8.450   Courtney Brown      9.850 Ashley Burkholder   9.750   Heather Brink       9.725 Mila Chitwood       9.650   Misty Oxford        9.900  Amy Ringo           9.225UK All-Around               UN All-AroundAshley Burkholder   38.525  Oxford             37.975Beth Coleman        37.325  Wilkinson          39.175Misty Marinik       37.775  Brink              38.725UK Team Total       192.350     UN Team Total 193.350 MSU Vault   48.075          RIU Vault   47.700Carolyn Hecht        9.575   Kim Becker           9.325Becky Robinson       9.525   Missy Bockstoce      9.575 Lori Ruane           9.575   Christia Marsicovet  9.450 Erin Mullen          9.600   Nicole Flores        9.575Kristin Peugeot      9.500   Rena Ranieri         9.675 Elisabeth Forishier  9.800   Kirsty Fulton        9.425 MSU Bars    48.375          RIU Bars    47.475Becky Robinson        9.800   Tamara Holzer       9.525 Chrissy Weathersby    9.850   Missy Bockstoce     9.600 Briony Lecky          9.350   Cheryl Schwartz     9.075 Erin Mullen           9.625   Julie Hassett       9.375Polly Kiker           9.200   Rena Ranieri        9.625Carolyn Hecht         9.750  MSU Beam    48.550          RUI Beam    46.650Briony Lecky          9.225   Julie Hassett         9.525 Polly Kiker           9.300   Rena Ranieri          8.300Erin Mullen           9.750   Luci West             8.475Becky Robinson        9.875   Kim Becker            9.550Kristin Peugeot       9.850   Christina Marsicovet  9.450 Carolyn Hecht         9.775   Janet Palazzolo       9.650 MSU Floor   48.300          RUI Floor   48.250Mary Jo Schlickin     9.600   Kirsty Fulton         9.500 Briony Lecky          9.650   Cheryl Schwartz       9.475 Lori Ruane            9.500   Rena Ranieri          9.600Kristin Peugeot       9.625   Kim Becker            9.675 Erin Mullen           9.625   Nicole Flores         9.450

Polly Kiker 9.800 Christina Marsicovet 9.725 MSU All-Around RUI All-AroundMullen 38.600 Ranieri 37.200MSU Team Total 193.300 RUI Team Total 190.075 -UK-For more information regarding this release contact Molly Mazzolini in UK Media Relations at606-257-3838 or via e-mail @pop.uky.edu>