March 18, 2000

LEXINGTON, Kty. — For the fourth time in eight years, a UK gymnast was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Julia Gore was awarded the prestigious honor on Saturday evening at the 2000 SEC Championships in Gainesville, Fla.

Gore joins UK senior Krissy Hoeferlin (1997) and former athletes Ashley Burkholder (1998)and Jenny Hansen (1993) in receiving the honor. A Pflugerville, Texas native, Gore was a member of the 1999 World University Games team that competed last summer in Spain.

Gore is currently second on the team in all-around and has posted scores of 39.000 or better in each of the GymKats last four meets. Gore finished sixth in the all-around at this year’s championship with a 39.100.

“I’m ecstatic,” Coach Leah Little said. “This is incredible. After Julia got a couple of collegiate meets under her belt, she really turned it on. She has performed solidly for us most of the season. She will definitely be an influence on this program next year and down the road.”