BATON ROUGE, La. ? The No. 20 Kentucky gymnastics team went to Baton Rouge, La. to participate in the NCAA Central Regional Championship hosted by LSU. The Wildcats finished in 5th position at 194.950, with a .175 point difference between the Cats and third place, taken by Ohio State at 195.125. LSU took first place by edging out Stanford, 197.625-197.525.
The Cats started on beam. Despite a few mistakes, the Wildcats kept composure and finished with a 48.150. UK was led by junior Heather Hite, taking team top honors with a 9.800. Hite is ranked 12th in the nation on the beam. The events top performer of the night was LSU?s Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, with an impressive mark of 9.975.
After a second round bye, the Wildcats hit the floor. UK is ranked in the No. 11 position on the event. Not allowing previous stumbles affect them, Kentucky pulled out a 49.075. With two 9.875?s by Hite and sophomore Hillary Ferguson, the Cats lifted themselves out off the bottom. For her second event title on the evening was Clare-Kearney again, with a 9.950.
On the team?s best event of the night, vault, the Cats crept closer to the No. 3 spot. Kentucky stuck a 49.100 with three 9.850?s by freshman Andrea Mitchell, and sophomores Emilie Rymer and Ferguson. Mitchell?s tally was a career high, beating out her previous mark of 9.825. Rymer tied her season high with the score. Freshman Phylicia Reshard also tied her season high with a 9.775. Sophomore come back Jamie Reimann nailed a 9.775, a career best, blowing her last high of 9.625 out of the water. LSU?s Clare-Kearney took her third event top honors by hitting a perfect 10.0.
Ending the night for Kentucky was the uneven bar event. Taking team top honors was senior Crissy Cannon. In the final meet of her career, Cannon stuck a solid 9.825, tying her career high. Stanford?s Elizabeth Tricase won first place overall with a 9.950.
?They fought hard,? Head Coach Mo Mitchell stated. ?Unfortunately we dug ourselves a hole in the first event. We needed more determination. But mark my words, we will go to Nationals next year, we will.?
In the all-around, Ferguson took team top honors for Kentucky. The all-around champion was LSU?s Clare-Kearney with an almost perfect 39.825.
From the Central Region, LSU and Stanford will be heading to Athens, Ga. to partake in the NCAA National Championship hosted by Georgia.
Kentucky will resume competition in January 2009. For complete coverage of Kentucky gymnastics, visit www.ukathletics.com.
