LEXINGTON ? The 22nd-ranked Kentucky gymnastics team kicks off the 2007 season on Friday when it hosts two-time defending national champion Georgia at Memorial Coliseum in the 23rd Annual Excite Night.
The meet, themed ?La nuit de l?excitation!? which translates from French to ?The Night of Excitement!? centers on a ?Cirque du Soleil? theme, as the entire event will be based off the popular modern circus. Free tickets are available to fans at local area Fazoli?s, or they may be purchased from the UK Ticket Office for $5.
The Bulldogs enter the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and are coming off a season-opening victory of eighth-ranked Stanford last weekend. Katie Heenan earned Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week honors after posting a 39.550 all-around score in the meet.
The 2007 version of the Kentucky gymnastics team should be the best in school history. The Wildcats return everyone from the squad that set a school record with 16 wins a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Central Regional under the direction of Regional Coach of the Year Hajile ?Mo? Mitchell.
Leading the way is senior Krystle Cook, the NCAA Central Region vault champion from a year ago and UK?s top all-around performer. Sophomore Heather Hite, who earned the CATSPY for Female Rookie of the Year last season, also returns to form the nucleus of the lineup with Cook. Joining the returning stars is a talented group of freshmen that should lift the Wildcats to heights never before seen by the program.
Last year, UK posted the best season in school history, setting a school record for most wins and continuing the programs ascent.
This year?s Excite Night should be the biggest and the best in the history of the event, which saw Kentucky perform in front of a sell-out crowd of nearly 6,000 a year ago. On Jan. 12 at 6 p.m., ?La nuit de l?excitation!? kicks off. Accompanying the dazzling gymnastics routines from the Wildcats, will be numerous games and contests with the Cirque du Soleil theme.
Friday should be the biggest and the best Excite Night in the history of the event, which saw Kentucky perform in front of a sell-out crowd of nearly 6,000 a year ago. On Jan. 12 at 6 p.m., the doors open on ?La nuit de l?excitation!?. Accompanying the dazzling gymnastics routines from the Wildcats, will be numerous games and contests with the Cirque du Soleil theme.
Events for the kids begin at 6:30 p.m. and promptly at 7 p.m. special Cirque du Soleil performances begin. The first introduction of the 2007 UK gymnastics team to the home crowd takes place following the performances. At 7:15 p.m., the gymnastics takes over as two of the nation?s top teams square off. Post-meet activities include an autograph signing session by the UK gymnasts.
For each of the past two years, Kentucky has drawn more than 4,000 fans to witness the most exciting night in the commonwealth. With the renovations to Memorial Coliseum, capacity is up to more than 7,000, which sets the table for a record-setting crowd for Excite Night.
