Seniors Bid Farewell with Best Score in Program History

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a season defined by the history books that continue to be rewritten, it was only fitting that the heralded group of seniors who comprise the class of 2019 gave fans at Memorial Coliseum one last performance to remember. No. 12 Kentucky defeated No. 37 Central Michigan 197.525-195.875 on Friday, capping its annual senior night with the best score in program history.
 
“We knew that tonight had the potential to be an amazing night,” said head coach Tim Garrison. “It surpassed our expectations. They go out, on their senior night, in front of their fans with a record-setting performance. It’s fitting. And I tell you what, they’re not finished yet. They have their eyes on more. I’m excited for the rest of this season and the ride it’s going to be.”
 
Coming into the season, Kentucky had only surpassed the 197-point benchmark four times in school history, each within the past three years. Friday marked the third time the Wildcats have accomplished the feat in the past four meets.
 
While three seniors participated as all-around competitors and were included in the cluster of half a dozen Cats who matched or surpassed career-high targets, junior Mollie Korth became the season’s first athlete to claim outright individual victories on every event in a single meet.
 
Korth scored 9.900 on both vault and bars, set a new career high of 9.925 on beam, tied a career-high 9.950 on floor, and set a new career-high all-around total of 39.675.
 
Kentucky equaled its best vault score of the season to begin the night, bringing in a 49.250. Korth was followed by a pair of seniors in a tie for second overall, as Sidney Dukes and Katie Stuart each produced a 9.875. The tally matched a career-high for the former.
 
When moving on to uneven bars, the Cats began the night’s trend of improving their team score on each ensuing apparatus. Dukes matched a season-high 9.850 in a tie for third place with fellow senior Alex Hyland and Central Michigan’s Denelle Pedrick, though it was junior Alaina Kwan who claimed second place by tying a career-high 9.875. Stuart equaled a season-high 9.825 in a tie for sixth place.
 
Kentucky’s balance beam score of 49.450 was not only the best of the season, but the second-highest total in school history. Stuart, Dukes, and Hyland split second place with the Chippewas’ Skyler Memmel at 9.900 apiece. The mark reset a career high for Stuart and tied a season high for Hyland. Sophomore Ella Warren made her season debut on beam with a career-high 9.800.
 
On floor, UK tied its second-best all-time standard with a 49.525. Hyland’s career-high 9.925 trailed only Korth’s performance, as Warren’s career-high 9.900 tied Dukes for third overall.
 
Dukes’ all-around finish of 39.525 was equivalent to her career best, while Stuart’s career-high 39.450 tied her with Pedrick for third overall. Hyland, the competition’s only other individual all-arounder, ended her night at 39.425.
 
With no more dual meets remaining, the Cats will conclude the 2019 regular season at Nebraska on Saturday, March 16. Kentucky will join Boise State and Illinois State alongside the host Cornhuskers at 8 p.m. ET in only its second quad meet of the season.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.