Wildcats Secure First SEC Victory with 197.475 in Tiger Town
AUBURN, Ala. – No. 9 Kentucky gymnastics (3-1, 1-0 SEC) kicked off Southeastern Conference competition at No. 11 Auburn (1-3, 0-1 SEC) leaving Neville Arena victorious, 197.475-197.025. Senior Raena Worley won her 22nd All-Around victory following a 39.650 overall score after four rotations.
For the first time in program history, Kentucky scored a 49.500+ on a single event in its first two meets with 49.500 earned on the floor rotation.
The night began on the uneven bars where Team 50 tallied a 49.175 for the lowest scoring event of the night. Worley stuck her landing to earn her 10th event win with a 9.925. She celebrated by toying with the infamous “Gymnasties,” Auburn’s student section. Jillian Procasky was the next highest scoring Wildcat with a routine worthy of a 9.850. Freshman leadoff Delaynee Rodriguez scored a 9.825 while Bailey Bunn held a 9.800. Rounding out the rotation was Cadence Gormley (9.775) and Annie Riegert (9.750).
Transitioning to the vault, Kentucky earned a cumulative 49.375. Freshman Cecily Rizo tied with Auburn’s Sydney Schumaker with a 9.900 to top the event. The impressive mark earned Rizo a new season and career best while earning her first career event win. Three Wildcats, Arianna Patterson, Worley and Wilson, followed the Coppell, Texas native with 9.875 individually. Rodriguez was once again the leadoff on the rotation earning a 9.850 from the judges. Senior Isabella Magnelli earned a 9.800 for her vault.
The floor exercise was third in the rotation for Kentucky with freshman Creslyn Brose and Worley each earning a 9.950 for their energetic routines. The dynamic pair tied for first overall resulting in Brose winning her first career event win and Worley winning her 18th floor victory. Senior Hailey Davis rocked the house with a 9.900 to secure a new season best. Procasky held the next best score with a 9.875 to make her 2024 floor debut. Closing out the rotation was Rodriguez and Wilson who each were awarded a 9.825.
Team 50’s final rotation of the evening was the balance beam which tallied a 49.425 overall score. Bunn earned the top mark of the meet with an electric 9.950. She relished in her stuck landing and near-perfect routine by pointing to head coach Tim Garrison and exclaiming, “Let’s Go!” The senior was not the only Wildcat with an impressive score as Worley saw a 9.900 to tie for second. Magnelli was awarded a 9.875 while Rodriguez and Patterson each earned 9.850. Gromley followed with a 9.750 on the apparatus.
Kentucky will travel to LSU next weekend (Jan. 19) before opening the homestand in Lexington, Ky. for Excite Night on Jan. 26 in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
