Kentucky Ranked No. 9 in WCGA Preseason Poll
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky has earned a top ten ranking in the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) preseason poll for the third consecutive season, slotting at No. 9 in Tuesday’s release.
2026 marks the fifth time in program history that the Wildcats have garnered preseason top ten status, joining 2018, 2019, 2024, and 2025. Since 2018, Kentucky has not been ranked lower than No. 13 in the preseason poll.
The Wildcats enter 2026 after finishing the 2025 season ranked No. 10, the program’s fourth consecutive top ten final ranking. Additionally, Kentucky has finished in the top 15 for nine consecutive campaigns.
All nine Southeastern Conference teams rank in the top 12 in the poll, with defending national champion Oklahoma at No. 1, defending SEC champion LSU at No. 2, Florida at No. 3, Missouri at No. 7, Alabama at No. 8, Arkansas at No. 10, Auburn at No. 11, and Georgia at No. 12. No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 Utah round out the top five. All 12 of Kentucky’s regular season opponents are slotted in the top 25, with No. 6 Michigan State, No. 14 Michigan, No. 20 California, and No. 25 Arizona State represented from Kentucky’s non-conference schedule.
The Wildcats return 11 gymnasts from a 2025 squad that advanced to the program’s sixth consecutive regional final, including All-American Creslyn Brose, all-arounder Delaynee Rodriguez, and contributors Chesney Bennett, Anna Flynn Cashion, Sharon Lee, Ryan Noonan, Isabella Rivelli, and Cecily Rizo.
New to the 2026 team are seven freshmen and one transfer. National Champion Gabby Van Frayen leads a freshman squad that features six USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championship qualifiers. All-EAGL vaulter Callie Gardner transferred into the program after one season at Towson.
The Wildcats will begin the 2026 campaign at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah on Saturday, January 10. Kentucky will compete in Session II at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, facing Michigan State, Michigan, and California. Oklahoma, LSU, UCLA, and Utah will compete in Session I at 4 p.m. ET. The Wildcats will open their home campaign a week later, taking on Arizona State for Excite Night, presented by White, Greer, & Maggard, at Historic Memorial Coliseum on Friday, January 16 at 7 p.m. ET.
Season tickets and single meet tickets for the 2026 Kentucky gymnastics season are officially on sale. Fans can purchase them through Ticketmaster or visit UKathletics.com/gymtix. For additional information, please contact the UK Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 928-2287 Monday- Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Vault – Kentucky Gymnastics Booster Club
The Vault is the Official Booster Club of Kentucky Gymnastics. Joining The Vault means investing directly in our program. Your contributions help us provide top-notch training facilities, essential equipment, and opportunities for our athletes to excel in this challenging environment. Every dollar counts, and every Vault member makes a difference. Our various membership club levels offer fantastic benefits with each contribution strengthening our program and empowering our athletes as they compete at the highest levels.
You can join The Vault by clicking this link or you can donate directly by visiting this link. For questions or any other information, please contact Amy Coyle (amy.coyle@uky.edu)
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
