No. 22 UK Gymnastics Travels to West Virginia for Regional Meeting

Gameday Links: Watch Live via WVUsports.com | Live Stats | UK Notes | 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 22nd-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will look to use the momentum of last weekend to keep the team moving forward, as the Blue and White take to Morgantown, W.Va., for a meeting with the Mountaineers of West Virginia.

The Wildcats have a 7-15 record against the Mountaineers all time, but are outscoring the Mountaineers this season, with an average score of 195.357 after posting scores of 196.050 and 195.800 against Missouri and at the Ball State Think Pink meet, respectively. 

Fans can follow along with the match via live stats and live video, both of which can be found on WVUsports.com. 

After not competing as an all-arounder since the season opener against Ball State, freshman Katie Stuart made a statement in returning to all four rotations, claiming back-to-back all-around titles for UK with a 39.175 against Missouri, followed by a 39.125 at the Ball State Think Pink meet. The two titles marked Stuart’s second and third career title – the first coming when she posted a 9.85 on vault in the season opener. 

Kentucky jumped three spots following last weekend, climbing to No. 22 in the national rankings with an average score of 195.357. The Wildcats join the rest of the SEC in the top 25, as the only conference to have its entire conference represented in the top 25.

Kentucky freshmen Sidney Dukes and Alex Hyland both rank among the top 50 in the nation in all-around following the sixth week of action. Dukes ranks No. 40 with an average of 39.107, while Hyland comes in at No. 46 with an average of 39.058

UK has come to define itself this season as a beam team, showing steady improvement and solid results throughout the season. The Wildcats now rank No. 18 in the country on the balance beam and sixth in the SEC. The beam lineup in anchored by freshman Alex Hyland, who individually ranks tied for 15th, averaging a 9.85 on the apparatus. 

Marissa Beucler came up big for Kentucky on bars last weekend. Returning to the bars lineup for the first time since Auburn, the senior posted two season highs of 9.875 in the anchor spot against Missouri and at the Ball State Think Pink meet en route to her first two season event titles. 

After missing the first portion of the season to injury, sophomore Sydney Waltz returned to the lineup competing on bars. The 2015 All-SEC team selection came out swinging, scoring a 9.85 on the bars against Missouri for second best on the team.

West Virginia enters Sunday’s matchup five spots below UK in the national rankings, averaging a score of 195.158. Zaakira Muhammad leads the way for West Virginia, currently the No. 19 all-arounder in the nation, averaging a score of 39.325.

Following the trip to Morgantown, Kentucky makes its final road trip of the regular season, heading to Fayetteville, Ark., to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas stands at No. 11 in the country, with an average score of 196.168 and a season high score of 196.700. 

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.