Feb. 26, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky gymnastics team will conclude a difficult stretch of four meets against top-25 opponents in 10 days when it faces No. 7 Nebraska, No. 15 Iowa and Bowling Green in the 21st annual Masters Classic in Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Nebraska will serve as the host of the event.
“This is an important meet for us,” UK assistant coach Heather Hite said. “We need a really good score on the road and this is a great chance to get that. Our girls have made great strides so far this season no matter what has been thrown in front of them and I don’t expect them to ever get satisfied. The win against LSU needs to serve as a springboard for the rest of the season.”
Kentucky (2-6, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) enters the meet off its best outing of the year, where it posted a season-high team score to defeat SEC foe LSU for the second consecutive season. The win against the Tigers marked the first SEC dual-meet victory for UK since it defeated Auburn in 2008. The Wildcats were led at the meet by senior Phylicia Reshard, who took home the all-around title with a career high 39.275. Reshard also won an event title on floor by tying a career best 9.875, while earning a career-high mark on uneven bars with a 9.85. UK defeated the Tigers on every event, getting medalist honors from senior Jasmine Minion on vault, sophomore Caitlyn Ciokajlo on bars and senior Andrea Mitchell on balance beam. The Wildcats also scored a season-high beam score against the Tigers with a 48.6.
Three quality opponents will await the Wildcats at the Masters Classic, including top-15 ranked Nebraska and Iowa. The Cornhuskers enter the meet with a Regional Qualifying Score of 195.595 with a season high of 196.075. Nebraska is ranked in the top 25 on every event, including a No. 2 ranking on vault, No. 8 ranking on bars and No. 10 ranking on floor.
The Hawkeyes enter the meet with a RQS of 195.145 with a team high score of 196.350. Iowa is ranked high on almost every event, including a No. 6 ranking on bars and No. 13 ranking on floor exercise.
Bowling Green is not ranked as a team or on any event because it has not had the minimum number of meets in order to receive a RQS. However, the Falcons are averaging 188.283 so far this season. Bowling Green’s best event is floor, where the Falcons average of 47.483.
Live scores and free live video for the meet can be found at UKathletics.com. For more information on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow “UKGymnastics” on Twitter or Facebook.
