March 7, 2003

The top two vaulting teams in the NCAA’s Central Region will face off on Saturday, March 8, at 3 p.m. ET in Tuscaloosa, Ala., when the University of Kentucky gymnastics team travels to Coleman Coliseum for a dual meet with the third-ranked Crimson Tide. The GymKats will look for a strong effort at Alabama to replace one of two low road scores from earlier in the season which are currently included in UK’s regional qualifying score of 193.385.

Kentucky (4-9, 0-5 SEC) is currently ranked eighth in its region and 40th in the nation. Last weekend in Provo, Utah, the GymKats dropped a 192.475-196.800 decision to Brigham Young. The Cougars’ team total was the highest mark that the Cats have faced this season, but the Crimson Tide will be the highest ranked team that UK has met so far in 2003.

Two seasons ago, the GymKats pushed then-No. 2 Alabama to the limit in Tuscaloosa, falling by a margin of only 0.075 despite closing the meet with a school-record mark of 49.350 on the balance beam. Kentucky’s team total of 195.825 was the second-highest score in school history, but could not eclipse the Tide’s 195.900.

Alabama is coming off a 197.975-196.600 victory over SEC-rival Auburn. The Tide, the defending national champions, rank first regionally on all four apparatuses and are second in the nation on floor. Their team average at Coleman Coliseum is nearly one point higher than their road average. Overall, UA’s regional qualifying score currently stands at 197.205.

Live scoring of the meet is available here.

The Wildcats will return to Lexington for “Senior Night” on Friday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The GymKats will honor their five senior student-athletes — Karla Adelt (Englewood, Colo.), Julia Gore (Pflugerville, Texas), Jennifer Simmons (Pasadena, Texas), Mindy Smith (Borden, Ind.) and Melanie Zaharias (Lakewood, Colo.) – prior to the meet.

–UK–