Kentucky wasted no time in breaking a program high set just one week ago. After posting a 196.950 at Florida last weekend, the No. 9 Wildcats turned around and scored a 197.100 in their home opener in front of the sold out crowd inside Memorial Coliseum on Friday night. UK took down No. 11 Auburn, 197.100 – 195.800, earning its first Southeastern Conference win of the year. Kentucky improves to 2-1 on the young season and 1-1 in SEC action.
“That was a fun night,” head coach Tim Garrison said. “Especially in front of this crowd. This score tells a lot about our athletes. Our kids are very confident, and are competing at a very high level. They have a lot of confidence and a little bit of swagger to them and that’s what they need to keep. We’re in the SEC. We’re going to go against tough competition every single night.”
The score not only hits a program high, but individual rotations had record nights as well. Kentucky shined on the floor, posting a 49.525 as a team, good for the second highest score ever. UK did the same on beam, posting a 49.425, also the second highest ever. Bars, at 49.225, is the fourth best.
“We have our four all-arounders that are doing really well right now,” Garrison remarked. “We also have a lot of what I would call ‘next level’ role players. When you have Cori (Rechenmacher) as a junior doing three events and performing at an extremely high level and then you’ve got Katie Carlisle as well. We ‘re in a good place right now but we still have a lot of work to do.”
Freshman Mollie Korth stood out once again, winning the all-around crown in her third-straight event. Korth posted a 39.450, while taking two individual wins. Korth put up an impressive 9.950 on floor and 9.875 on bars for the crowns. She also posted a 9.850 on the beam and 9.775 on the vault.
“I’m so proud of myself and my team,” Korth said. “There’s always room for improvement. I’m going to keep working hard practice and hopefully keep it up.”
Sophomore Katie Stuart and sophomore Sidney Dukes followed Korth in the all-around standings with a score of 39.425. Stuart tied with Korth for the bars crown with a score of 9.875 and Dukes posted a career-best 9.950 for the beam win.
“The crowd roared (after her 9.950 on beam),” Dukes commented. “It was an amazing feeling. There’s nothing like a Big Blue Nation crowd.”
Sophomore Danaea Davis also posted a win on the vault with a career-high 9.850.
Kentucky returns home to Memorial Coliseum next Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. to take on the No. 2 LSU Tigers. The meet can be watched live on SEC Network+.
Vault
Kentucky edged Auburn 48.925-48.800 on vault, led by Davis with a career best 9.850. Sophomore Alex Hyland put up a 9.800, while Stuart and Korth followed with solid 9.775’s each.
Uneven Bars
The Wildcats took down the Tigers 49.225-49.125 on bars. After a career high from Stuart with the 9.875 helped her share the crown with Korth. Carlisle was impressive with a 9.850 and Dukes followed with a 9.825.
Beam
UK bested Auburn 49.425-48.950 on beam, and no Wildcat scored under a 9.825. After Dukes hit her career-high 9.950, she was followed by three 9.875’s from Hyland, freshman Hailey Poland and Stuart. Poland and Stuart’s were both career bests. Korth posted a 9.850, while Rechenmacher scored a 9.825.
Floor
The floor was Kentucky’s best event of the night, and UK defeated Auburn 49.525-48.925. Four scores went above a 9.9, with Korth posting a 9.950 on the floor and Dukes a 9.925. Hyland and Stuart trailed with 9.9’s while Rechenmacher posted a 9.850.
‑ GO CATS –
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