John Calipari shouts out Kentucky gymnastics after qualifying for national championship

Kentucky men’s basketball head coach John Calipari congratulated the Wildcats gymnastics team on advancing to the NCAA National Championships. Although Calipari and his Wildcats team had another early exit in March Madness — losing in the second round to Kansas State 75-69 — that fact didn’t stop Calipari from enjoying the success of other Kentucky sports programs.

“How about [Kentucky gymnastics] qualifying for National (Championships)!!” Calipari tweeted.
“Congratulations to [head coach Tim Garrison] and the entire team for a great accomplishment!! Keep it going!!”

The Kentucky gymnastics team had only advanced to one ever National Championship meet prior to this year in 2018.

The seven other teams competing at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, in two week are California, Denver, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, UCLA and Utah.

The Sooners won the title last season with the Gators coming in second and the Utes in third.

How about @UKGymnastics qualifying for National Championsips!!

Congratulations to @UKCoachGarrison and the entire team for a great accomplishment!! Keep it going!!

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 3, 2023

Kentucky gymnastics advanced out of the Norman, Okla. Regional

Kentucky gymnastics, seeded ninth in the NCAA Tournament advanced out of the Norman, Okla., regional along with No. 1 seed Oklahoma. The team scored a 197.850, which was the second-best score in program history, to outlast Alabama and Ohio State.

The Wildcats earned their best-ever score of 49.575 on the balance beam. All its scorers across the disciplines were top 10 in Kentucky history.

Two Wildcats made the All-SEC team in junior Isabella Magnelli and senior Shealyn Luksik. Magnelli competes on the vault, beam and floor. Luksik mainly focuses on bars and beam.

Magnelli and senior Raena Worley were also named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-Americans. Magnelli earned a spot on Second Team Beam. Worley was named to First Team Floor and Second Team All-Around.

Head coach Tim Garrison earned SEC Coach of the Year honors this season, the second conference coach of the year honor of his 12-year Wildcats career.

“In his 12th season as the head coach of the Wildcats, Garrison led his team to the program’s highest team score at the SEC Championships with a 197.675, good for fourth place at the 2023 SEC Championships,” the SEC press release on awards read. “Kentucky’s fourth-place finish tied its highest placement at the conference championships, while its No. 3 seed entering into the championships was the highest in program history. The Wildcats previously finished in the fourth slot three times (1996, 2018 and 2021).”

Now Garrison and his team will get a chance to win it all!