Behind a 49.225 score on vault, the fourth-highest in school history, the 20th-ranked University of Kentucky gymnastics team tallied a season-high team total to top New Hampshire, 194.775-191.450, on Friday, Jan. 25 at Memorial Coliseum.
The GymKats (3-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) used their best overall performance of the season to hand UNH (2-1) its first defeat of the season. UK had at least the top three individual finishers on each event, and Aronda Primault won the all-around competition with a 39.225, the second best of her career.
“This team showed much improvement this week,” Coach Leah Little said. “I am pleased that we got back on track. It was good to see Aronda back in the all-around and to win. We still had a couple of mistakes, but that only shows that we can definitely improve. We are looking to break some records this season.”
UK opened the night on vault where Kara Prestigiacomo tied a career high with a 9.775 to get the evening started well. Julie Joy and Melanie Zaharias also got into the action with career highs, a 9.850 and a 9.925 respectively. With a 9.875 from Primault and a 9.800 from Julia Gore, the GymKats took a two-point lead into the second rotation and never looked back.
Kentucky scored no less than a 9.700 on bars to total a 48.900 for a two and a half point lead midway through the meet. Gore and Julie Joy tied for individual honors with a 9.850 each, while Jessie Lemp and Primault each tallied a 9.750. Nicole Allen and Lindsay Cameron rounded out the scoring with a 9.700 each.
On beam, the event where UK has had the most trouble this season, the GymKats did not count a fall for the first time this year. Gore claimed first place with a career-high 9.800, and Mindy Smith brought her streak of meets without a fall to 26 with a 9.750 for second place. Primault added a 9.725, while Zaharias chipped in a 9.700.
In the final rotation, Kentucky moved to the floor exercise, its strongest event this season. Despite counting a fall, UK totaled a 48.000 behind a career-high 9.900 from Gales and a 9.875 from Primault. Krista Prestigiacomo also scored a career-high with a 9.850, and Allen scored a 9.775 to seal the victory for the GymKats.
Kentucky hits the road for its next week when it travels to Morgantown, W.Va., to face West Virginia, George Washington and Massachusetts on Friday, Feb. 2.
Team Scores:Kentucky 194.775New Hampshire191.450
Attendance: 1,492
UK Scores (Individual Finish)VaultUneven Bars
Kara Prestigiacomo 9.775$ (5)Nicole Allen9.700 (t7)Michelle Gales9.200 (12)Jessie Lemp9.750 (t3)Julie Joy 9.850$ (3)Julia Gore9.850$ (t1)Melanie Zaharias9.925$ (1)Aronda Primault9.750 (t3)Aronda Primault9.875 (t3)Julie Joy9.850 (t1)Julia Gore9.800 (4) Lindsay Cameron9.700 (t7)
Balance BeamFloor Exercise
Nicole Allen9.250 (t10)Nicole Allen9.775 (7)Jessie Lemp9.675 (6) Krista Prestigiacomo9.850$ (3)Melanie Zaharias9.700 (5) Julia Gore7.850 (12)Aronda Primault9.725 (t3)Michelle Gales9.900$ (1)Mindy Smith9.750 (2) Aronda Primault9.875 (2)Julia Gore9.800$ (1)Kara Prestigiacomo 8.600 (11)
All-Around
Aronda Primault39.225 (1)Julia Gore37.300 (5)
$ = career high
