March 29, 1999

The University of Kentucky gymnastics team took fifth place honors with a final team total of 194.875 at the 1999 Southeastern Conference Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Saturday evening.

The GymKats (9-12, 2-8) began the evening on vault where they scored a 48.725. The Kats were led on vault by junior Krissy Hoeferlin with a score of 9.825. Following a second round bye, UK posted a 48.525 on uneven bars. Freshmen Jessie Lemp and Jennifer Simmons, as well as senior Misty Marinik, posted team-high 9.750s on the bars. In the fourth rotation, the Kats posted a 48.600 on balance beam. Simmons led Kentucky with a 9.800, while Marinik contributed a 9.725. After a fifth round bye, the GymKats completed competition on floor exercise. Hoeferlin led the Kats with a score of 9.850, while fellow junior Mila Chitwood posted a 9.825.

“I am thrilled with our performance today,” Coach Leah Little said. “We are going against three of the top five teams in the country and that isn’t easy. We hit 24 out of 24 routines today. This is probably one of our best SEC performances ever. It’s hard to follow the defending national champions (Georgia), but I feel like we came out and did wonderfully today. I couldn’t be prouder of our team.”

The GymKats are back in action on Saturday, April 10 when the participate in the 1999 NCAA Southeast Regional in Baton Rouge, La.

Team Scores

Alabama           196.775Auburn            194.025Florida           195.875 Georgia           197.475 Kentucky          194.875 Louisiana State   195.375

UK Scores

Vault 48.725 Uneven Bars 48.525Beth Coleman 9.525 Shawnte Hall 9.525Katie Toups 9.700 Krissy Hoeferlin 9.550Jessie Lemp 9.700 Jessie Lemp 9.750Shawnte Hall 9.750 Jennifer Simmons 9.750Jennifer Simmons 9.750 Misty Marinik 9.750Kristin Hoeferlin 9.825 Katie Toups 9.725

Balance Beam 48.600 Floor Exercise 49.025Katie Toups 9.650 Shawnte Hall 9.800Krissy Hoeferlin 9.675 Katie Toups 9.750Misty Marinik 9.725 Jessie Lemp 9.800Jessie Lemp 9.700 Jennifer Simmons 9.750Jennifer Simmons 9.800 Mila Chitwood 9.825Mila Chitwood 9.700 Krissy Hoeferlin 9.850