< Previous6-8 | F | Bronx, N.Y. | Cardinal Hayes 60 @KentuckyMBB JAMAL MASHBURN 1990-93 24EARN MONEY AND SAVE FOR THAT WILDCAT BLUE GECKO YOU ALWAYS WANTED. Sign up now for our new energy efficiency programs and use your rewards for … whatever you’re into. lge-ku.com/save6-1 | G | Brownsville, Tenn. | Haywood 62 @KentuckyMBB TONY DELK 1992-96 0064 @KentuckyMBB Kentucky Traditions 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 65 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.”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 49th season as the home court of Kentucky basketball, the facility has seen UK win more than 86% 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 pro- duce 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 ra- dio broadcast seating n Replaced static ad panels in lower four corners of the arena with LED ad panels After renovations, Rupp Arena seats 20,500. 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 avail- able to all 22 sports at the University of Ken- tucky. 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 700 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 10,500 seats with new chairback seats in sections 211-217 and 228-234. The latter can be vi- sually isolated to provide more natural set- ting 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 utilizing a new lights-out introduction, fea- turing a video presentation and indoor fire- works. Rupp Arena Facts Capacity: 20,500 UK’s record: 661-85 (.889) 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 49th season as the home court of Kentucky basketball, the facility has seen UK win more than 86% 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 • Since Rupp Arena opened for the 1976-77 season, and excluding the 2020-21 season that was affected by the COVID-19 pan- demic, UK has ranked either first or sec- ond in average attendance every season • Chair-back seating was installed in the upper-sideline area prior to the 2019-20 season. Two club areas for season ticket holders opened in 2021-22 season with a third opening during the 2022-23 season • A center-hung scoreboard, ribbon boards, a new sound system and lighting were installed over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons @UKSportsNetwork 67T he 2024-25 University of Kentucky rifle com- petition schedule has been released and for the second time in program history the Wildcats will host the NCAA Rifle Championships to cap the sea- son in Historic Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky, which has won three of the last six NCAA Championships with team titles in 2018, 2021 and 2022, is set to compete all over the nation this season. After a competitive schedule from Oc- tober to February, the Wildcats will compete in the Great America Rifle Conference Championships in late February and hope to qualify for their 31st NCAA Championship appearance in March. The season will end inside Historic Memorial Coliseum as the Wild- cats host the championships for the second time in program history. The first was in 2020 when UK turned Memorial Coliseum into a first-class range before the NCAA canceled the championship after Thursday’s practice day due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Excited to have our competition schedule released and obvi- ously we are looking forward to host the NCAA Championships in March inside Memorial Coliseum,” said head coach Harry Mullins, who is entering his 37th season with the program. “The release of the schedule always means that we are close to getting the athletes back on campus and training is right around the corner. This is a challenging schedule with a lot of quality teams both home and away. Like always, Coach Papasodora and I will focus on getting the athletes better each and every day with the goal that we are competing at our best at the end of the year. We are looking forward to having some new faces in this group and get going here soon.” Kentucky has started the season 3-0 with wins over Morehead State, Georgia Southern and Navy. Coming up for UK will be its annual dual match with Ole Miss, which will be Nov. 2 in Oxford, Mississippi. After a week off, UK wraps the fall portion of the sched- ule with three competitions across eight days starting with a home tri-match with Army and Murray State on Nov. 16. The following weekend UK travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado for two matches beginning Nov. 23 vs. Akron and ending Nov. 24 vs. Air Force and Akron. Postseason competition will have extra excitement for Kentucky in 2025 as the Wildcats will host the 2025 NCAA Rifle Champi- onships inside the newly renovated Historic Memorial Coliseum. UK will host a NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 22 inside Barker Hall with Morehead State before traveling to Morgantown, West Virginia for the Great America Rifle Conference Championships on March 1-2. The NCAA Rifle Championships return to Lexington for the first time since 2020. The two-day event will see the best air rifle and smallbore competitors in the nation compete on the historic Memo- rial Coliseum floor. The smallbore competition will be March 14 fol- lowed by air rifle competition on March 15. Ticket information and full schedule of events for the championships will be announced later. All home matches are held inside the UK Rifle Range, which is inside Barker Hall. Matches normally follow a similar schedule with sighting and prep for smallbore beginning at 8 a.m. ET. Spectators are invited to watch smallbore scores up in Barker Hall and enjoy free breakfast during the first part of the relay. The range will be open to spectators for air rifle. Admission to all home matches is free. Kentucky is coming off a strong 2023-24 season that saw the Wildcats finish third nationally in smallbore and air rifle for a fourth- place team finish at the 2024 NCAA Rifle Championships. The Wildcats finished second overall at the 2024 GARC Championships and posted an impressive 4745 season-high team score at Alaska during the season. The Wildcats will return two Collegiate Rifle Coaches Associ- ation All-America honorees to its 2024-25 roster in junior Sofia Ceccarello and sophomore Braden Peiser. Ceccarello was named first-team CRCA All-America in aggregate, smallbore and air rifle last season while Peiser was second-team All-America in air rifle. Both had incredible seasons for Kentucky with Ceccarello leading Kentucky in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate average. The Italian superstar posted a 590 or higher three times in smallbore last season while she led the nation with five 599 air rifle scores. Ceccarello made two individual finals during the year, finishing fifth in both the GARC air rifle final and NCAA smallbore final. She was also an All-GARC performer during the 2023-24 season. Peiser had a great rookie season for Kentucky, finishing second on the team in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate average. Peiser really shined late in the season, posting and then besting career high marks in all three categories in the final three matches of the year. He made all four individual finals at the GARCs and NCAA, finishing with GARC gold in air rifle and bronze in smallbore. At the NCAA Championships, Peiser finished sixth in the smallbore final and took home silver in the air rifle final. Also returning for Kentucky will be seniors Allison Buesseler and Tori Kopelen, juniors Martin Voss and AJ Hotko and sophomore Em- ily Marne. The Wildcats added three rookie stars and a sophomore transfer to this year’s team. True freshmen Liz Probst, Sam Adkins and Hannah Todd figure to add much depth to the program as all three enter Lexington with an accomplished junior record. Also joining for 2024-25 is Alaska transfer Brandon Evans. For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKath- letics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. By Evan Crane UK Athletics Communications and Public Relations 68 @KentuckyMBB Kentucky to Host the 2025 NCAA Rifle ChampionshipsKentucky Firm with World-Class Clients Surveying Due Diligence / Site Selection CIVIL DESIGN & PERMITTING GEOTECHNICAL EVALUATION STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE Construction Management Services Special Inspections / Materials Testing GO CATS! THOROUGHBREDFIRM.COMNext >