The University of Georgia gymnastics team flipped to victory, posting a season-high score of 197.425 over the Auburn Tigers (196.350) in front of a nearly sold-out crowd in Stegeman Coliseum on Super Bowl Sunday.
The GymDogs earned the top scores on all four events. Sophomore Rachael Lukacs earned the event title on vault, followed by junior Marissa Oakley on bars. Senior Sabrina Vega earned two event titles on beam and floor.
Georgia posted season-high scores of 49.425 on beam and 49.600 on floor in its first Southeastern Conference win of the season.
“Today was a fantastic meet,” Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. “That’s what momentum does for you. We did it the entire meet. If you look at vault to bars, we increased our team score every single event. It was that calm confidence, a slow build to this competition. It just really helps to get that momentum when you get excited off your teammate’s performance, which is easiest on floor because you are more likely to watch a floor routine than you are a bar routine or beam routine when the next person is getting ready and focusing in. You are more likely to feel the energy. The student section on the side, the fans, the crowd, it all helps especially here in Stegeman on floor for the energy and momentum to build.”
The GymDogs (5-4, 1-2 SEC) started competition on vault posting a 49.125. In the anchor position, Lukacs earned the high score of the day with a 9.900. Vega and sophomore Abbey Ward contributed scores of 9.825 and freshman Amanda Cashman scored a 9.800.
Momentum began to build on bars after Georgia scored a 49.275. Marissa Oakley stuck a 9.925 routine in the anchor position and was preceded by scores of 9.850 and 9.875 from freshman Haley De Jong and sophomore Megan Roberts, respectively.
Georgia and Auburn were tied at 98.400 after two rotations.
Georgia continued to wow the crowd on beam, earning a 49.425. In the fourth spot, Oakley scored a 9.900 with sophomore Rachel Baumann following to match her score, before Vega finished the event with a 9.925. Sophomore Mikayla Magee and De Jong both contributed a 9.850.
The GymDogs counted all 9.900 or better on floor for a 49.600. Cashman and Baumann both scored a 9.925, before Lukacs and freshman Soraya Hawthorne performed solid routines of 9.900. With the final performance of the day, Vega earned a 10 from one judge, resulting in a 9.950.
FINAL RESULTS-
GEORGIA: 197.425 (VT- 49.125, UB- 49.275, BB- 49.425, FX- 49.600)
AUBURN: 196.350 (VT- 49.300, UB- 49.100, BB- 49.250, FX- 48.700)
VAULT– 49.125
Rachel Baumann: 9.775
Amanda Cashman: 9.800
Abbey Ward: 9.825
Sabrina Vega: 9.825
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.750
Rachael Lukacs: 9.900
BARS– 49.275
Rachael Lukacs: 9.750
Amanda Cashman: 9.825
Loulie Hattaway: 9.800
Megan Roberts: 9.875
Haley De Jong: 9.850
Marissa Oakley: 9.925
BEAM– 49.425
Mikayla Magee: 9.850
Rachael Lukacs: 9.175
Haley De Jong: 9.850
Marissa Oakley: 9.900
Rachel Baumann: 9.900
Sabrina Vega: 9.925
FLOOR– 49.600
Alyssa Perez-Lugones: 9.875
Amanda Cashman: 9.925
Rachel Baumann: 9.925
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.900
Rachael Lukacs: 9.900
Sabrina Vega: 9.950