Every Tuesday, UK Athletics recognizes outstanding performances for our student-athletes. These are the honorees for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 19:
Baseball: Austin Cousino
Dynamic freshman talent Austin Cousino made a monumental debut in his first two collegiate games, leading UK to wins at Wofford and vs. Eastern Michigan … A native of Dublin, Ohio, Cousino’s first five career hits came as extra-base knocks, with four doubles and one triple … The 2009 MVP of the 16-U USA National Team’s gold medal winning club in the IABF Championships, Cousino hit leadoff in all three games and started in centerfield, delivering the type of energetic, spark-plug at the top of the order igniting the UK offense … A 2011 first-team high school All-America outfielder by Baseball America, Cousino added two outfield assists in his first three games, gunning a run down at the plate and nabbing a sure double at second base with a bare-handed grab and strong throw from the gap … In addition to his sparkling defense and energy at the top of the order, Cousino had a play in his collegiate debut where he took third base from first on a routine grounder to the third sacker … In his second career game, Cousino tallied a double and a triple, a game after recording a hit and a RBI in his debut … On Monday at USC Upstate, Cousino opened the game with doubles in both the first and second innings to give the Wildcats a cushion … Later in the tilt, Cousino laid down a perfect bunt single for his career-high third hit of the contest.
Swimming and diving: Greg Ferrucci
Greg Ferrucci took second in the men’s 3m springboard to cap what was the best-ever 3m competition for UK in school history. Ferrucci went on to place third overall in the 1m springboard, jumping from 7th to 3rd in his final dive of the competition. Ferrucci won all three of the preliminaries for the 1m, 3m, and platform while medaling in two of them.
Swimming and diving: Lucas Gerotto
Lucas Gerotto led the way for UK, placing third in the men’s 100-fly with a time of 47.00 in the finals. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native finished on the podium of the SEC Championships for the first time in his career. The finish of 3rd was the best finish for the Wildcats in the water for the 2012 SEC Championships.
Men’s basketball: Terrence Jones
Tallied his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds in Kentucky’s win over Ole Miss … Scored in double-digits in five of the last six games … Has six or more rebounds in nine-straight games … Helped UK win its national best 50th straight home game while extending the nation’s longest winning-streak to 18 games
Baseball: Corey Littrell
In his first start of the year on Monday afternoon at USC Upstate, Kentucky sophomore southpaw Corey Littrell turned in his best career outing … A native of Louisville, Ky., Littrell worked a career-long seven innings, allowing just two singles and fanning a career-best eight, facing just one hitter over the minimum … Littrell dominated a Spartans team that had scored 10 runs in their first two games, including a blowout win over 2011 37-win Eastern Michigan earlier in the weekend … Littrell’s quality start was his fifth career.
Baseball: Taylor Rogers
Kentucky junior Taylor Rogers turned in a career performance in his first start of the year, tossing six innings in a win at Wofford in t he season lidlifter … The 2011 Cape Cod League All-Star allowed only five hits and one run, walking one and striking out a career-high nine … Allowed one run in the game on a fielder’s choice that scored a runner, who had stole third base earlier in the at bat … His quality start was the 12th of Rogers career.
Men’s tennis: Anthony Rossi
Went 3-0 in singles action at the ITA National Indoors, taking his season record to 26-2, including a 9-0 mark in dual matches. Has won 16 consecutive matches dating back to his singles title in the SEC Coaches Indoor Championships.
Men’s basketball: Kyle Wiltjer
Tallied 13 points in UK’s win over Ole Miss … 13 points was a personal best in SEC play for Wiltjer … Three 3-pointers tied a career-high … Shooting .462 pct. from the 3-point range in league play … Helped the Wildcats extend the nation’s longest home-winning streak to 50 games and the longest current winning streak to 18 games.
Baseball: Lucas Witt
Kentucky sophomore leftfielder Lucas Witt had two great games in his season debut, leading the Wildcats to wins over Wofford , 2011 37-win club Eastern Michigan and previously undefeated USC Upstate … Witt finished the three games with a .462 average (6-for-13) with three RBI and one stolen base … In the season opener, Witt recorded a 2-for-5 game with an RBI … In a win over EMU, Witt collected a career-high three hits with two runs and one RBI … On Sunday, Witt collected a hit and a RBI with a line-drive single up the middle.
