Gymnastics Seniors Will Leave Impressive Resume, Lasting Legacy

The 2020 Kentucky Gymnastics senior class has done more winning than any class in program history. During the past four seasons, Kentucky has risen to new levels, including competing in the NCAA national meet in 2018. And the current group of seniors played a large role in that transformation.

UK will honor those four seniors, Mollie Korth, Alaina Kwan, Katherine Marianos and Hailey Poland, during Friday’s home finale against Illinois at Memorial Coliseum. The group has been the highest-scoring senior class in UK history and head coach Tim Garrison knows what a huge impact this class has had on the program.

“The class is the winningest class that we’ve had come through the program,” Garrison said. “Just the level of competitiveness in the program continues to rise and they’re a big part of letting that happen. Very impressed with what they’ve done and very proud of what they’ve done.”

Leading the way is Korth, a native of Cambridge, Wisconsin, who arrived in Lexington and made an immediate impact on the program. During her three plus years at UK, Korth has been named All-American on eight occasions, with perhaps one national meet still remaining. She has also been named All-SEC in each of her three seasons.

Arriving just after graduating from high school in December of 2016, Korth didn’t know how much success she would have right away upon her arrival at UK.

“No, of course I didn’t expect it, but I wanted it for myself,” Korth said. “I’m a competitor inside and out of the gym, so I think that’s the kind of expectation standard I set myself to. I didn’t want to live that down.”

Garrison has tremendous respect for Korth’s abilities, and has felt that way since the day she arrived on campus.

“Mollie came in immediately, in January, and after six workouts was competing and has had a major impact from day one,” Garrison said. “There have been a lot of people (at UK) that have been great by the end of their careers, but she was great from day one and I think that’s what sets her apart. She’s been great for her entire career without any letup at all. Start to finish, critical to the rise of the program.”

Korth will leave UK as perhaps the most decorated Kentucky gymnast since three-time national champion Jenny Hansen was a Wildcat in the 1990s. Korth was honored to be included in such high company.

“I take a ton of pride in it,” Korth said. “I’m also a humble person. I would never think that people would (compare her to Hansen), but to know that a couple of people think it is really nice.”

Garrison knows that Korth’s impact on the UK program has been huge.

“What she’s brought to the program, I think people have watched her, not only in our program but around the country,” Garrison said. “They have watched her excel and it’s motivated them from afar. Which is pretty special when you can have that impact on people in a TV screen, and I think she has that impact.”

Poland is another recognizable face in this year’s senior class. Known for her trademark blue lipstick, the Midlothian, Texas, native has been a standout performer for the Cats on both beam and floor during her UK career. Garrison emphasized how important it is to have a performer who can bring high scores on multiple events.

“She has a major impact on two events,” Garrison said. “We need people who can be big performers on one, two or three events and Hailey performs that role really well.”

The UK coach also knows that Poland brings another dynamic to the program.

“She brings her personality. She brings that where, when she steps on the floor, people pay attention to it,” Garrison said. “You always hear a collective gasp when her music starts going, that gets everybody’s attention and her performance holds their attention. I think she has heightened the excitement around our program and the fun around our program, just with how she is and who she is.”

Kwan, a native of Cypress, California, has been the ultimate utility gymnast for Garrison during her four-year career. Wherever Kwan has been needed, she has stepped in to make an impact for her team.

“When I really do think about it, I really do see myself as a utility player,” Kwan said. “I have been plugged into different events and different times and it keeps me on my toes, but it shows me that what I’ve been doing here has not gone unnoticed. Just being that kind of team player has been my motivating factor. I know that if (Garrison) calls me up, he’s got that faith in me.”

Garrison agrees with Kwan’s assessment.

“She’s absolutely an ultimate team player,” Garrison said. “She got herself lineup spots and she did not relinquish them. She’s taken that role of, I had this start, but I’m going to find my way and I’m going to get this done and that’s what she has done and that’s been the most impressive part about her.”

Marianos has taken advantage of her time at UK, despite injuries that have limited her ability to compete. The Alpharetta, Georgia, native is set to graduate in just three years with a double major in marketing and management. She was also recently named to the prestigious Frank G. Ham Society of Character at UK. While her academic prowess, which includes a cumulative 4.0 grade point average in college, is impressive, Garrison likes how Marianos has helped so many people improve, despite not being able to compete because of injuries.

“The academic side of things has been impressive, she’s always up at the top of our academic board,” Garrison said. “But the big thing about her, she is one that always pushes herself in the gym and has helped others get better. It’s one of those unsung heroes things, where she’s behind the scenes, training, pushing and you never see them in action, but their impact is absolutely felt and she’s absolutely one of those.”

Marianos will remember her time in Lexington fondly.

“It’s gone by fast, but it’s been a lot of hard work and studying a lot,” Marianos said. “I’m ready to graduate, but I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon.”

As for their legacies, the seniors each have unique perspectives.

“The team has grown and gotten better over the years. We owe it a lot to the coaches and staff and the rest of the girls who work hard in and out of the gym,” Korth said. “For my legacy, I just want people to remember my name and what I’ve done for this program.”

“From freshman year, it was just kind of trying to open the door (to bigger things),” Poland said. “Through the years, we’ve shown as a team our confidence, our consistency and we’ve improved every single year.”

“I think our legacy will be that we set the tone that hard work does not go unnoticed,” Kwan said. “It has not been easy to break through that ceiling in the SEC, especially with all of these top gymnastics programs. The fact that we were able to do that during our careers here was huge.”

“I think my legacy is more of just hard work, trying to stay positive through everything,” Marianos said. “Keep pushing even when things don’t go my way. I’ve been able to lead as an example in the gym.”

While their careers still have some time left, Friday night will be one last hurrah at home for this special group of seniors. Ones who have helped transform the program into the national contender that it is today.