Feb. 7, 2003
The University of Kentucky gymnastics team suffered a setback Friday, coming in fourth place during their meet at Memorial Coliseum. The GymKats (192.825) were outscored by Southeastern Conference-rival Arkansas (194.475), Illinois-Chicago (193.425) and Texas Woman’s University (193.275).
Kentucky (4-6) started strongly on vault for the second straight week. Led by senior Melanie Zaharias, whose 9.900 gave her second place on the event, the GymKats posted a team score of 49.100 to take the lead after the first rotation. The Cats came into the week with the 12th-highest vaulting average in the nation, and improved their mark to 48.920.
Sophomores Michelle Gales and Kara Prestigiacomo continued their recent vaulting success, with scores of 9.850 and 9.825 to place third and fourth, respectively. Veronique Meunier of Illinois-Chicago would place first in vault with a score of 9.925.
The second rotation was not as strong for the GymKats. On the uneven bars, junior Julie Joy was UK’s only gymnast to score at least a 9.800. She placed second in the event. Kentucky scored its lowest total of the season on bars, a 47.625, after counting a pair of falls.
Arkansas and Illinois-Chicago each scored 48.675 points on bars, while Texas Woman’s University had a mark of 48.450. UIC’s Jennfier O’Neil won the event with a score of 9.825.
On the balance beam, the GymKats counted another pair of falls and totaled only 47.250 points. Senior Mindy Smith opened the rotation with a strong 9.800, which made her Kentucky’s third individual runner-up of the night. But the Cats were unable to carry her momentum.
TWU’s score of 48.225 was the highest beam score of the evening. Individually, Hannah McLeod of Arkansas won the event with a 9.825.
Kentucky rebounded on floor, scoring a 48.850. In their final rotation, the GymKats were led by Gales’ 9.850 and a pair of 9.800’s from Zaharias and fellow senior Julia Gore.
Gales would come away with her second floor title of the season, topping UA’s Tiffany Berry by 0.025 points. Arkansas had the evening’s strongest floor mark, posting a score of 49-even. UK’s floor effort was not enough to lift the GymKats to victory.
Friday’s meet was highlighted by an appearance from 1996 Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug, who was the special guest of the GymKats. Strug was presented with a key to Lexington by Mayor Teresa Isaac, Kentucky’s guest coach for the evening.
The GymKats return to action next Friday, Feb. 7, when they host No. 5 Georgia for “Sweetheart Night” at Memorial Coliseum. Tickets are available for the 7:30 p.m. ET meet at the ticket office, by calling 859-257-1818 or online at UK’s official web site – ukathletics.com
Team Scores
1. Arkansas – 194.475
2. Illinois-Chicago – 193.425
3. Texas Woman’s – 193.275
4. Kentucky – 192.825
Attendance: 2,107
Individual Apparatus Results
Vault: UK – 49.100; UIC – 48.650; UA – 48.600; TWU – 48.525
1. Veronique Meunier (UIC) 9.925; 2. Melanie Zaharias (UK) 9.900; 3. Michelle Gales (UK) 9.850; 4. Kara Prestigiacomo (UK) 9.825; 4. Atlin Mitchell (UIC) 9.825; 6. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.800; 6. Alyson Cacciatore (UIC) 9.800; 8. Audra Loveless (UA) 9.775; 9. Holly Bruhn (UIC) 9.750; 9. Dana McQuillin (UA) 9.750; 9. Luci Romberg (TWU) 9.750; 12. Julia Gore (UK) 9.725; 12. Julie Joy (UK) 9.725; 12. Kim Harris (UA) 9.725; 12. Jessica Brozovich (TWU) 9.725; 12. Nakia Westbrook (TWU) 9.725; 17. Whitney Cashwell (UA) 9.675; 17. Hannah McLeod (UA) 9.675; 17. Lindsey Clowers (TWU) 9.675; 20. Kim Holland (TWU) 9.650; 21. Jonica Scott (TWU) 9.600; 22. Tiffany Berry (UA) 9.425; 23. Megan Fey (UIC) 9.350; 24. Jennifer O’Neil (UIC) 9.325.
