< Previous56 @KentuckyMBB T he University of Kentucky rifle team has qualified for the NCAA Rifle Cham- pionships for the 28th time in program history as the Wildcats were one of eight teams selected to compete in the 2022 championships. The national event will take place from March 11-12 inside the United States Air Force Academy’s Clune Arena in Colora- do Springs, Colorado. Individual and team competition in smallbore is scheduled for Friday, March 11 while air rifle competition will be on Saturday, March 12. Kentucky, which is currently ranked second nationally and were regular-sea- son Great American Rifle Conference Co-Championship, has won the national title three times – 2011, 2018 and 2021 – with six runner-up finishes. “Excited to be heading back to the NCAA Championships next month,” said head coach Harry Mullins. “The level of competition from top to bottom at the championships should be fun to watch this season. There are some amazing teams and phenomenal athletes. We are excited for this weekend’s GARC Championships and then will turn our attention to NCAAs.” Last Saturday’s NCAA qualifying score was the last factor in determining the field for the 2022 NCAA Rifle Championships. Each team’s three score aggregate average – the score based on each team’s highest three regular season scores fired at three different locations – was already recorded prior to last weekend. The NCAA qualifi- er score was then added to that average and Kentucky along with Air Force, Alaska Fairbanks, Murray State, Navy, Ole Miss, TCU and West Virginia had the eight highest combined scores, thus qualifying for the NCAA Championship. UK’s three scores it counted as part of its NCAA Qualifying score are the school-record 4752 at Army on January 16, an impressive 4741 fired at Murray State on Jan. 22 and its 4736 at Navy on Oct. 30. Kentucky then fired a 4735 in qualifying for a final total of 9478. Alaska Fairbanks was the top qualifier at 9490. TCU was third at 9477.33, followed by Air Force, Ole Miss, WVU, Navy and Murray State. Kentucky is averaging an aggregate score of 4720.73 this season thanks to a 2343.73 smallbore average and 2377 air ri- fle average. It has been a year full of school records as the Wildcats set new program marks in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate. All three marks came in UK’s win vs. NC State at Army. The match started with Ken- tucky earning a school-record team score in smallbore of 2360, besting its previous best of 2358. The Wildcats topped that in air rifle with a school-record 2392, which was one better than the previous best of 2391. The two high marks totaled a 4752 aggregate team score, which was not only a school record but a NCAA record. Both TCU and Alaska Fairbanks scored 4752 team scores in succeeding weeks. The Wildcats are one of two teams in the nation that have scored two team smallbore scores of 2359 or high- er this season. UK has the second and third highest air rifle team scores in the nation this season as the only team to score over 2390 in the discipline twice. Overall, the Wildcats along with TCU and Alaska Fairbanks are the only teams to score team aggregate marks of 4740 or better this sea- son. Senior Will Shaner, who won a gold medal in air rifle in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, leads Kentucky averaging a 1186.889 aggregate this season with a 590.222 in smallbore and 596.667 in air rifle. Junior Mary Tuck- er, who earned a silver medal in Tokyo, is earning a 1186.778 aggregate this season behind a 589.556 smallbore and 597.222 air rifle. Senior Richard Clark is having a great season for the Wildcats, earning a 585.182 in smallbore and 594.182 in air rifle. Fellow senior Mitchell Nelson is earn- ing a 580.818 in smallbore and 589.909 in air rifle. Freshman Allison Buesseler has per- formed well for UK in the last few months and earned her first spot in both lineups last weekend, scoring well in both disciplines. On the season, she is averaging 573.4 in smallbore and 591.091 in air rifle. Junior Jaden Thompson and Emmie Sellers are having strong years. Thompson is averaging 578.889 in smallbore and 588.333 in air ri- fle, while Sellers is earning 577.1 in small- bore and 589.364 in air rifle. Fellow junior Mason Hamilton is earning a 578.818 in smallbore and 583.7 in air rifle. Freshmen Tori Kopelen and Kayla Kalenza have start- ed their college careers strong. Kopelen is averaging 578.889 in smallbore and 584.5 in air rifle, while Kalenza is 571.714 in smallbore and 582.25 in air rifle. UK’s last event prior to the national championships is the annual GARC Cham- pionships. Competition begins Friday, Feb. 25 and will conclude Saturday, Feb. 26 in West Point, New York. For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or fol- low UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Rifle Qualifies for 2022 NCAA Championships, Seeded No. 2 By Evan Crane UK Athletics Communications and Public Relations The Kentucky