Delaynee Rodriguez is doing more than just riding a hot streak-she’s building a legacy. The Kentucky junior continues to elevate her game, and Friday night against No. 7 Missouri, she added another chapter to what’s shaping up to be a standout season.
Despite Kentucky falling just short in a nail-biter-196.825 to 196.800 at Memorial Coliseum-the meet was another personal triumph for Rodriguez. Coming off a dominant showing at Auburn where she swept vault, bars, and the all-around, she doubled down with two more career highs: a 9.950 on both the uneven bars and floor exercise. Those scores weren’t just personal bests-they were event-winning performances.
And while Missouri didn’t field an all-around competitor to directly challenge her, Rodriguez still posted a 39.500 in the all-around, locking up her fifth all-around title in six meets this season. She entered the night ranked fifth nationally in the all-around, and with 11 event wins now under her belt this season, she's not just keeping pace-she’s setting it.
But Rodriguez wasn’t the only Wildcat making noise. Sophomore Chesney Bennett and freshman Gabby Van Frayen each matched their career highs on beam with a 9.900, sharing the event title.
For Bennett, it marked her first collegiate win; for Van Frayen, it was her second straight. Kentucky, despite trailing early, surged late with its strongest rotations on beam and floor to nearly steal the win.
The balance beam rotation was a highlight. Kentucky tied its season-best score on the event with a 49.200 for the second consecutive meet.
Junior Cecily Rizo opened with a 9.750, and Creslyn Brose followed with a season-best-tying 9.875. Then came the one-two punch of Bennett and Van Frayen, both dropping 9.900s-the top scores of the night-before Rodriguez closed with a 9.775.
On floor, the Wildcats were just as sharp. They posted a 49.400, marking the third straight meet they’ve hit at least a 49.350 in the event.
Van Frayen set the tone with a 9.850 in the leadoff spot, Bennett followed with a 9.800, and sophomore Callie Gardner continued her consistent run with another 9.850-her third straight meet hitting that mark or better. Rizo added a 9.750 before Rodriguez and Brose brought the house down with back-to-back 9.950s to share the event crown.
Brose’s floor routine was the final performance of the night, and Kentucky needed a perfect 10 to pull off the comeback win. She came heartbreakingly close, but her 9.950 capped a stellar night and gave her a third straight floor title.
After the meet, Rodriguez reflected on the team’s performance and the energy they brought to the floor.
“It was such an awesome feeling,” she said. “Creslyn is amazing.
We are having so much fun. We showed a lot of grit tonight.
We had a few struggles but we came back.”
Rodriguez also pointed to the team’s youth and how experience is starting to shape their confidence.
“We have a young team and I think experience is super important. We have a really good team. Getting in front of a crowd helps the girls become more confident.”
Right now, no one’s exuding more confidence than Rodriguez. With her event titles piling up and her scores climbing week after week, she’s not just performing-she’s leading.
And if she keeps this up, the rest of the SEC better take notice. Kentucky may still be finding its footing in the win column, but with Rodriguez at the center of it all, the Wildcats are building something real.