Kentucky gymnastics opens the 2023 season with a second place finish in Columbus

Raena+Worley+celebrates+after+her+bars+routine+during+the+Florida+vs.+Kentucky+gymnastics+meet+on+Friday%2C+Feb.+18%2C+2022%2C+at+Memorial+Coliseum+in+Lexington%2C+Kentucky.+UK+lost+197.350-97.575.+Photo+by+Michael+Clubb+%7C+Staff

Raena Worley celebrates after her bars routine during the Florida vs. Kentucky gymnastics meet on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. UK lost 197.350-97.575. Photo by Michael Clubb | Staff

Tyler Russell, Reporter

No. 11 Kentucky gymnastics opened up its 2023 revenge tour in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, coming in second place with an overall score of 196.575.

The score was high enough to beat out No. 25 Arizona’s 194.950 and Greenville’s 181.425, but came up just shy of No. 19 Ohio State’s overall score of 196.775.

Senior Raena Worley had a strong start to the season as the all-around winner inside Covelli Center with her floor exercise being her best score of the day – a striking 9.925.

Worley also put up a 9.825 on vault, a 9.775 on bars and a 9.900 on beam which became the overall meet high score. Her overall score for the four events totaled 39.425.

Kaitlin De Guzman scored a 9.875 on bars, giving her the best score among other Kentucky competitors and tying Ohio State’s Colby Miller for the first-place finish overall.

On the beam, Kentucky gymnasts Isabella Magnelli, Bailey Bunn and Jillian Procasky put up points for the Cats earning scores that placed them all in the top 10 along with Worley.

Procasky gained the highest score for Kentucky on the beam with a 9.875.

Last season, Kentucky head coach Tim Garrison and his gymnastics squad fell short of a championship and lost in the regional final, bringing their improbable season to an end.

This season, the Wildcats are geared up to bring their best to the floor in hopes of bringing the team’s talent even further.

Kentucky’s next meet will take place at home in Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. EST against the LSU Tigers.