Cats Post Season-Best Beam and Bars but Fall Short at LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Kentucky gymnastics program dropped its second contest in a row on Friday evening in spite of season-best performances as a team on both uneven bars and balance beam, falling to No. 7 LSU 196.575-195.100 inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The Blue and White had silver linings to look to in the defeat, posting team-best scores on both uneven bars and balance beam during the competition. UK recorded a 48.850 on the uneven bars, while saving its best for last, scoring a 49.150 in its final rotation. Not only did the 49.150 on beam mark the best beam score of the season, it also took the place of UK’s vault on Excite Night for its highest scoring single rotation of the season.

The Wildcats move to 1-2 on the season with an 0-2 mark in league play. LSU remains perfect at 3-0 after claiming the win in its Southeastern Conference opener.

Kentucky will look to regroup over the week before playing host to Georgia on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.

“I thought we had a strong start,” fifth-year head coach Tim Garrison said about the evening’s setback. “On bars we had a strong start. We didn’t hit every spot or hit every handstand, but we were close – half a tenth away – and on most of those routines. We had a really stellar start. We also finished up strong with a 49.150 on beam. A strong showing on beam. We just got flat in the middle. On vault the amplitude of the vaults was not quite what we need to do, and obviously the landings as a result weren’t quite where we need to be. Floor was very uncharacteristic of us. We’re normally a very good floor team. I fully expect us to rebound and continue to be a strong floor team.”

The Wildcats took to the vault second, scoring a 48.700 as a team, all coming from the freshmen class. Sidney Dukes and Katie Stuart led the way for UK, both earning 9.800 scores on the evening. Classmate Aubree Rosa closely followed with a 9.775 for the Wildcats, vaulting in the fifth spot. Alex Hyland scored a 9.725, while Danaea Davis rounded out Kentucky’s scoring vaults with a 9.600. Senior Marissa Beucler also competed in the event, leading off with a 9.525.

Kentucky made its strongest showing on the bars of 2016 against the Tigers, with a consistent showing across the board making up the 48.850 score. Stuart led UK once more, scoring a team-best 9.800 in the leadoff spot. Hyland and sophomore Cori Rechenmacher went third and fourth, each scoring a 9.775 in their respective routines. Dukes and classmate Katrina Coca also contributed to the team’s score with a 9.750. Senior Montana Whittle anchored the bars with a 9.700.

The Blue and White posted its highest score of the season with a team 49.150 on the beam. The group was led by a 9.900 from Dukes – the first 9.900 or better of the season. Senior Amy Roemmele tied her career-high 9.850 going second for the Cats. Hyland matched the 9.850 as well. Whittle and Rechenmacher both scored for UK as well, adding a 9.775 each. Rosa also competed on the beam as well with a 9.575.

Kentucky saw uncharacteristic results on floor, putting up its lowest total of the meet with a 48.400. A 9.775 from both Stuart and Roemmele led UK, while Dukes and senior Tiara Phipps scored 9.750. Junior Taylor Puryear’s 9.350 completed the scoring routines, while Aubree Rosa’s 8.950 was discarded. 

 

For complete news and updates on the Kentucky Gymnastics program, go to UKathletics.com. Breaking news, behind-the-scenes updates and more can be found on Twitter at @UKGymnastics and Facebook at Facebook.com/UKGymnastics.