The No 7 Georgia GymDogs are set to take on the top-ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville on Friday, January 15 at 6:45 p.m. in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The meet will be streamed live on the SEC Network + and tape delayed on Sunday, January 17 at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
BAUMANN SISTERS BATTLE IN GEORGIA- FLORIDA RIVALRY
Junior Rachel Baumann is set to face her older sister, Florida senior Alyssa Baumann in the seasoned Georgia-Florida rivalry. This marks the third time the sisters have competed against each other with the record being split 1-1.
Rachel’s freshman season the GymDogs traveled to Gainesville and upset the Gators, beating Florida for the first time in Gainesville since 2008. Last season the Gators were victorious in Athens.
Both Baumann sisters compete vault, beam, and floor.
THE LAST TIME IN GAINESVILLE
The then-seventh-ranked Georgia GymDogs upset then-No. 3 Florida, 197.450-197.375, handing the Gators their first SEC loss of the 2019 season.
The win marked the first time the GymDogs came out on top over the Gators in Gainesville since 2008.
OPENING MEET WIN
The University of Georgia 10th-ranked GymDogs kicked off the 2021 season in an exciting fashion, defeating No. 16 Missouri, 196.150-194.250, at home in Stegeman Coliseum.
On vault, junior Mikayla Magee propelled herself to a career-high 9.925 to lead the team.
The GymDogs were impressive on bars as the team posted a 49.325, the team’s highest score of the night and best bar mark since the 2019 season. In her freshman debut, Texas native Nguyen displayed an impressive bar performance to score a 9.950, the GymDogs’ top score of the event.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Freshman Victoria Nguyen competed all-around in her first competition as a GymDog. She recorded an overall score of 39.400 after notching a 9.750 on vault, a meet-high 9.950 on bars, a 9.850 on beam, and a 9.850 on floor.
The Houston, Texas native’s bars score was the highest in the nation after the first meet.
STRONG START ON BARS
The 2021 GymDogs opened the season with an impressive 49.325 score of bars, the second highest in the nation. This score surpasses a season-best 49.275 in 2020.
STARTING TOP 10
The GymDogs began the season as the 10th ranked team in the nation. It’s the 13th time in 15 years that Georgia starts in the Top 10.
COVID CHANGES EVERYTHING
Due to COVID- 19 and the unprecedented changes that came along with it, the 2021 GymDogs took a slow approach to their fall training. Georgia is starting the 2021 season with lineups that will look different come the post season.
SERVANT LEADERS
Coach Courtney Kupets Carter has encouraged the seniors to be servant leaders for their younger teammates. With the season, and training in general, looking different than year’s past it is important for them to look out for the underclassmen. Kupets Carter has praised the servant leadership of Emily Schild for stepping up.
THE SAVAGE BUCKET
A spin on the Georgia football team’s “Savage Pads” that are worn by defensive players who make a great play, the gymnastics team’s “Savage Bucket” is used to celebrate the small things. It does not necessarily have a standard that needs to be met in order to throw the confetti, its purpose is to celebrate the accomplishments of each individual.
A STEADY BUILD
2020 season was one that saw a consistent build for Georgia gymnastics, but with one meet remaining and post season on the horizon, the GymDogs learned their season would be cut short due to COVID-19.