Michelle Gales is the latest UK ?Gymnast of the Week? selected by the coaching staff. Gales was phenomenal this past weekend at the 2004 State Farm Cat Classic in Columbia, Mo. She recorded a season-high 39.200 all-around score, including a career-high on bars (9.875) and a season-high 9.925 on her floor routine.

?Michelle is a very talented athlete who works hard at everything she does,? Coach ?Mo? Muhammad said. ?She has had some great performances all year, but this was the meet she put everything together.?

In addition to her stellar all-around performance on the first night of competition, Gales tied with Kari Lords (BYU) for the floor title with a 9.900 on the second night of individual championships. She also finished fourth on the uneven bars with a 9.800 behind teammate Krystle Cook who scored a 9.850 on the apparatus.

Gales has scored a 9.875 or better five times this season, including three 9.900 or better scores. Her all-around at the Cat Classic is Kentucky?s second-highest all-around score this season behind Aronda Primault?s 39.350 against Auburn and George Washington.

?Michelle is getting into a good rhythm and we want that to carry over as we come down the final stretch of our season and begin post-season competition,? Muhammad said.