April 4, 1998
ATHENS, Ga.-The University of Kentucky gymnastics team (4-6, 2-3) took fifth out of seven places with a score of 192.150 at the NCAA Southeast Regionals Saturday.
The 24th-ranked GymKats, competing in Olympic order (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise) led the competition after the second rotation with a combined score of 96.725. Ashley Burkholder, SEC Freshman of the Year, was the top vaulter among the GymKats with a score of 9.750. Junior Misty Marinik was the top UK finisher on bars with a score of 9.875. On beam, senior Whitney Ellis scored a 9.750 and on floor Marinik and Burkholder both scored a 9.775.
“Tonight was a disappointing way to finish the season,” stated Kentucky coach Leah Little. “We started (the regular season) good with rankings in the top-ten but then we lost our top all-arounder (sophomore Krissy Hoeferlin dislocated her left elbow in the meet against Alabama on Feb. 20) and we had other injuries. We did the best we could tonight and I am proud of the girls.”
The school that served as host for the Southeast Regionals, top-ranked Georgia, was on fire tonight scoring a 99.225 out of a possible 100 after two rotations. Gym Dawg Karin Lichey had two perfect scores for the evening on bars and floor.
The GymKats are one of seven teams that qualified based on the team scores from the regular season and the SEC Championships held at LSU on March 21. Other teams that qualified for the Southeast Regionals are as follows: Georgia (1), Florida (4), West Virginia (6), North Carolina State (20), George Washington and Maryland.
Last year’s Regionals were held at Kentucky with Florida taking first place and Georgia placing second by .250 of a point. This year they switched places and Kentucky finished in fifth place for the second straight year. Five regional competitions were held today. The top team in each region will automatically get a bid to compete at the NCAA National competition to be held at UCLA April 16-18. If an individual wins an event with a score of 9.8 or higher, she will automatically qualify for the NCAA Nationals. The official list of qualifying teams and individuals going to the NCAA Nationals will be compiled on Saturday night and released on Sunday. The GymKats will next see action anxiously waiting for that call from the NCAA that says they have qualified for the NCAA Nationals at UCLA.
Team Totals1. Georgia 198.5752. Florida 197.0753. North Carolina State195.1254. West Virginia194.8005. Kentucky 192.5006. George Washington191.1507. Maryland 190.100
UK Results 192.150Vault 48.325Misty Marinik9.650Shawnte Hall9.350Jennie Maxwell9.675Beth Coleman9.675Ashley Burkholder9.750
Mila Chitwood9.575
Uneven Bars 48.400Beth Cluxton9.700Shawnte Hall9.525Beth Coleman9.475Ashley Burkholder9.550Whitney Ellis9.750Misty Marinik9.875
Balance Beam 47.275Beth Cluxton9.075Beth Coleman8.875Misty Marinik9.200Ashley Burkholder9.800Whitney Ellis9.750Mila Chitwood9.450
Floor Exercise 48.150Beth Coleman9.500Jennie Maxwell9.375Misty Marinik9.775Shawnte Hall8.850Mila Chitwood9.725Ashley Burkholder9.775
