January 4, 1999

The University of Kentucky gymnastics team is preparing for its 15thannual Excite Nite gala, set for Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in MemorialColiseum. The theme for this year’s extravaganza is “In the Big Blue Mood:Swingin’ with the GymKats.”

This year’s Excite Nite will feature performances by theFranklin-Alexander Dancers, the UK Pom Squad and the 1999 Kentucky GymKats.Special guests include Blues Brothers impersonators, Elmo and his SesameStreet friends, and Darin Gerlach, the 1998 men’s collegiate gymnasticsfloor exercise champion and Kentucky assistant coach. There will also be atrampoline exhibition featuring Richmond Bramblett, current age groupnational champion, and Tyson Smith, currently ranked third in the world inthe event.

Excite Nite is the annual prelude to the Kentucky gymnastics season. Theexhibition event, started in 1985, often has had a sell-out crowd. Inaddition to the entertainment, many prizes will be given away throughoutthe evening. Bikes, airline tickets, Barbie dolls, free dinners and beaniebabies are among several giveaways to be handed out to fans.

“We are really excited about this year’s Excite Nite,” Coach Leah Littlesaid. “We look forward to the chance to perform in front of a large,exciting crowd. It is a wonderful way to start what looks to be a promisingseason.”

Tickets are still available at the UK ticket office in Memorial Coliseumby calling 257-1818. Tickets are also available at the door the night ofthe show. Reserved seating is $5 and general admission tickets are $3. Thedoors open at 6:00 p.m. with pre-event entertainment. The Excite Niteprogram begins at 7:00 p.m. For the second consecutive year, Excite Nite will be televised ondelay by Fox Sports South.