Kentucky capped off perhaps the most memorable season in school history with a performance that its record books will retain. The Wildcats scored a program-best 197.600 at the NCAA Regional Final on Saturday in Athens, falling short of extending its postseason run.
No. 1 Oklahoma (198.475) and host No. 8 Georgia (198.050) advance to the 2019 Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships, while No. 15 California ended its campaign with a record finish of 197.675.
“The sudden end of such an amazing season is tough to comprehend at the moment,” said head coach Tim Garrison. “This team has challenged itself to improve, and as a result, has set numerous records throughout the season. Tonight was no different. Even though it was not enough to advance, it was a fitting way to send off an amazing group of seniors and a great building block for our program as we look towards next season. This is a fantastic group of young women.”
Kentucky began the competition on bars, totaling at least 49.300 for the fifth time this season. Senior Katie Stuart matched a season-high 9.850 on her way to a career-high 39.575 all-around night.
When the Cats moved to balance beam, Stuart tied a career high by securing the team’s first 9.900 of the meet. Sidney Dukes followed Stuart with a 9.900 of her own before Alex Hyland tied a season-high 9.925 as the event anchor.
Trailing third-place Cal by three and a half tenths halfway through the contest, Kentucky’s floor unit generated momentum with the team’s best presentation of the night. All six competitors equaled career-high scores for a sum of 49.600, tying the second-best mark in UK history. Mollie Korth led the way with a 9.950, while Hyland and Dukes each earned a 9.925. Stuart and Ella Warren received a 9.000 apiece after Hailey Poland led off with a 9.875.
Kentucky concluded its 2019 season by tying the program’s top vault score of 49.425. Korth tied a career-high 9.950 and shared the individual victory on the event after Stuart notched a 9.925 in the fifth spot of the rotation. Korth’s 39.625 all-around total led the team, though Hyland’s benchmark of 39.600 was the best of her illustrious career.
The Wildcats produced a 9-14 overall record with a 3-4 tally in the Southeastern Conference. Garrison ended his eighth season at the helm with 98 career wins. Kentucky will send Hyland, Dukes, and Cally Nixon to Forth Worth, Texas for three chances at an individual national title on the weekend of April 19-20.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
‑ GO CATS –
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Connor Link