rifle team has earned its 28th appear- ance in the NCAA Rifle Championships, which will take place this year in Colorado Springs. The Kentucky rifle team won its third national championship last spring, setting a new NCAA record score team aggregate score in the process.58 @KentuckyMBB Market Call Letters Frequency Ashland, KY WCMI 92.7 FM / 1340 AM Ashland/Greenup, KY WLGC 105.7 FM Benton, KY WCBL 99.1 FM / 1290 AM Bowling Green, KY WGGC 95.1 FM Cadiz, KY WKDZ 106.5 FM / 1110 AM Campbellsville, KY WCKQ 104.1 FM Cincinnati, OH WCKY 1530 AM Columbia, KY WAIN 93.5 FM / 1270 AM Corbin, KY WCTT 107.3 FM / 680 AM Dry Ridge, KY WNKR 106.7 FM Elizabethtown, KY WQXE 98.3 FM Flemingsburg, KY WFLE 95.1 FM Grayson, KY WUGO 99.7 FM Harlan, KY WTUK 105.1 FM Hazard, KY WSGS 101.1 FM Henderson, KY WSON 96.5 FM / 860 AM Hopkinsville, KY WHOP 98.7 FM / 1230 AM Jamestown, KY WJRS 104.9 FM Jenkins, KY WIFX 94.3 FM Lancaster, KY WRNZ 105.1 FM Leitchfield, KY WKHG 104.9 FM Lexington, KY WBUL / WLAP 98.1 FM / 630 AM London, KY WWEL 103.9 FM Louisville, KY WHAS 840 AM Madisonville, KY WKTG 93.9 FM Mayfield, KY WLLE 102.1 FM Maysville, KY WFTM 95.9 FM / 1240 AM Monticello, KY WKYM 101.7 FM Morehead, KY WIVY 96.3 FM Morganfield WMSK 101.3 FM Nashville, TN WPRTHD 102.5 HD Owensboro, KY WBKR / WOMI 92.5 FM / 1490 AM Paducah, KY WKYX 94.3 FM / 570 AM Paintsville, KY WSIP 98.9 FM / 1490 AM Pikeville, KY WDHR / WPKE 93.1 FM / 103.1 FM Pineville, KY WRIL 106.3 FM Prestonsburg, KY WQHY / WDOC 95.5 FM / 1310 AM Providence, KY WWKY 104.9 FM Somerset, KY WSEK 93.9 FM / 910 AM Whitesburg, KY WXKQ / WTCW 103.9 FM / 920 AM Williamsburg, KY WEZJ / WEKX 104.3 FM / 102.7 FM John Calipari Radio Show Tuesday, November 23, 2021 (7-8 pm) Tuesday, November 30, 2021 (7-8 pm) (all remaining shows are from 6-7 pm) Monday, December 6, 2021 Monday, December 13, 2021 Monday, December 20, 2021 Monday, December 27, 2021 Wednesday, January 5, 2022 Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Monday, January 17, 2022 Monday, January 24, 2022 Monday, January 31, 2022 Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Monday, February 21, 2022 Monday, February 28, 2022 Monday, March 7, 2022 Monday, March 14, 2022 Monday, March 21, 2022 Monday, March 28, 2022 UK Sports Network Radio Information gently cleans & protects. available at Kroger & all major retailers. find out more at waterwipes.com the world’s purest baby wipes.6-7 | G/F | Paintsville, Ky. | Paintsville 60 @KentuckyMBB JOHN PELPHREY 1988-92 34ldly Possible ldly Possible Now accepting applications for Fall 2022. applyuk.com There are moments when doors of opportunity open. Moments when barriers are broken. Moments when you are called to provide hope for someone in need. Moments when you harness something deep within you that you didn’t know existed. Moments when you’re drawn to a cause greater than yourself. Moments when champions are born. These are the moments when nothing else matters. Moments made possible at the University of Kentucky. This is who we are. This is what we do. WE ARE WHAT’S62 @KentuckyMBB Blue and White The University of Kentucky adopted blue and white as its official colors in 1892. UK students had first decided on blue and light yellow before the Kentucky-Centre foot- ball game Dec. 19, 1891. The yellow was soon dropped from the combination and replaced by white. The particular Kentucky shade of blue, close to royal blue, was determined without ceremony. After settling on the base colors, a student posed the logical question, “What color blue?” Letterman Richard Stoll looked down at his necktie and raised it to the air. The vote was unanimous. Wildcats Nickname The official nickname for the University of Kentucky’s athletics teams is “Wildcats.” The nickname became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football victory over Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909, on the road. Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State Uni- versity (UK), told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had “fought like wildcats.” Later the name Wildcats became more and more popular among UK followers as well as with members of the media. As a result, the nickname was adopted by the University. UK Dance Team The University of Kentucky Dance Team helps generate excitement and enthusiasm at Wildcat athletics events. Under the direction of head coach Dawn Duncan Walters and as- sistant coach Janet Brock, the dance team in- cludes both Blue and White Squads. The team placed second in the Universal Dance Associ- ation national championships in 2020 in both the hip-hop and gameday competitions. Fan-tastic! The Kentucky cheerleaders, band and dance team combine to entertain the nation’s largest and most loyal fan base in college basketball. Sure, Ashley Judd, Tommy Lasorda, Muham- mad Ali and Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson steal the attention, but those Big Blue stars are just a few of the Cat fans in attendance at UK games. It’s