The Gymdogs came up short against the No. 1 gymnastics team in the country in Norman, OK on Friday night, losing to the Sooners 197.675 – 196.925 despite career-best performances from three Bulldog gymnasts.
Sydney Snead and Gigi Marino hit 9.95s on vault and floor, respectively, to take event titles. Freshman Sabrina Vega received a career-high mark of 9.9 on beam for her strong performance, and the Gymdogs claimed their second-best road score of the season.
“We saw some great improvements this week,” said Georgia gymnastics head coach Danna Durante. “We saw improvements on vault and bars, which we were focusing on, and we were really consistent on beam and floor. I think it’s great to come into this environment and to see Oklahoma. They’re ranked No. 1, and for good reason. I think it was good for our team to come in, do their thing and not get caught up in what the other team was doing across the floor.”
The Gymdogs claimed a 49.125 in the first rotation on bars. Georgia was led by senior Rachel Schick, who received a 9.875 in the anchor position while making her return to the lineup. Morgan Reynolds and Snead followed closely behind with 9.85s, and Georgia trailed the Sooners 49.4-49.125 after the first event.
Snead led Georgia on vault with a 9.95 as the anchor, tying her career high and winning her eighth event title of the year, fourth on vault. Rachel Dickson (9.85), Ashlyn Broussard (9.825) and Beth Roberts (9.8) also made strong contributions as the Gymdogs received a 49.175 on vault. At the meet’s halfway point, Oklahoma led 98.9-98.3.
The high score for the visitors once again came from the anchor spot on floor, with Marino tying her career high for the second-straight meet with a 9.95 and earning her second event title of the season. All six Gymdogs scored a 9.8 or better, as freshmen Dickson and Vega claimed 9.875s and upper classmen Reynolds, Roberts and Vivi Babalis all drawing 9.8s for a team score of 49.3. After three rotations, the Gymdogs trailed 148.35-147.6.
Vega got the Gymdogs going on beam with a career-best 9.9, and the momentum kept going with strong performances from Babalis (9.875), Dickson (9.875) and Broussard as a 49.3 on floor brought Georgia to its second-best road score this season.
Georgia returns home for two meets to wrap the regular season, starting on Sunday (March 5) against Alabama. The team will sign autographs for fans at the conclusion of the meet.
FINAL RESULTS
Georgia – 196.925
vs.
Oklahoma – 197.675
Vault – 49.175
Ashlyn Broussard – 9.825, Beth Roberts – 9.8, Lauren Johnson – 9.75, Gigi Marino – 9.75, Rachel Dickson – 9.85, Sydney Snead – 9.95
Bars – 49.125
Morgan Reynolds – 9.85, Hayley Sanders – 9.725, Lauren Johnson – 9.8, Sydney Snead – 9.85, Rachel Dickson – 9.75, Rachel Schick – 9.875
Beam – 49.325
Sabrina Vega – 9.9, Hayley Sanders – 9.775, Rachel Dickson – 9.875, Ashlyn Broussard – 9.9, Vivi Babalis – 9.875, Rachel Schick – 9.225
Floor – 49.300
Morgan Reynolds – 9.8, Beth Roberts – 9.8, Vivi Babalis – 9.8, Sabrina Vega – 9.875, Rachel Dickson – 9.875, Gigi Marino – 9.95, Jordyn Pedersen (ex.) – 9.525
All Around
Rachel Dickson – 39.350