Dec. 4, 2002

The University of Kentucky gymnastics team announced its 2003 schedule Wednesday, and Coach Leah Little again has compiled an extremely competitive regular season to prepare the GymKats for the NCAA Championships. UK will take part in 11 meets, facing a total of 16 teams, including 2002 National Champion Alabama and runner-up Georgia.

Kentucky, which finished 2002 ranked No. 23, will welcome the new year with the 20th installment of Excite Nite, UK’s traditional season-opening extravaganza which was successfully transformed into a scored meet last season. In 2002, the Cats defeated No. 18 Ohio State. This time around, the GymKats will face George Washington, one of 10 opponents that advanced to the NCAA Regional Championships a year ago, on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.

UK will play host to five more meets, including visits from 2002 SEC Champion Georgia (Feb. 14), No. 8 LSU (Jan. 17), No. 14 Denver (March 14) and No. 24 Brigham Young (Jan. 31). The Cats also will travel to Florida (Jan. 24), Utah (Feb. 28) and Arizona (March 22) to face a trio of ranked squads. The remainder of Kentucky’s schedule is highlighted by three trips to Alabama – to visit the Auburn Tigers on Feb. 21, the Crimson Tide on March 8 and the SEC Championships in Birmingham on March 29.

“We are excited about this season’s schedule,” Little said. “We have had a great preseason. The team is working very hard and our gymnasts have been totally committed to getting ready for the upcoming year. This schedule gives us a great opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the country and prepare for the post-season.”

The GymKats will be battling for a spot in the NCAA Regionals on April 12. Kentucky has qualified for the regionals in 16 of the past 18 seasons. The NCAA Championships will take place during the final weekend of April. As a team, the Cats are still looking for their first trip to the NCAA Championships. Junior Aronda Primault participated in the 2002 Championships as an individual, becoming the third All-American in the history of the program.

2003 UK Gymnastics Schedule

Jan. 10     EXCITE NITE vs. George Washington      HOME              7 p.m.Jan. 17     LSU, Centenary                         HOME              7:30 p.m.Jan. 24     at Florida; Minnesota, Bowling Green   Gainesville, Fla. 7 p.m.Jan. 31     BYU                                    HOME              7:30 p.m.Feb. 7      Arkansas, Texas Woman's, UI-Chicago    HOME              7:30 p.m.Feb. 14     Georgia                                HOME              7:30 p.m.Feb. 21     at Auburn                              Auburn, Ala.      7 p.m.Feb. 28     at BYU                                 Provo, Utah       7 p.m.March 8     at Alabama                             Tuscaloosa, Ala.  2 p.m.March 14    Denver, Southeast Missouri             HOME              7:30 p.m.March 22    at Arizona State                       Tempe, Ariz       7:30 p.m.March 29    SEC Championships                      Birmingham, Ala.  TBAApril 12    NCAA Regionals                         Six Campus Sites  TBAApril 24-6  NCAA Championships                     Lincoln, Neb.     TBA

all times local and subject to change*