Feb. 1, 2014
ATHENS, Ga. – In the final competition of a season-long-tying three-meet roadtrip, the University of Kentucky gymnastics team lost to Georgia, 197.300-190.950, Saturday evening in Athens, Ga.
Despite the season-low score, the Wildcats (4-3, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) fell just 0.050 points shy of a season-best performance on vault with a 48.850, and 0.125 points shy of a 2014-high on floor with a 49.000. UK’s floor score was its second mark of 49.000 or higher of the season.
Individually, five career high scores, in addition to three season-best scores, were set or tied in front of 9.380 fans in Stegeman Coliseum. Juniors Shelby Hilton’s 9.825 on floor and Shannon Mitchell’s 9.850 on vault, both career highs, and sophomore Amy Roemmele’s career-high-tying 9.825 on bars all resulted in team-bests for the Wildcats on each apparatus. Sophomore Marissa Beucler led Kentucky with a 9.650 on balance beam.
To go along with a 49.000 on floor and a 48.850 on vault, the Blue and White posted a 47.375 on uneven bars and a 45.725 on balance beam. Georgia scored at least a 49.150 on all four apparatuses and won all four individual event titles.
Senior Audrey Harrison posted an all-around score of 37.675 to finish second behind UGA gymnast Brittany Rogers, who scored a 39.175.
The Wildcats return home to face second-ranked and undefeated Florida on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Kentucky hosts the defending NCAA and SEC champions in Memorial Coliseum after the Gators claimed their first national crown in 2013.
For the fourth straight meet, UK’s top score came on floor. All five scores that were counted were a 9.775 or higher, led by Hilton’s 9.825. Sophomore Tiara Phipps tallied a career-high-tying 9.800 while freshman Taylor Puryear registered a career-best 9.775. Harrison and junior Kenzie Hedges also scored a 9.800 for the Blue and White.
The Wildcats opened the meet with a 47.375 on uneven bars, where Roemmele got UK started with a career-high-tying 9.825. After Hilton posted a 9.725, senior Kayla Sienkowski recorded a 9.800, a season best. Redshirt junior Kayla Hartley notched a 9.025, while sophomore Tiara Phipps scored a 9.000.
Kentucky rebounded on its second event, vault, with a 48.850, led by Mitchell’s 9.850.Hedgies tallied a season-high-tying 9.825 while Harrison scored a 9.800, a season best. Hilton added a 9.750 and Beucler posted a 9.625.
Floor was UK’s third event before the Wildcats closed with a 45.725 on balance beam. Along with Beucler’s 9.650, Harrison added a 9.275, Roemmele scored a 9.100, Sienkowski posted a 9.000 and senior Holly Cunningham recorded an 8.650.
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.
