Worley Earns Back-to-Back SEC Freshman of the Week Honors

Virginia native becomes second UK freshman bestowed honor in multiple weeks

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following the third competition of her collegiate career, Kentucky’s Raena Worley was named the back-to-back Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.

Worley joins 2020 senior and four-time recipient Mollie Korth as the only athletes in school history to garner the award on multiple occasions.

“Raena receiving back-to-back Freshman of the Week honors is a very welcomed validation of her efforts and competitive success to this point,” said head coach Tim Garrison.

Worley earned her first event win in then-No. 11 Kentucky’s first-place finish (196.375) versus No. 29 North Carolina (194.625), No. 39 NC State (194.425) and No. 50 Lindenwood (193.300) last Friday. The native of Riner, Virginia, performed a 9.925 floor routine, tying Korth and junior Ella Warren for the best mark on the apparatus.

Worley tied for fifth on vault (9.825) and bars (9.825) and seventh on beam (9.800) for a second-place all-around finish (39.350). The freshman tied or surpassed season highs in all five categories.

Kentucky returns to action with its first conference road test of the season, taking on No. 19 Arkansas on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, live on SEC Network.