Specialists Playing Key Roles in UK Gymnastics' Success
It was not all that long ago that the Kentucky gymnastics team featured a number of gymnasts participating in the all-around (performing all four rotations) in a meet. More recently, the Cats have featured more specialists (those who compete in one, two or three events) in the lineup.
On Friday night, as the Cats beat Temple inside Historic Memorial Coliseum, only two UK gymnasts competed in the all-around. Skylar Killough-Wilhelm won the title, with teammate Delaynee Rodriguez finishing second.
However, what won the meet for the Cats was the performance of its specialists.
On vault, Makenzie Wilson had a 9.900 (event winner), while Isabella Magnelli and Cecily Rizo each scored a 9.850. On bars, Isabella Rivelli had a 9.850, while Annie Riegert had a 9.825. Magnelli, the defending SEC Specialist of the Week, had a 9.925 on the balance beam (event winner). And in the final rotation, Hailey Davis had a 9.925 on the floor (event winner), while Creslyn Brose had a 9.900.
UK head coach Tim Garrison has not intentionally gone away from having more all-arounders. Rather, he’s coaching with a deep, talented roster that competes for every single spot.
“It’s just the team that we have right now,” Garrison said. “It’s not really a choice, it’s something that just happens based on readiness and execution in the lineup. If I could have more all-arounders, that would be great. The only downside of that is that we have a roster of 19 and there are only so many opportunities. It’s incredibly difficult to get into those spots. We have some who have earned spots. It’s a matter of competition in the gym each day.”
Garrison has been impressed with his specialists and was again in Friday’s win.
“The specialists, they are doing so well,” Garrison said. “Makenzie, Bella and Hailey are all performing at a very high level right now.”
Davis has zeroed in on a floor routine that is regularly scoring above 9.900. She admits that she has been pleased with her performance this season.
“I’m pretty proud of how I’ve been performing on floor and bars,” Davis said. “Obviously, I want to get that 10, that’s a goal we all have.”
Davis believes that the extra time she gets to spend on floor and bars is paying benefits for her in meets.
“I still train beam but it does allow me to lock in on bars and floor and kind of be able to save my body for the repetitions on those two events,” Davis said.
Davis knows that her performances may produce individual laurels but that, ultimately, it’s about the team.
“We’re not coming out here to win individual titles,” Davis said. “It does make me feel good to set up my team with a good score.”
With a group of talented specialists supporting the all-around work of Killough-Wilhelm and Rodriguez, the Cats are set up for even more success as the season progresses.
