TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ? The Kentucky gymnastics team?s 2007 season came to an end Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum as UK placed sixth at the NCAA Central Regional with a 194.025.
The Wildcats would have needed to finish among the top two to advance to the NCAA Championships in two weeks in Salt Lake City, Utah. Host Alabama won the regional with a 196.700 while Oklahoma and Iowa State tied for the coveted second slot with a 195.925. The first tiebreaker is taking the sixth score on each event and the Sooners held a two-tenths of a point advantage after taking that into account to keep their season alive.
?We had a very young team this year and we?re looking forward to getting back at it next year,? Kentucky head coach Mo Mitchell said. ?I think we have a great foundation to work from right now and I?m excited about where this program is headed.?
Individually, Krystle Cook just missed out on advancing in the all-around by scoring a season-best 39.225. Needing to be one of the top two finishers (not among the two advancing teams) to move on, Cook tied for second with Michigan State?s Rochelle Robinson, but lost the tiebreaker which was highest event score. Robinson had a 9.9 on the floor to take it. Alabama?s Terin Humphrey won the all-around with a 39.475 while the Cyclones? Janet Anson earned the first NCAA bid with a 39.425.
Cook, the 2006 Central Region vault champion, took fifth overall on the event with a 9.85, which was her highest score of the evening. Her score paced UK to a 48.650 on the apparatus in the final rotation. Emilie Rymer was just behind with a 9.8. Alabama?s Morgan Dennis won the meet with a 9.95.
The best individual performance of the night from a Wildcats was Heather Hite?s on beam. In its second rotation, the sophomore dropped a 9.85 to place third overall. Her score led UK to a 48.800, its second best score of the year. Cook posted a 9.8 on beam while Hillary Ferguson, Bridget Carreiro and Rymer each broke 9.7. Brittney Koncak-Schumann of Oklahoma won beam with a 9.9.
Kentucky?s night began on bars where they registered a season-low 47.975. The team did not count a fall, but the highest score of the lineup came from Cook, a 9.775. Humphrey and Ohio State?s Kaylan Clevinger tied for the crown with a 9.95.
On floor in its third rotation, Kentucky got 9.8s from Cook and Rymer en route to a 48.600 for the event. Emily Green tallied a 9.75 and senior Rachel Riley scored a 9.725 in her final career meet. Oklahoma?s Kiara Redmond, the final competitor of the evening, posted a 9.925 to win the floor crown. Her score lifted OU into the second-place tie and their berth in the NCAA Championships.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. Alabama ? 196.700 (VT ? 49.150, UB ? 49.150, BB ? 49.075, FX ? 49.325).
2. Oklahoma ? 195.925 (233.200 counting sixth scores) (VT ? 49.05, UB ? 48.775, BB ? 48.600, FX ? 49.200).
3. Iowa State ? 195.925 (233.200 counting sixth scores) (VT ? 49.150, UB ? , BB ? 48.950, FX ? 48.825).
4. Michigan State ? 194.800 (VT ? 48.775, UB ? 48.500, BB ? 48.875, FX ?48.650).
5. Ohio State ? 194.650 (VT ? 48.650, UB ? 49.000, BB ? 48.525, FX ? 48.475).
6. Kentucky ? 194.025 (VT ? 48.650, UB ? 47.975, BB ? 48.800, FX? 48.600).
Individual (UK competitors only)
All-Around ? Krystle Cook – 39.225, Emilie Rymer – 38.850, Hillary Ferguson ? 38.250.
Vault ? Emily Green ? 9.725, Emilie Rymer ? 9.8, Krystle Cook ? 9.85, Lucy Burgin ? 9.25, Hillary Ferguson ? 9.6, Kristen O?Shields ? 9.65.
Bars ? Hillary Ferguson ? 9.625, Jamie Reimann ? 8.175, Emilie Rymer ? 9.525, Lucy Burgin ? 9.475, Krystle Cook ? 9.775, Jacque Behrendt ? 9.575.
Beam ? Hillary Ferguson ? 9.725, Bridget Carreiro ? 9.7, Emilie Rymer ? 9.725, Heather Hite ? 9.85, Crissy Cannon ? 9.675, Krystle Cook ? 9.8.
Floor ? Emily Green ? 9.75, Rachel Riley ? 9.725, Emilie Rymer ? 9.8, Hillary Ferguson ? 9.3, Heather Hite ? 9.85, Krystle Cook ? 9.8.
