Raena Worley Earns Perfect 10.0 in Win Against Tar Heels
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 6 Kentucky gymnastics (8-4, 4-3 SEC) defeated UNC (5-11, 1-5 ACC) Friday evening at Carmichael Arena, 197.800-196.525.
The Wildcats’ 197.800 tied their program best away overall score which was set last season at Illinois.
Senior Raena Worley executed perfection once again on the floor exercise earning her fourth career 10.0 leading to her 28th all-around title. She also recorded her 11th individual win on vault and 13th on the balance beam.
The Wildcats began the meet on the uneven bars posting a strong 49.500 to start the meet. Freshman Delaynee Rodriguez tied with UNC’s Lali Dekanoidze for the top score of the meet earning her first event win on the apparatus with a 9.950. The big score also set a new career and season best for the Las Vegas, Nev. native. Fellow freshman, Cecily Rizo, also earned a new career and season high with a 9.900 for her routine. In the anchor position, Worley also scored a 9.900. Two Wildcats, Jillian Procasky and Bailey Bunn, scored 9.875 while leadoff Hailey Davis earned 9.850.
Next on vault, Kentucky tallied a 49.250 for the lowest scoring event of the evening. Three Wildcats, Worley (11th win), Isabella Magnelli (5th win), and Makenzie Wilson (8th win), tied with Dekanoidze for the top mark of the meet all scoring 9.875. Sixth-year senior Arianna Patterson was the second highest scoring UK vault with a 9.825 with Rizo scoring a 9.800. Rodriguez recorded a 9.775 in the leadoff position.
The third rotation was topped by Worley’s flawless floor performance which earned a perfect score from the judges. Magnelli was the next highest scoring Wildcat earning a 9.950 to tie her season and career best. North Carolina natives Creslyn Brose (9.925) and Davis (9.875) had strong routines on the floor with Rodriguez following suit with a 9.850. Patterson’s 9.775 brought the event total to 49.600.
Closing out the night with beam, both Magnelli and Worley held the top scores of the meet – 9.925. Patterson was close behind the Kentucky duo scoring a 9.900. North Carolina girl Bailey Bunn earned a 9.850 while Rodriguez matched with a 9.850 of her own. Brose finished beam with a 9.600 due to balance checks. The beam total came to 49.450 at the conclusion of six routines.
Kentucky will close out the regular season schedule next week in Nashville, Tenn. at the inaugural Kidney Care Women’s Gymnastics Championships.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
