UK athlete Raena Worley named Honda finalist.

Senior Gymnast Raena Worley Named Finalist for 2023 Honda Sports Award

The Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) revealed that senior gymnast Raena Worley is a finalist for the 2023 Honda Sports Award, which honors the best female athlete in each of the 12 NCAA-sponsored female sports. The 12 winners of the award compete for the Honda-Broderick Cup, which names the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. In addition, three athletes receive honors for Division II Athlete of the Year, Division III Athlete of the Year, and Inspiration Award winner.

The Christiansburg, VA native is one of four finalists for the award, along with Trinity Thomas from Florida, Jade Carey from Oregon State, and Haleigh Bryant from LSU. Worley earned eight All-American honors, including five this season, and was also a finalist for this year’s AAI Award, which is comparable to the Heisman Trophy of collegiate gymnastics.

Record of Achievements

Worley received two All-America nods during the regular season and three during this year’s Championships. She was recognized as a WCGA Regular Season All-American and earned first team honors on floor and a second team nod for all-around. At the 2023 NCAA National Championships, she received first team honors for all-around and second team recognition on bars and floor.

In Session II of the Championship semifinal meet, Worley finished fourth overall with a combined tally of 39.5875. She excelled on the floor exercise, leading the Wildcats with a 9.9375 and earning second team honors on the apparatus, as well as an eighth-place Session II overall finish. In addition, she earned a season-best 9.925 on uneven bars, scoring 9.900 or higher eight times, and recorded 10 individual victories on vault in her career.

Impressive Performances and First-Time Nods

Worley has been an all-arounder for the Wildcats and recorded 20 all-around wins with seven individual victories this season. Her career-high all-around tally was earned at Illinois, where she scored a combined 39.775.

This season, she consistently scored a 9.900 or higher in every meet on the floor exercise, and her highest mark in 2023 was a 9.975 at Illinois, tying her career best. She has placed first individually on the apparatus 17 times and tallied the near-perfect mark four times in her career. On the balance beam this season, Worley scored a career-best 9.975 at Illinois and eight 9.900 or higher routines.

First Kentucky Wildcat Gymnast Since 1995

Worley’s achievement is noteworthy as she is the first Kentucky gymnast to be named a finalist for the award since Jenny Hansen won it three consecutive times between 1993-1995.

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