Bars: UA – 48.675; UIC – 48.675; TWU – 48.450; UK – 47.625
1. Jennifer O’Neil (UIC) 9.825; 2. Julie Joy (UK) 9.800; 2. Melissa Leigh (UA) 9.800; 4. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.775; 4. Veronique Meunier (UIC) 9.775; 6. Alyson Cacciatore (UIC) 9.750; 6. Chelsie Leggett (TWU) 9.750; 8. Tiffany Berry (UA) 9.725; 8. Whitney Cashwell (UA) 9.725; 8. Dana McQuillin (UA) 9.725; 8. Stephanie Loudat (TWU) 9.725; 12. Kim Harris (UA) 9.700; 12. Hannah McLeod (UA) 9.700; 12. Luci Romberg (TWU) 9.700; 15. Krista Roemerman (UK) 9.675; 15. Jamie Grabowski (UIC) 9.675; 17. Stacey Magiera (UIC) 9.650; 17. Jennifer Bolli (TWU) 9.650; 19. Dana Giametta (TWU) 9.625; 20. Regine Charon (UIC) 9.550; 21. Lindsey Clowers (TWU) 9.500; 22. Julia Gore (UK) 9.375; 23. Lindsay Cameron (UK) 9.000; 24. Michelle Gales (UK) 8.500;
Beam: TWU – 48.225; UA – 48.200; UIC – 48.000; UK – 47.250
1. Hannah McLeod (UA) 9.825; 2. Mindy Smith (UK) 9.800; 2. Katie Hardman (UA) 9.800; 4. Alyson Cacciatore (UIC) 9.775; 4. Brooke Lawrence (UA) 9.775; 6. Melanie Zaharias (UK) 9.750; 6. Jackie Jaworowicz (UIC) 9.750; 8. Stacey Magiera (UIC) 9.700; 9. Lindsey Clowers (TWU) 9.675; 9. Amber McMeans (TWU) 9.675; 11. Jennifer O’Neil (UIC) 9.650; 11. Stephanie Loudat (TWU) 9.650; 13. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.625; 13. Tiffany Berry (UA) 9.625; 13. Luci Romberg (TWU) 9.625; 16. Kristin Frogge (TWU) 9.600; 17. Dana McQuillin (UA) 9.175; 18. Kara Prestigiacomo (UK) 9.125; 18. Jamie Grabowski (UIC) 9.125; 18. Melissa Leigh (UA) 9.125; 21. Veronique Meunier (UIC) 9.050; 21. Rachel Goddard (TWU) 9.050; 23. Michelle Gales (UK) 8.950; 23. Julia Gore (UK) 8.950.
Floor: UA – 49.000; UK – 48.850; UIC – 48.100; TWU – 48.075
1. Michelle Gales (UK) 9.850; 2. Tiffany Berry (UA) 9.825; 3. Julia Gore (UK) 9.800; 3. Melanie Zaharias (UK) 9.800; 3. Kim Harris (UA) 9.800; 3. Hannah McLeod (UA) 9.800; 3. Dana McQuillin (UA) 9.800; 8. Audra Loveless (UA) 9.775; 9. Alyson Cacciatore (UIC) 9.750; 9. Atlin Mitchell (UIC) 9.750; 9. Katie Hardman (UA) 9.750; 9. Lindsey Clowers (TWU) 9.750; 13. Julie Joy (UK) 9.725; 13. Veronique Meunier (UIC) 9.725; 15. Luci Romberg (TWU) 9.700; 16. Krista Prestigiacomo (UK) 9.675; 16. Jennifer O’Neil (UIC) 9.675; 18. Jonica Scott (TWU) 9.600; 19. Kim Holland (TWU) 9.575; 20. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.450; 20. Kristin Frogge (TWU) 9.450; 22. Jackie Jaworowicz (UIC) 9.200; 22. Chelsie Leggett (TWU) 9.200; 24. Holly Bruhn (UIC) 9.125
All-Around
1. Alyson Cacciatore (UIC) 39.075; 2. Hannah McLeod (UA) 39.000; 3. Luci Romberg (TWU) 38.775; 4. Aronda Primault (UK) 38.650; 5. Tiffany Berry (UA) 38.600; 5. Lindsey Clowers (TWU) 38.600; 7. Veronique Meunier (UIC) 38.475; 7. Jennifer O’Neil (UIC) 38.475; 9. Dana McQuillin (UA) 38.450; 10. Julia Gore (UK) 37.850; 11. Michelle Gales (UK) 37.150
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