Kentucky
Kentucky Gymnastics Posts 197.600 in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 6 Kentucky gymnastics (3-2, 1-1 SEC) traveled to No. 8 LSU (4-1, 1-0 SEC) for Friday Night Heights at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center where the Wildcats fell 198.125-197.600.
Fifth-year Raena Worley earned her 10th individual win on the balance beam (9.925) while tying her career best on the uneven bars (9.975) which was earned in Las Vegas, Nev. earlier this season. She was second in the all-around (39.725) to LSU’s Haleigh Bryant (39.825).
The Wildcats began the night on bars where they tallied a combined 49.450. Worley was the top score for the team on the event while freshman leadoff Delaynee Rodriguez earned a new season and career best 9.900. Bailey Bunn and Annie Riegert each executed solid routines with stuck landings receiving 9.875 from the judges. Freshman Cecily Rizo made her debut on the event with a 9.825 while Cadence Gormely rounded out the rotation (9.775).
Kentucky then moved on to vault for the second rotation of the meet and cumulative score of 49.400. Sixth-year senior Arianna Patterson was Team 50’s highest score with a handspring front half that was awarded a 9.925. Junior Makenzie Wilson was the second highest score on the event for UK with a 9.900. Worley’s 9.875 helped keep the rotation solid, as did Rodriguez and Magnelli’s 9.850 with Rizo earning a 9.750.
Next up on the floor exercise, the Wildcats recorded their best event score of the meet – 49.475. Worley moon walked her way to a 9.950 for the second consecutive week. Her last tumbling pass, a double tuck, neared perfection as she ended her routine anchoring the apparatus. Freshman Creslyn Brose danced her way to a 9.925 while senior Hailey Davis rocked the house with a 9.900. Magnelli, Patterson and Rodriguez each earned 9.850 on the event.
To close the meet, Kentucky faced the balance beam which was the lowest scoring event of the night following a combined 49.275. Event-winning Worley lip-synched through her routine for a 9.925. Beam Queen Isabella Magnelli was the anchor on the event with a solid 9.900. Both Patterson and Rodriguez produced balanced efforts earning 9.850 with Gormely receiving a 9.750. Bunn was the lowest score on the event following a 9.500 but executed an impressive save to stay on the beam avoiding a fall.
The Wildcats will make their home debut next Friday in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center against Georgia for Excite Night.
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 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.
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?
Advertisement
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?
-
Minnesota6 minutes agoBoldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
-
Mississippi12 minutes agoGeorge County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
-
Missouri18 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 18, 2026
-
Montana24 minutes ago
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for April 18, 2026
-
Nebraska30 minutes agoGallery: Huskers Run-Rule No. 12 USC to Take Series
-
Nevada36 minutes agoIN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada
-
New Hampshire42 minutes agoNew Hampshire grapples with nuclear waste storage – Valley News
-
New Jersey48 minutes agoNearby shooting interrupts 13-year-old’s birthday party in Paterson; 1 killed, 3 injured