The University of Georgia gymnastics team welcomes the LSU Tigers to Stegeman Coliseum for the first Southeastern Conference match-up of the 2020 season on tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The meet will be broadcast live on the SEC Network as part of the network’s “Friday Night Heights” feature. 

Both Georgia and LSU opened the season with scores in the 195.000’s last week.  LSU holds an advantage in the all-time series record and the GymDogs are looking for their first win over the Tigers since 2016. 

BEAM DEBUTS AT NO. 3                                                    

Georgia’s beam squad opened the season with the third best score in the country, posting a 49.200 at the Critique Classic.  The GymDogs finished the competition on beam after sophomores Rachel Baumann and Mikayla Magee led the team with scores of 9.875.  Freshman Haley de Jong and junior Marissa Oakley posted a 9.825. And in the anchor position, senior Sabrina Vega scored a 9.800. 

RANKED IN THE TOP 25                                                                  

Freshman Soraya Hawthorne competed in two events during her GymDog debut.  After week one she ranks ninth in the nation on vault and 15th on floor. 

Sophomore Rachael Lukacs competed in the all-around for the first time to start the season.  After week one she ranks sixth on floor and 24th in the all-around. 

Sophomores Rachel Baumann and Mikayla Magee are tied for 15th in the country on beam. 

FOR THE FIRST TIME

Sophomore Rachel Lukacs competed all-around for the first time to open the season.  The Hillsborough, New Jersey native scored a 38.775 to take home the all-around and floor (9.900) titles from the Critique Classic. 

Senior Sabrina Vega is also expected to compete all-around this season.  For the first time since 2012, the Carmel, New York native and former US National Team member will compete on the uneven bars.  She competed bars for the first time as a GymDog at the Critique Classic.

VEGA CONTINUES THE MOONWALK                                             

Senior Sabrina Vega assumed the responsibility of taking over the Georgia moonwalk tradition on beam as a sophomore and will carry that into her final season as a GymDog. She is the sixth GymDog to perform the moonwalk on the balance beam, following Nikki Childs, Cassidy McComb, Lindsey Cheek, Mary Beth Box, and Morgan Reynolds.