AUBURN, Ala. — The Georgia gymnastics team (1-1, 1-1) put together a strong performance on the road and defeated the 13th-ranked Auburn Tigers (0-2, 0-1) by a 196.8-196.075 final score on Friday night at Auburn Arena.
Georgia claimed three event titles and the all-around crown in the meet, with Sydney Snead and Lauren Johnson sharing top honors on vault, Snead claiming the best score on bars and Rachel Schick with the best performance on beam. Snead also posted a meet-best 39.45 in the all-around.
“We decided on Sunday that we were going to put last week behind us,” said University of Georgia gymnastics head coach Danna Durante. “That did not need to define us for the rest of the season. We talked about focusing forward, and these guys were just so united. When adversity hits it can either bring a team closer if they’re really strong-willed, or it can fracture and separate them. This group is so strong. This is how they train. This is who they are.”
The Gymdogs got a strong start on bars as Hayley Sanders (9.8), Morgan Reynolds (9.825) and Johnson (9.875) all gave career-best efforts to start the meet. Snead took the bars event title as she anchored Georgia with a 9.9, matching her career high and lifting UGA to a 49.275-48.9 lead through the first rotation.
Georgia added to its lead in the second rotation with a 49.275 as a team on vault. Snead and Johnson led the way for the Gymdogs in the event with a pair of 9.875s. Gigi Marino and Rachel Dickson both scored 9.85s and Ashlyn Broussard added a 9.825 of her own for the strong team score, giving the visitors a 98.55-98.025 lead at the halfway point.
The momentum continued to build as Georgia took to floor, where a team score of 49.025 boosted its lead over Auburn to 0.775. Marino led the Gymdogs with a 9.85 in the event while Babalis, Vega and Snead all hit 9.8s in the rotation.
The Gymdogs sealed the victory with a sound performance on beam, tallying a 49.225 in the final rotation. Schick led the way with a 9.9, winning an event title in the process and sealing the win for the visiting team.
The Gymdogs return to action on Monday with their home opener against NC State at 2 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.
For all the latest on Georgia gymnastics, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAGymnastics), Instagram (ugagymnastics), Facebook (Georgia Gymnastics) and Snapchat (UGAGymdogs), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
MEET RESULTS
Georgia – 196.800 defeats Auburn – 196.075
GYMDOGS SCORING
Vault – 49.275
Ashlyn Broussard – 9.825, Morgan Reynolds – 9.8, Rachel Dickson– 9.85, Lauren Johnson – 9.875, Gigi Marino – 9.85, Sydney Snead – 9.875
Bars – 49.275
Hayley Sanders – 9.8, Morgan Reynolds – 9.825, Lauren Johnson – 9.875, Rachel Dickson – 9.775, Rachel Schick – 9.875, Sydney Snead – 9.9
Beam – 49.225
Sabrina Vega – 9.825, Rachel Dickson – 9.2, Sydney Snead – 9.875, Hayley Sanders – 9.825, Vivi Babalis – 9.8, Rachel Schick – 9.9
Floor – 49.025
Morgan Reynolds – 9.775, Beth Roberts – 9.65, Vivi Babalis – 9.8, Sabrina Vega – 9.8, Sydney Snead – 9.8, Gigi Marino – 9.85