LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky gymnastics Senior Night was the picture of perfection Friday evening at Memorial Coliseum. In a tri-meet between No. 15 Arizona and Western Michigan, the UK Wildcats dominated the scene and won with a season high score of 195.925 to UA?s 195.625, and WMU?s 191.325.
The Cats were behind Arizona by .10 after three rotations, but in their best event, floor, the Wildcats took the meet to a new level. With scores ranging from 9.800 to 9.925, Kentucky took over the meet and defended the home mats. In a triumphant night, UK nailed season highs on three events: uneven bars (48.700), balance beam (49.225), and floor (49.275).
On vault, two Wildcats tied for the events title. Sophomore Hillary Ferguson and Emily Green both nailed 9.875?s for the top honor. The balance beam was one of the Cats? best events of the evening, consisting of many career and season highs for the team. Junior Heather Hite and freshman Madison Snowden tied for team top honors and second place overall with 9.900?s. The high marks earned Hite a new season high as well as a career high for Snowden. Green also landed a career high on the balance beam with a 9.875.
Kentucky is ranked No. 15 in the nation on floor, and the talent showed. UK secured a score of 49.275, not only a team season high, but also ranked as the third highest career score for Head Coach Mo Mitchell on that event. Five of the six Kentucky gymnasts who competed on floor took the top five spots. Winning the floor title was Ferguson with a 9.925. She ties her career high which was earned earlier in the season at Georgia. Earning a new career high on floor was freshman Andrea Mitchell, hitting a 9.800 and Green, who took second place overall, tied her career high with a 9.875.
?It was a well deserved win, we finally pulled it together. This is who we are,? Head Coach Mo Mitchell stated. ?Finally, to not count a fall and nail each event, I?m proud of them. Now, we just keep it going.?
Finishing up the night in the all-around, was Green who took team top honors with a 39.350. The total was a new career high for the New York native. Ferguson and Mitchell also stepped out with new career high scores of 39.325 and 38.975, respectively.
Seniors Crissy Cannon and Kristen O?Shields were spotlighted throughout the night. Also showcased was senior Amanda Coates, the special assistant to Head Coach Mo Mitchell. Coates has been a valuable asset to the team working behind the scenes. O?Shields and Cannon each commented on the emotion of the night.
?These past four years have flown by so fast. I still can?t believe this was our last home meet,? O?Shields said. ?It?s all very exciting, but I am sad that this was our last time to compete in Memorial Coliseum.?
?It has been an incredible opportunity to be a part of this program, and I will never forget it,? Cannon commented. ?I couldn’t be more blessed than to finish this season with such an incredible group of girls by my side with such passion for what they do. It is an honor to compete at Kentucky, and something that I will remember forever.?
Kentucky rounds out the weekend by traveling to Columbus, Ohio on Sunday March 9 for a dual meet with the Buckeyes. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and will be held at St. John Arena.
For more information on Kentucky gymnastics, please visit www.ukathletics.com.