each and every one of the many Kentucky fans who deserve the credit for help- ing the Wildcats lead the nation in attendance 22 times since Rupp Arena opened in 1976-77, including 14 of the last 15 years. And the tremendous fan base is not limit- ed to just Lexington. Each year, Kentucky fans flock to Freedom Hall in Louisville, to fill the arena with more than 20,000 fans for an an- nual “home” game. The Southeastern Conference Tourna- ment? Well, it might as well be called the Kentucky Invitational. March Madness? Nearly the same result. The nation’s largest media contingent follows the Cats from start to finish simply because of the fans’ incessant appetite for information on their Wildcats. Trademark Swoosh Only the best wear Nike. Kentucky not only wears Nike, but is under an all-school contract with the athletic apparel company. In 1997, UK signed the contract with the pop- ular makers of the trademark swoosh. Thanks to Nike’s exten- sive research and product development, UK student -athletes stay on the cutting edge of quality and style with all of their gear. All 22 sports use Nike shoes and equip- ment, and over the course of the contract, the Wildcats will receive millions of dollars worth of clothing, equipment and cash. The men’s basketball team has been recognized by the apparel company as a “Nike Elite” team. While clothing adorned with “Kentucky” was already popular throughout the nation, thanks to Nike and its international market- ing reach, Kentucky’s blue and white can now be found worldwide. Kentucky Traditions@UKSportsNetwork 63 Kentucky Traditions Cawood’s Court Prior to the UK-Louisville game on Dec. 29, 2001, the court at Rupp Arena was named “Cawood’s Court” in honor of Cawood Led- ford, the beloved “Voice of the Wildcats” for 39 years (1953-92). Ledford passed away in Sep- tember 2001, after a long battle with cancer. The ceremonies included the unveiling of a logo courtside, not far from where Ledford called the action. Also included in the cere- mony were donations by two area business- es to the Cawood Ledford Scholarship Fund, established in 1992 to assist former student- athletes in obtaining their degrees. The Wildcat The Wildcat mascot originated during the 1976-77 academic year at UK. Gary Tanner was the original Wildcat, dancing and entertaining thousands of UK fans at Commonwealth Stadium and Rupp Arena during athletics events. A few years later, he was joined by an- other Cat — walking on stilts — who made his appearance during UK’s twin tower era of Melvin Turpin and Sam Bowie. Today, both the Wildcat and his sidekick, Scratch, attend each football and basketball game, several academic functions and gen- erally serve as friendly ambassadors for the University. Scratch Scratch joined the cheerleading squad in the mid ’90s in conjunction with the UK Kids’ Club, but today he has become almost as recognizable as the Wildcat. The lovable face of UK Athletics gar- nered national attention after being named to the 2003 Capital One Mascot All-Ameri- ca team, an honor he earned again in 2004. Senior Day Senior Day at Kentucky has become one of the most celebrated ceremonies in col- lege basketball. Honoring its senior class, UK’s event is one of the most elaborate and moving programs of its kind. The pregame ceremony begins with player introductions. Once they have all burst through banners bearing their likenesses, their families join them at center court. Then the state song, “My Old Kentucky Home,” is sung as the home crowd bids farewell. UK Cheerleaders Rooting on the Wildcats at every game are the award-winning UK Cheerleaders. Under the direction of head coach Ryan Martin O’Connor, the UK Cheerleaders are the gold standard in the nation. Kentucky has won 24 Universal Cheer Association national championships, more than all oth- er schools combined. UK placed third in the nation in 2020. UK Pep Band With more than 100 members, the Uni- versity of Kentucky pep band is one of the largest in the nation. Clad in its recognizable blue and white outfits, the pep band is direct- ed by Scott-Lee Atchison. Performing at both home football and basketball games, the UK pep band has been named by Southern Liv- ing as one of the “top 10 bands in the South.”RUPP ARENA AT CENTRAL BANK CENTER A dolph Rupp was synonymous with win- ning. As coach of Kentucky, he was a pioneer in the Wildcats’ fast-break offense while becoming the winningest coach the game had ever seen. The site that now serves as a tribute to his outstanding coaching accomplishments – Rupp Arena – has become one of the most recognizable gym- nasiums in the world while serving as home to college basketball’s most storied program. Now in its 43rd season as the Kentucky Wildcats’ home court, the facility has seen UK win nearly 90 percent of its home games since it opened in 1976. Long considered the mecca of college basketball, Rupp Arena received a $16 mil- lion upgrade over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons