No. 6 Kentucky gymnastics traveled to Nashville to compete in the Kidney Care Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Championship, setting a new program record and finishing first, scoring a total of 197.25 overall.
In the first session of the meet the Cats faced Georgia (197.450), Iowa (196.525), Maryland (196.725), Pittsburgh (195.925) and Talladega (192.450). The second session featured No. 14 Auburn (197.575), No. 15 Ohio State (196.250) and Fisk University (191.525).
Raena Worley won her 29th all-around title, tallying a score of 39.650, tying with Auburn’s Cassie Stevens. For her 15th career win and new season best, Worley scored a 9.975 on beam, finishing first overall.
Creslyn Brose scored her third 9.975 of the season, earning her second career victory on floor. Jillian Procasky received her second career title on bars and also set a new career and season best, scoring a 9.950.
The first rotation was vault, where the Cats’ Procasky, Isabella Magnelli and Makenzie Wilson all tallied the same score of 9.900, which was the highest score for the Cats on the rotation. The three ended second overall, tying with Fisk’s Morgan Price.
Fifth-year senior Arianna Patterson scored a 9.875 and fellow fifth-year senior Worley received a 9.850. First year Cecily Rizo finished out the rotation with a 9.725, leading to a final score on vault for UK at 49.425.
The Cats then made their way to the second rotation, bars, ending with an impressive final score of 49.450.
Procasky scored the highest score for the Cats again with a 9.950 while Bailey Bunn finished not far behind, receiving a 9.925. Bunn’s score put her second overall, tying her career-best and tying her with Ohio State’s Nicole Riccardi. Hailey Davis and Worley both scored a 9.875, Rizo received a 9.825 and freshman Delaynee Rodriguez rounded out the rotation with a 9.800.
The third rotation was the balance beam, where Worley scored a strong 9.975 with Bunn and Magnelli anchoring it down with a 9.925 each.
The couple tied second place overall with Auburn’s Gabby McLaughlin and Cassie Stevens. Brose set a new career high, outscoring her previous 9.850 with a 9.900. Rodriguez scored a 9.825 and Patterson scored a 9.325 due to fall. The final score for UK was 49.550, which made it the highest-scoring apparatus for the Cats.
The final rotation was floor, where Worley scored a strong 9.950, leaving her tied for second place overall with Ohio State’s Ella Hodges. Davis scored 9.925, which was not far from her career best, Wilson received a 9.850 and Rodriguez and Magnelli both earned a 9.800 from the judges. The final score for the Cats was 49.500.
With the competition complete, the postseason will begin for Kentucky when it competes next week, on March 23, in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center for the SEC Gymnastics Championships.
