TUSCALOOSA, Ala.? Despite a valiant effort by the No. 23 Kentucky gymnastics squad in Coleman Coliseum, a tough performance on beam foiled the Cats? bid to advance to the NCAA Championships. The Wildcats, making their first NCAA Regional appearance since the 2002 season, finished with a fourth-place 193.325 team score at Saturday?s NCAA Central Regional.
?We did great on three events, however beam was a challenge for us once again,? said UK head coach Mo Muhammad. ?I am proud that the team had the chance to compete in a regional meet. This is the next step for UK gymnastics, and it is a step in the right direction.?
Fourth-ranked Alabama claimed the region?s title with a 196.675 score, No. 9 Iowa State came in second by registering a 195.625 on the four events and fellow Southeastern Conference foe No. 21 Auburn tallied a 194.800. The Wildcats topped Kent State (192.500) and No. 16 Utah State (192.425) in the meet.
UK (14-18) was led by sophomore Rachel Riley, who registered a 38.700 in all-around competition. Riley finished 10th on the four events while senior Michelle Gales posted a 38.550 to finish 11th. Alabama?s Ashley Miles claimed the region?s all-around title with a 39.525 finish.
The Wildcats opened the meet on vault, tallying a team score of 48.750 on the first rotation. UK was led by junior Lucy Burgin, who finished tied for fifth on vault with a career-high 9.85 mark. Senior Lindsay Cameron, competing in her final collegiate meet for the Blue and White, added a season-high 9.825.
After a bye in the second rotation, the Cats moved to bars where sophomore Krystle Cook, who returned from an ankle injury just two weeks prior at the SEC Championships, registered a team-high 9.8 to tie for sixth place on the event. Riley and junior Sarai Sevier each earned 9.775 marks for Kentucky, which finished with a team score of 48.750 on bars. Burgin added a 9.725 on the event to help the Wildcats as they entered their third rotation with a second-place 97.500 standing in the meet.
The balance beam, which has been the challenge for UK this season, again proved difficult for the Wildcats in the meet. The Cats were forced to count a fall and posted an event-low 46.875 score on beam. Riley led the Wildcats on the event with a 9.575, while junior Bethany Strauch was second for UK on beam with a 9.525 finish.
Kentucky finished the meet with its signature floor exercise routine, earning a 48.950 team finish. Each of UK?s six competitors on the event scored a 9.7 or higher on floor, led by Gales? team-high 9.9 mark. Gales, who tied for fourth-place on floor in the meet, has scored a 9.9 floor score in 25 career meets, including seven this season. Riley and freshman Kristen O?Shields each finished with 9.8 marks on floor.
The Wildcats conclude their 2005 season with a 14-18 record and return 12 roster members to next year?s squad. For more information, log on to ukathletics.com.
– UK –