that has enhanced the fan experi- ence and once again made it one of the pre- mier venues in all of college basketball. The most notable updates include: n State-of-the-art Daktronics center-hung video board n 15mm ribbon boards n Replaced 16mm LED corner video boards with 6mm LED video boards to produce HD quality image n L Acoustic Line Array audio speaker system n Total sanding and repainting of the floor to reflect UK’s updated branding and logo n New basketball goals and new shot clocks n Added press box seating to the east side of the arena n Replaced LED scorer’s table with 6mm version and moved the old 10mm scorer’s table to the opposite side of the floor for radio broadcast seating n Replaced static ad panels in lower four corners of the arena with LED ad panels Additional renovations are in store for college basketball’s premier arena as a part of UK’s new leasing agreement with the Lexington Center. Chair-back seating in the upper-level sideline will be installed in sections 211- 217 and 228-234. New club areas to Rupp Arena will also be coming to Rupp Arena. Fans in these new clubs will be able to enjoy first-class ameni- ties before, during and after games. Club ar- eas will be available to season ticket holders starting with the 2020-21 season. After renovations, Rupp Arena will seat approximately 20,500. The top priority is ensuring that all current season ticket hold- ers will maintain seats in the newly reno- vated Rupp Arena and UK fully anticipates being able to do so. Following the 2012 season, the Wild- cats received a $3.1 million renovation to their locker room. Funded with private do- nations, the facility features the actual floor from the 2012 championship game. It has its own kitchen and dining area, as well as hot and cold tubs inlaid with the UK logo. There is also a recruiting room that is available to all 22 sports at the University of Kentucky. Since the fall of 1976, the arena in down- town Lexington has served as home to four national championship teams at Kentucky. Six others have advanced to the Final Four. Thirteen seasons have witnessed the Cats go unbeaten at home. It has played host to more than 600 UK games, more than 30 KHSAA Sweet Six- teens, a number of NBA exhibitions, 12 Men’s NCAA Tournaments, three Southeast- ern Conference Tournaments and two Ohio Valley Conference Tournaments. A new floor was installed in 2001. With so many unforgettable moments, the old floor still maintained a value to hoop fans across the Bluegrass and beyond. Therefore, officials made pieces of the relic available for public sale, with proceeds going to the UK Basketball Museum, the KHSAA and to help offset the costs of the new playing floor. Thanks to an auction of additional sec- tions, like coaching boxes and lettered end zones, the old floor generated more than $250,000. Midcourt of the old floor rests in the main entrance of the Lexington Center. When assembled, the court lies 118 feet below the ceiling and is made of a high-grade northern maple. The floor can be removed and an ice rink can be constructed for ice shows or hockey games thanks to a $2.5 mil- lion renovation during the summer of 1996. But the playing surface is just one aspect of the impressive home of the Cats. Situated in downtown Lexington, Rupp Arena has played host to several premier basketball events. In March of 1985, all roads led to Lexington for the NCAA Final Four as Villanova shocked Georgetown in a memorable finale. In 1986, Rupp played host to both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. On numerous other occasions, the arena has served as one stop en route to the NCAA title game. Starting in 2016, Rupp Arena hosted three straight NCAA women’s regional rounds. An awesome structure in sight and scope, the arena is divided into two seating areas. The lower level features 10,000 cushioned theater seats. The upper level has 13,000 seats on epoxy-coated metal bleachers. The latter can be visually isolated to provide more natural setting for small shows. Built by the city of Lexington, the are- na is the major portion of the $53 million Lexington Center complex, which includes an expanded convention-exhibition hall, a 50-store tri-level enclosed shopping mall and a Hyatt Regency Hotel. In January 2001, the Wildcats began uti- lizing a new lights-out introduction, featuring a video presentation and indoor fireworks. Rupp Arena Facts Capacity: 20,500 UK’s record: 610-71 (.896) Most Wins in a Season: 19 (2014-15) Longest Winning Streak: 54 (11/13/09 to 12/1/12) Packed to the Rafters • Now in its 45th season as the home court of Kentucky basketball, the facility has seen UK win nearly 90% of its home games since it opened in 1976. • Prior to reducing seating capacity for the 2019-20 season, Kentucky led the nation in average home attendance in 20 of the previous 24 seasons. • UK has averaged more than 20,000 fans per game in all of John Calipari’s 11 sea- sons at Kentucky @UKSportsNetwork 65Next >