No. 8 Kentucky Hosts Temple in Non-Conference Finale
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Returning home for the first meet of its only multi-week homestand of the season, No. 8 Kentucky (4-3, 2-2 SEC) will close the non-conference portion of its regular season schedule with a Valentine’s Day contest against Temple (6-11, 2-2 EAGL). The meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, February 14 and will be streamed live on SEC Network + with Maggie Davis and Leah Little on the call. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.
The Cats return to Lexington after posting a season high road score of 197.225—their third 197+ score of the season—at No. 1 Oklahoma last Friday. Fifth Year Isbella Magnelli was named SEC Specialist of the Week for the first time in her career after her performance against the top-ranked Sooners, as the four-time All-American scored season high marks of 9.950 on vault and beam and posted her 13th career event title on beam. The Suffern, N.Y. native is one of 12 gymnasts in the country—and nine in the SEC—to rank in the NCAA top ten on two different apparatus, slotting at No. 4 on beam (9.925) and No. 7 on vault (9.900).
In addition to Magnelli’s win on beam, fellow fifth year Hailey Davis picked up an event win on floor against No. 1 Oklahoma, scoring a season high 9.950 for the seventh time in her career. Davis has scored 9.900 or better on floor in every meet this season—and in 17 or her last 18 routines dating back to January 12, 2024 at Auburn. Davis is ranked No. 9 in the NCAA on the apparatus with a 9.920 average.
Makenzie Wilson also remains in the nation’s top ten on vault, slotting in at No. 10 with an average of 9.890. The vault All-American from a season ago has been in the top ten in every weekly ranking this season. Skylar Killough-Wilhelm continues to rise in the all-around rankings, as the Cats’ leading scorer is currently No. 12 with an average of 39.438.
Temple enters Friday’s meet with a season high score of 194.700, posted at Towson on January 31. Temple holds conference wins over New Hampshire and LIU, as well as victories over William & Mary and Fisk. Friday will be the first ever meeting between the Wildcats and the Owls.
Brooke Donabedian, a three-time NCAA Regional Qualifier on Floor, leads the Owls with three event wins this season, including a pair on vault and beam last weekend. Kyrstin Johnson, a transfer from Talladega, was a four-time USAG All-American during her freshman season and won the 2024 USAG National Vault Title. She has also gone viral this year for her floor routine with the Owls this season, featuring music by Kendrick Lamar.
Plenty of promotions and giveaways will be featured at the meet including a pink schedule t-shirt toss, an autographed team poster giveaway for 51 lucky winners, Family 4 Pack giveaway of tickets to Disney on Ice at Rupp Arena this spring, Family 4 Pack giveaway of tickets to Monster Jam at Rupp Arena this spring, giveaway of two tickets to Blake Shelton concert at Rupp Arena on February 27, Junior Wildcat Night, DanceBlue Spirit Points, ‘10’ Cards presented by UK Healthcare, and Shakers.
Following Friday’s non-conference finale, the Cats will stay at home to welcome No. 2 LSU to town for a nationally televised SEC showdown on Friday, February 21. The Cats and the Tigers will face off at 7 p.m. ET inside Historic Memorial Coliseum on the SEC Network. The meet will serve as a pajama party and tickets are still available on Ticketmaster.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
