Sophomore Delaynee Rodriguez signed autographs and interacted with fans after Kentucky’s win over No. 11 Auburn Friday. (Larry Vaught Photo)
His team scored over 197 for the second time in its three matches but Kentucky gymnastics coach Tim Garrison thinks “there’s a lot more in the tank” for his team.
The seventh-ranked Wildcats beat No. 11 Auburn 197.050-196.600 Friday in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,051 UK fans on Excite Night.
Kentucky took individual event titles on four of the five events and also added team event titles on three apparatus.
Washington transfer Skylar Killough-Wilhelm won the all-around competition with a 39.400 score and also added her second win of the season on the uneven bars with a season best score of 9.950.
Killough-Wilhelm, an All-American at Washington, already has five event wins this season.
Senior Makenzie Wilson won her 10th career vault title with an impressive score of 9.925. She came into the meet ranked No. 6 in the NCAA on vault.
Senior Hailey Davis matched a season high score of 9.925 to end the night winning floor exercise, her fifth career title on floor exercise. Davis has scored 9.9 or better in all four meets this season.
Kentucky had team scores of 49.300 or higher on three of the four rotations, outscoring the Tigers on vault, bars, and floor.
Kentucky had a below-average vault rotation considering the Cats were ranked fifth nationally coming into the meet. The Cats had a season low vault score of 49.075.
“Obviously I don’t think we were as sharp on the vault as I thought we could have been,” Garrison said. “I love the response when we were on bars. And obviously we had even a stronger performance on beam and finished strong on floor.
“So coming back from what I would say is a less than ideal start to finish the way we did the next three events, we’re pretty happy walking out tonight.”
Junior Isabella Rivelli set the tone with a season-best 9.875 on bars out of the leadoff spot. Jillian Procasky added another 9.875 for the Cats while Ryan Noonan and Delaynee Rodrigue both scored 9.800.
Kentucky scored a 49.375 on beam where it ranks ninth nationally. Kentucky has had three consecutive meets on beam of 49.250 or higher. Isabella Magnelli posted the top score for the Cats once again, delivering a nearly-flawless 9.925 performance from the anchor spot. It was her third 9.925 this season. Three teammates added scores of 9.875—Killough-Wilhelm, Rodriguez, and Sharon Lee.
Not only did Davis win floor exercise but sophomore Creslyn Brose, an All-American last year, competed for the first time since the season-opening match. She had a 9.900 to go along with a 9.850 by Rodriguez and 9.825 by Killough-Wilhelm.
“I think the biggest thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that they are just a tough group. Nothing really rattles them. Doesn’t mean we’re flawless because obviously, clearly, tonight we weren’t flawless,” Garrison said.
“But little things that happen on rotations don’t seem to affect the next person, and don’t seem to carry through at the end of the routine for the person who actually makes the mistakes. So I think that’s something that moving forward bodes well for us.”
Kentucky-Auburn Gymnastics
Photos by Vicky Graff
