2015 Schedule Announced, Highlighted by Five Home Meets
Oct. 1, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Coming off another record-setting season under head coach Tim Garrison, the Kentucky gymnastics team has announced its 2015 schedule, featuring five of 10 meets in Memorial Coliseum.
As Garrison begins his fourth year in Lexington, Kentucky will face nine teams that made the NCAA Regionals in 2014, including each of the top five teams at the NCAA Finals. A year after going 6-1 at home, UK’s best mark at Memorial Coliseum since 1991, the Wildcats’ home slate is highlighted by an Excite Night matchup vs. LSU and Arizona State on Jan. 16.
“We have a tough schedule once again, but we’re excited for the challenge,” Garrison said. “Competing in the Southeastern Conference, we’re going to have to bring our best each and every week. We have a great home schedule, and I know the Big Blue Nation will once again show their support and help make Memorial Coliseum one of the best venues in the country.”
In addition to LSU, who finished third nationally last season, UK welcomes the reigning SEC champions Alabama, who finished fourth at the NCAA Championships, to Memorial Coliseum in 2015. Kentucky also hosts dual meets with SEC foes Arkansas and Auburn and a Senior Night matchup with Pittsburgh and Ball State.
Eight of UK’s 10 regular season meets feature at least one team that finished in the top 30 nationally in 2014, including co-national champions Florida and Oklahoma on the road in the span of three weeks. The Wildcats finished 21st in the final rankings last season.
Fans can begin to renew their gymnastics season tickets and purchase new season tickets beginning Monday, October 20th. Season ticket holders will receive renewal information within the next two weeks and may renew their tickets online through their My UK Account at www.ukathletics.com/tickets. Fans may also purchase new season tickets online at www.ukathletics.com/tickets. All season tickets will be priced at $15 each, which includes admission to all five home meets at Memorial Coliseum.
The Wildcats open the season on the road in a rare Monday night contest, Jan. 12 at Washington at 9 p.m. ET. The Huskies advanced to the NCAA Regionals in 2014 and placed 26th nationally.
Kentucky’s home opener, and annual Excite Night event will be Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. ET. UK will host LSU. and Arizona State, who finished 30th.
UK travels to Georgia on Jan. 24 before returning home to host Alabama on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. The matchup between the Wildcats and Crimson Tide is the annual DanceBlue Night, to raise awareness and money to benefit children with cancer, in conjunction with the on-campus organization DanceBlue.
After traveling to Missouri on Feb. 6, Kentucky faces defending co-national champion Oklahoma in Oklahoma City as part of the Perfect 10 Challenge on Feb. 14. The Wildcats return home to face Arkansas on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. before going on the road again to face Florida on Feb. 27, the other co-national champion in 2014.
The regular season concludes with back-to-back home meets, vs. Auburn on March 6 at 7 p.m. and vs. Pitt and Ball State on Senior Night on March 13, also at 7 p.m.
Postseason competition begins at the SEC Championships in Duluth, Ga., on March 21. The NCAA Regionals will be held April 4 at six campus sites. Coming off a school-record NCAA Regional showing in 2014, the Wildcats will look to make their school-record 11th consecutive NCAA appearance.
Kentucky’s record-tying 6-1 home record in 2014 was helped by the best home attendance for UK in more than 15 years. The Wildcats averaged 3,265 fans last season, marking the first time the Big Blue Nation eclipsed the 3,000 mark since 1998, when records became available.
The Wildcats are coming off a record-breaking 2014 season, highlighted by a program record NCAA Regional score and a return to the NCAA Championships. As UK posted its school-record 195.925 at regionals, senior Audrey Harrison won the beam title and became the first UK gymnast to advance to the NCAA Championships since 2010. Kentucky also notched a school-best 49.650 on floor in an upset win over No. 11 Auburn in the regular season.
For complete news and updates on the Kentucky Gymnastics program, go to UKathletics.com. Breaking news, behind-the-scenes updates, photos and more can be found on Twitter at @UKGymnastics and Facebook at Facebook.com/UKGymnastics.
2015 Schedule:
Nov. 22: Blue/White Intrasquad, 6 p.m.
Jan. 12: at Washington, 9 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. LSU & Arizona State, 7 p.m. (Excite Night)
Jan. 24: at Georgia, 4 p.m.
Jan. 30: vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. (DanceBlue Night)
Feb. 6: at Missouri, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13: vs. Oklahoma, 8 p.m. (Oklahoma City)
Feb. 20: vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. (Youth Night)
Feb. 27: at Florida, 7 p.m.
March 6: vs. Auburn, 7 p.m.
March 13: vs. Pittsburgh & Ball State, 7 p.m. (Senior Night)
March 21: SEC Championships (Duluth, Ga.)
April 4: NCAA Regionals
April 17-19: NCAA National Championships (Fort Worth, Texas)
Bold = Home Competition, held at Memorial Coliseum
All dates and times are subject to change. All times Eastern
