LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ? The 25th-ranked Kentucky gymnastics team posted a 194.000, its highest score at the Southeastern Conference Championships in head coach Mo Mitchell?s tenure, to finish seventh on Friday night in front of 5,134 fans at Alltel Arena.
The Wildcats had not broken 194 at the championships since 2003, the last in a five-year run that UK surpassed the plateau. Top-ranked Florida took home the crown, its first since 1989, with a 197.325. The Gators just bested Georgia and Alabama, which finished second and third, respectively. It was the first time since Florida?s last title a team other than the Bulldogs or Crimson Tide took home the league crown.
For the fifth straight meet, it was freshman Emilie Rymer leading Kentucky in the all-around as she registered a 39.025. It was also the fifth consecutive outing she cracked the 39 plateau. As a team, UK had a solid meet, only suffering falls from its vault lineup, which had been spectacular down the stretch.
Kentucky opened the meet on floor and had its streak of four-consecutive meets with at least a 49 snapped with a 48.975. Freshman Hillary Ferguson and sophomore Heather Hite led the way with matching 9.85s in UK?s highest scoring event of the evening. The score was Ferguson?s eighth straight of 9.85 or better while Hite saw her string of four straight 9.9s snapped.
After a bye, Kentucky moved onto vault where the first half of the lineup continued to post solid scores, led by Cook?s 9.9. However, each of the final three competitors missed on their landings as UK scored a 48.050 on the rotation. Cook?s score was good enough to tie for fourth in the meet.
However, the Wildcats rebounded on bars with a 48.450. After an fall due to a grip malfunction, Rymer was allowed to restart her routine and she came back to lead UK on the apparatus with a 9.775.
In its final rotation of the evening, Kentucky moved to beam and tallied a 48.525, the fourth best score of the meet. Hite and Rymer each scored 9.8s to lead the way. It was the eighth straight meet Hite has been atop the Wildcats scoresheet on beam.
Georgia?s Katie Heenan and Courtney Kupets tied to win the all-around with a 39.600.
Kentucky is off for two weeks before the NCAA Regionals on April 14. The Wildcats learn their fate early next week, but are expected to earn a bid to the NCAA Central Regional at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
