Kentucky Gymnastics Defeats No. 10 LSU at 2023 Excite Night in Rupp
The #12 Kentucky Wildcat gymnastics team hosted the #10 LSU Tigers gymnastics squad on Friday night for Excite Night at Rupp Arena. The final score saw the Kentucky Wildcats get a huge win at home by a total of 197.125 to 196.750. LSU has dominated Kentucky in the past with a record of 72-8 over the Wildcats. This matchup marked the first between the programs at Rupp Arena.
Big Blue Nation showed up in a big way for the annual Excite Night. With a larger crowd coming to see the top-15 matchup, it was moved from Memorial Coliseum to Rupp Arena. By the time the meet began, almost the entire lower bowl of Rupp was full. The crowd was thunderous for the Wildcats (maybe louder than Tuesday). WCGA All-American Reana Worley and All-SEC recipient Adrianna Patterson led Kentucky on Friday night.
LSU’s star gymnast Livvy Dunne, who required extra security at Rupp Arena due to her impressive rise to fame in the NIL era, did not suit up for the Tigers.
First Rotation: Kentucky Vault – 49.300 vs. LSU Bars – 49.475
The Wildcats started the night on vault while the LSU Tigers began on the bars. Kentucky earned its highest score on vault this season with a team score of 49.300. The previous high for the Wildcats was a score of 49.100. Kentucky came to compete.
The highest score for the Wildcats in the event was from junior Isabella Magnelli who posted a 9.925. This marks a career-high for Magnelli in the vault. Adrianna Patterson added an outstanding season-high score of 9.900.
However, the Tigers responded with a season-high of their own. LSU earned a collective 49.475 on bars. An impressive start for any squad, especially for an LSU squad that is ranked 21st in the nation on bars (their worst average ranking). The Tigers roster of Kiya Johnson (9.900), Elena Arenas (9.825), Alexis Jeffrey (9.900), Aleah Finnegan (9.90), Alyona Shchennikova (9.675), and Haleigh Bryant (9.95) showed why LSU is one of the premier programs in the SEC.
Second Rotation: Kentucky Bars – 49.325 vs. LSU Vault – 49.200
Seemingly feeling the pressure from LSU’s performance in the first rotation, the Wildcats came out firing in rotation two. It was another season-high for Kentucky as their 49.325 scores smashed the previous high of 49.025. This is statistically Kentucky’s worst event. However, this brought the Wildcats within striking distance of the Tigers. UK was led in the event by senior Shaelyn Luksik who posted her career-best of 9.925.
LSU is known for its excellent scores on the vault, with the seventh-best average team score in the nation (49.300). However, they were bested by the Wildcats in this rotation. LSU earned a 49.200 score, led by junior Haleigh Bryant’s 9.90. Through the first two rotations, LSU led Kentucky by a score of 98.675 to 98.625.
Third Rotation: Kentucky Beam – 49.325 vs LSU Floor – 48.825
The Wildcats got ANOTHER season-high with a score of 49.325 on the beam. Kentucky was led by Patterson, who scored an incredible 9.925. Injuries bugged the Tigers in the floor event as Kiya Johnson suffered a leg injury, although she did appear to be okay. This rotation saw Kentucky take an overall advantage of 147.950 to LSU’s 147.500.
Fourth Rotation: Kentucky (Floor)- 197.125 vs. LSU Beam (Beam – 196.575
The fourth rotation saw the Wildcats take absolute advantage as the GymCats got a massive victory over the LSU Tigers on Excite Night.
The last two knockout punches were the consecutive 9.925 that Kentucky’s Hailey Davis and Reana Worley earned consecutively. The crowd could hardly contain itself as the reality set in on what the Wildcats had accomplished. As dominant as LSU has been in the past, this marks a hungry and talented Kentucky roster. The athletic department and gymnastics program should be proud of what was accomplished on Friday night.
The crowd was incredible, the competition was fierce, and the Wildcats won.
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