No. 25 Wildcats Take First at Ball State Think Pink Meet

MUNCIE, Ind. – The No. 25 Kentucky Wildcats capped off an undefeated weekend on Sunday afternoon, taking first place at the Ball State Think Pink meet by defeating Kent State, Ball State and Lindenwood in Worthen Arena.

The Wildcats posted a 195.800 in the meet, marking the best result on the road for the team this season. The Blue and White set a new season high team score on Friday in a 196.050-194.675 upset of No. 15 Missouri.

Kent State placed second with a 194.625, with Ball State (194.375) and Lindenwood (190.950) placing third and fourth, respectively.

For the second straight meet freshman Katie Stuart claimed the all-around title, this time with a 39.075. Classmate Sidney Dukes finished second in the all-around race.

With the wins, Kentucky moves to 5-4 on the season, with a 1-4 record in Southeastern Conference contests. 

“Today was an opportunity to get a great score and we squandered it with many average performances,” said fifth-year head coach Tim Garrison. “We need to achieve at a higher level. If we fail to do that, more lineup changes will be necessary to put our most competitive team on the floor. We are still a work in progress.”

Kentucky saved its best for last, posting a season high score on the bars as a team with a 49.1 on the apparatus. The 49.1 ties for the eighth best score on bars for the program all time. The Wildcats were a model of consistency, with none of the counted scores dipping below a 9.8.

Kentucky returns to the floor next Sunday, Feb. 21 at No. 24 West Virginia. The Wildcats and Mountaineers square off at 2 p.m.

Kentucky earned one of its three event titles in their third rotation, posting a 48.85 on vault. Freshman Aubree Rosa led the way for Kentucky, setting a new career high with a 9.875. The score was good the individual event crown, the first of Rosa’s young career. Senior Marissa Beucler led off the team with a 9.775, while Stuart matched the mark competing in the five spot. Freshmen Katrina Coca and Dukes rounded out the scoring runs with a 9.75 and 9.675, respectively. Freshman Alex Hylands’ 9.6 was dropped.

The Wildcats were consistent on the bars while earning a season best score in the rotation. For the second meet in a row, Beucler anchored the team and earned the individual bars title with a 9.875. Coca had the next highest score of 9.825 competing in the second slot. The trio of Stuart, Dukes and sophomore Katie Carlisle posted 9.8’s, while sophomore Cori Rechenmacher closed things out with a 9.725.

Kentucky looked uncharacteristic on the balance beam following a string of improving performances, but still managed the team title with a 48.875. Hyland continued to prove her dominance on the beam, posting a team-best 9.85 in the anchor position. Rechenmacher had the second best performance for the team with a 9.8. Seniors Montana Whittle and Amy Roemmele posted a 9.775 and 9.75, while Stuart posted a 9.7. Dukes posted a 9.125.

The Wildcats scored a 48.975 in the floor exercise, with Hyland leading the team in the second spot with a 9.825. Stuart, Dukes and junior Taylor Puryear each scored a 9.8, while Aubree Rosa’s 9.75 from the anchor position. Roemmele had a fall in her opening pass but powered through the routine for a 9.050.

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.