By Jacob Most
Jan. 15, 2013 –
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky gymnastics team climbed 11 spots to No. 14 in the first full in-season edition of the GymInfo rankings.
The ranking is the highest for Kentucky since the Wildcats checked in at No. 12 in February 2010.
The poll is calculated by team score average, and the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 SEC) are off to the best start in program history with a 195.325 average, as they went 195.125 in the opener and 195.525 against Auburn on Friday. Kentucky has never before topped 195 two straight weeks to begin the season.
Kayla Hartley is tied for the No. 17 national ranking in floor exercise with a 9.875 average. The junior, Versailles, Ky., native has won on floor at both of UK’s meet this season with a career high 9.9 coming on opening day at Cal.
Audrey Harrison is tied for No. 23 in the individual all-around rankings with a 39.125 average score. The junior tallied a season-high 39.2 last Friday in an all-around win at Auburn. The all-around title for Harrison was the fifth of her career, and first of the season.
The Wildcats earned their first Southeastern Conference dual meet road win since 1999 at Auburn on Friday. The win was also the UK’s first in a SEC-opener since 2008.
Kentucky posted the ninth-highest score in the nation during opening-weekend when it earned a 195.125 in a quad-meet with California, Auburn and Arizona. The team score was the highest in a season-opening meet in UK history. The quality start bests UK’s previous best stretch to begin a year, when it posted a then-season opening school record score of 194.850 followed by a 195.525 in 2010.
Kentucky is ranked No. 9 nationally on uneven bars, No. 16 on floor, No. 19 on vault and No, 23 on balance beam.
The Wildcats will begin their home portion of the 2013 schedule on Friday with the Excite Night at the Kentucky Classic. The event will be an SEC dual-meet between Kentucky and Arkansas, which is ranked No. 9 nationally. The Excite Night festivities are set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the meet getting underway at 7 p.m.
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2013 GymInfo Gymnastics Top 25
Rank, Team, Season Average
1. UCLA 196.788
2. Michigan 196.738
T3. Florida 196.575
T3. Oklahoma 196.575
5. LSU 196.475
6. Alabama 196.450
7. Nebraska 196.300
8. Georgia 195.813
9. Arkansas 195.775
10. Stanford 195.725
11. Denver 195.650
12. Minnesota 195.550
13. Arizona 195.338
14. Kentucky 195.325
15. Utah 195.300
16. Central Michigan 195.013
T17. Maryland 195.000
T17. California 195.000
19. North Carolina State 194.988
20. Southern Utah 194.875
21. Ohio State 194.800
22. West Virginia 194.675
23. Oregon State 194.488
24. Auburn 194.438
25. BYU 194.275
