Kentucky
Kentucky Gymnastics Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Program Records and Two Perfect Scores
LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 7 Kentucky gymnastics (4-2, 2-1 SEC) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a program record 197.950-195.650 victory over No. 18 Georgia (1-3, 0-3 SEC) for Excite Night in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
Junior Makenzie Wilson and fifth-year senior Raena Worley recorded their first career 10.000’s, the first since Jenny Hansen competed for the Cats 1993-1996. The perfect marks were the first ever recorded in Rupp Arena.
Joined by over 100 Kentucky gymnastics alumni and 10,302 members of Big Blue Nation, the Wildcats showed off and showed out for the 40th Excite Night. Competing in Olympic order, Kentucky began the night with a bang tying its program best on vault, 49.550. Followed by a 49.325 on the uneven bars, the combined 98.875 was the highest ever two-event score in the month of January.
At the conclusion of the third rotation, the balance beam, Kentucky tallied 148.300. The combined score was the highest ever in a home meet. The floor exercise was not an exception as the Cats tied its program best on the event, which was set in 2014, with a 49.650 resulting in an overall new record to kick off the 2024 homestand.
On vault, Wilson executed perfection with a front handspring pike half twist which she drilled into the mat to stick her landing. The 10.000 set a new career and season best for the Tennessee native who previously held a personal best of 9.975 proving why she is the anchor on the event.
Senior Isabella Magnelli posted the second highest score on the first apparatus with a 9.925 while Worley recorded a 9.900. Arianna Patterson earned a 9.875 from the judges with the event rounded ouT by Cecily Rizo’s 9.850 and Delaynee Rodriguez’s 9.725.
Junior Jillian Procasky held the top mark on the uneven bars for the night with a 9.900. Senior Bailey Bunn was not far behind with a 9.875-worthy routine. Three Kentucky gymnasts tallied an 9.850 (Rodriguez, Annie Riegert and Worley) while Rizo scored a 9.775.
Next, it was time for the Beam Queens to shine in the third rotation. Magnelli held the top score of Excite Night with a beautiful routine earning her a 9.925. Freshman leadoff, Rodriguez, recorded a 9.800, but after a judges’ inquiry, the score was elevated to a 9.900. Bunn stayed balanced with a 9.900 of her own. Freshman Creslyn Brose made her beam debut with a 9.850. The same mark was earned by Worley while Patterson saw a 9.825 flashed from the judges’ table.
To finish out the historic evening, the Wildcats headed to the floor exercise where Worley earned a long-awaited perfect score – the first of her five-season career at UK. Set up for perfection in the anchor position by her teammates, the Virginia native ended the first home meet of the season in the best way possible. The 10.000 topped her previous career and season best 9.975 on the event.
Worley was not the only one to bring the house down on the floor exercise as Brose set a new career and season best of her own with a 9.975. Hailey Davis rocked out with a 9.900 while Patterson was in her Renaissance Era with a Beyonce-inspired routine that earned her a 9.925. Both Magnelli and Rodriguez scored 9.850.
The historic night set records and celebrated those who have built the program into what it is today. Fans can catch the Cats back in Rupp Arena three more times this season against BYU, Missouri and Florida. For the full 2024 meet schedule, click here.
Season and single-meet tickets are on sale and can be purchased through UKAthletics.com. Groups interested in special discounted tickets for meets should email WeAreUK@uky.edu.
For the latest on the Kentucky gymnastics team, follow @UKGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
Kentucky
Kentucky football spring game offers early look at Will Stein’s Cats
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Kentucky
Kentucky has reportedly moved on from top-10 transfer Paulius Murauskas

Kentucky
Kentucky gets some potentially good news concerning Donnie Freeman
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
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Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
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