April 2, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind a season-high score on balance beam of 48.9, the University of Kentucky gymnastics team posted its highest team score at a NCAA Regional in school history with a 195.175 in a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional in Coleman Coliseum at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday.
Kentucky’s team score at the meet surpassed its previous NCAA Regional high mark of 195.150, which helped UK earn a fourth-place finish in the 2001 NCAA Regional. The Wildcats had not scored a 195 team score of above since the 2001 season.
The Wildcats were impressive on all four events at the meet, but earned its highest event score on balance beam, posting a season-high score of 48.9. Junior Storey Morris led all UK gymnasts on the event with a 9.85, surpassing her career high of 9.825, while freshman Audrey Harrison scored a 9.8 for her highest career mark. Senior Phylicia Reshard started off the lineup for UK, earning a 9.8, while sophomore Caitlyn Ciokajlo concluded the UK rotation with a 9.75. Seniors Andrea Mitchell and Jasmine Minion concluded the UK scoring with Mitchell going 9.7 and Minion 9.225.
Kentucky (10-19) used the Olympic rotation at the event, starting the night on vault with a team score of 48.75. Reshard paced the Wildcats on the vault with a team-high mark of 9.85. Minion and Mitchell followed Reshard with an impressive 9.8, while senior Colleen Williams earned a 9.675. Harrison scored a 9.625 to wrap up the UK scoring.
After a bye in the second rotation, the Wildcats headed to uneven bars where UK earned a solid ream score of 48.85. Mitchell led UK on the event by earning a 9.825, while Ciokajlo posted a 9.8. Reshard and Williams, who compete first and second respectively in the UK rotation, each scored 9.75s. Morris performed well on bars with a score of 9.725, while Canfield wrapped up the UK scoring with a 9.675.
Kentucky concluded the night on floor exercise, earning a team score of 48.7. The Wildcats were led by Mitchell and Minion, who scored a 9.875 and 9.825, respectively. Reshard continued her solid night with a 9.8 on floor, while Harrison grabbed a 9.7. Freshman Holly Cunningham grabbed a 9.5 on the event, while freshman Kayla Sienkowski posted a 9.475.
Reshard led UK in the all-around category, earning a sixth-place finish at the meet with a 39.2, while Mitchell wasn’t far behind with a 39.175. Alabama’s Kayla Hoffman won the all-around title with a 39.650.
No. 2 Alabama finished first at the regional with a team score of 197.275, while Illinois was second with a 195.925. Both teams will advance to NCAA Nationals in Cleveland on April 15-17.
For more information on the Kentucky gymnastics team, visit UKathletics.com or follow “UKGymnastics” on Facebook or Twitter.
- Alabama – 197.275,
- Illinois – 195.925,
- Penn State – 195.850,
- Auburn – 195.6,
- Kentucky – 195.175,
- Central Michigan – 195.075
UK VAULT: 48.75; Harrison 9.625, Williams 9.675, Mitchell 9.8, Reshard 9.85, Minion 9.800
UK BARS: 48.85; Reshard 9.75, Williams 9.75, Canfield 9.675, Morris 9.725, Mitchell 9.8, Ciokajlo 9.8
UK BEAM: 48.9; Reshard 9.8, Mitchell 9.7, Morris 9.85, Harrison 9.8, Minion 9.225, Ciokajlo 9.75
UK FLOOR: 48.7; Sienkowski 9.475, Harrison 9.7, Cunningham 9.5, Reshard 9.8, Minion 9.825, Mitchell 9.875;
