TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Georgia gymnastics team claimed a spot in the NCAA Gymnastics Championship with a second-place finish in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday evening.
The 18th-ranked GymDogs finished with a 196.500 score, trailing only No. 6 Alabama with 197.225. Georgia defeated No. 7 Michigan, No. 22 Missouri, No. 23 Illinois and No. 36 Central Michigan in the six-team meet.
“Today was like a championship meet,” Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. “This team, they had the adrenaline. Everything was on the line, and they fought. We had a few little mistakes; we weren’t in great position after the first two events. But they really rallied. It was amazing. Bars was absolutely the most fun event of the entire evening. One routine after another was just building, building, building. I couldn’t be prouder.”
In 35 regional appearances, the GymDogs have advanced to the NCAA Championship every time, with 24 first-place and 11 second-place finishes.
Sophomore Sabrina Vega led the charge, tying for first place on floor with a 9.90. On the final performance of the night, her fourth-best score of the meet on beam (9.875) moved the GymDogs into second place to seal the berth to the championship.
Junior Sydney Snead finished second in the All-Around competition with a score of 39.475. Joined by freshman Marissa Oakley, Snead also tied for second on bars with a 9.925.
After a bye in the first rotation, the GymDogs posted a 48.950 on floor, highlighted by Vega’s 9.90. Georgia continued into vault, posting a 49.025 for a total of 97.975, before heading into the GymDogs’ second bye.
Then, the Georgia scores exploded on bars. The 49.350 total was propelled by a 9.850 from freshman Emily Schild and a 9.875 senior Natalie Vaculik before Snead and Oakley lifted the GymDogs into the final rotation with top scores of 9.925.
To secure a spot in the NCAA Championships, the GymDogs used consistent performances on beam, led by Snead (9.85), Dickson (9.85) and Schild (9.825). Before a 9.775 from Oakley, Vega saved the best for last, posting a 9.875 to advance Georgia and surpass Illinois and Michigan.
The NCAA Championships will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on April 20-21.
FINAL RESULTS
Alabama- 197.225 (VT-49.350, UB- 49.400, BB- 49.275, FX- 49.200)
Georgia- 196.500 (VT-49.025, UB- 49.350, BB- 49.175, FX- 48.950)
Illinois- 196.425 (VT-49.050, UB- 49.125, BB- 49.200, FX- 49.050)
Michigan- 196.350 (VT-49.050, UB- 49.375, BB- 49.075, FX- 48.850)
Missouri- 196.100 (VT-48.975, UB- 49.075, BB- 49.050, FX- 49.000)
Central Michigan- 195.825 (VT-48.850, UB- 49.075, BB- 48.925, FX- 48.925)
Georgia scores:
Vault- 49.025
Marissa Oakley – 9.775
Jasmine Arnold – 9.725
Sabrina Vega – 9.775
Rachel Dickson – 9.875
Sydney Snead – 9.875
Bars- 49.350
Jordyn Pederson – 9.775
Emily Schild – 9.850
Natalie Vaculik – 9.875
Sydney Snead – 9.925
Marissa Oakley – 9.925
Rachel Dickson – 9.375
Beam- 49.175
Sydney Snead – 9.850
Rachel Dickson – 9.850
Emily Schild – 9.825
Marissa Oakley – 9.775
Vivi Babalis – 9.675
Sabrina Vega – 9.875
Floor- 48.950
Jasmine Arnold – 9.700
Jordyn Pederson – 9.150
Vivi Babalis – 9.850
Rachel Dickson – 9.675
Sydney Snead – 9.825
Sabrina Vega – 9.900