The seventh-ranked University of Georgia gymnastics team upset No. 3 Florida, 197.450-197.375, on Friday night at the Exactech Arena, handing the Gators their first SEC loss of the season. 

The win marks the first time the GymDogs (6-3, 4-2 SEC) came out on top over the Gators (5-2, 5-1 SEC) in Gainesville since 2008. 

In the battle of the Baumann sisters, Georgia freshman Rachel Baumann, whose sister Alyssa is a sophomore gymnast at Florida, scored her career-high 9.925 on beam.

“Everything finally came together for us in an away meet setting tonight. Wow. I am so proud,” Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said.  “Bars started off great. Megan Roberts was nervous to start off in her first away meet, but she set the rotation off the way she needed to. Marissa Oakley’s routine was beautiful. Vault was solid and that’s an event that we’ve been more consistent on.  Floor- there was a few mistakes, but Rachael Lukacs stood out and really gave it everything. There was so much noise going on during beam, but they kept their focus and handled that pressure.  Sabrina Vega nailed that dismount and really ended that rotation the way we needed to.”

Georgia started competition strong on bars, earning the team’s highest away score for the event with a 49.300.  In the anchor position, Marissa Oakley swung to her career-high score of 9.950.  Sydney Snead and Alexa Al-Hameed both contributed scores of 9.875, followed by Megan Roberts (9.825) and Emily Schild (9.775). 

The GymDogs had a solid performance on vault, posting a 49.350.  Rachel Dickson, Rachael Lukacs, and Sydney Snead ended the rotation with three straight scores of 9.900.  Abbey Ward and Sabrina Vega contributed 9.825’s. 

Again the GymDogs posted the team’s highest away score for the event on floor with a 49.350.  Alyssa Perez-Lugones returned to the floor lineup for Georgia, scoring a season-best 9.850.  Lukacs contributed the lone 9.900 for event, followed by a pair of 9.875’s from Vega and Snead.  Dickson earned a 9.825 for her routine. 

Leading the Gators by .125 heading into the final rotation, the GymDogs tied a season-high team score for the event with a 49.325.  Vega led the GymDogs with a 9.950 and was preceded by a 9.925 from Baumann.  Marissa Oakley earned her season-high score of 9.875, as did Snead.  Dickson contributed a 9.850 to the team total.

“The goal is to build,” Kupets Carter continued. “This team is in a very good position right now where they have the confidence, they have the ability. Their routines are set and they have really turned a corner. The goal is to keep moving up from here.”

Georgia continues SEC road action next week in Baton Rouge as the GymDogs take on the Tigers of LSU on Friday, March 1 at 8:00 CT on ESPN2. 

FINAL RESULTS-

GEORGIA: 197.450 (VT- 49.350, UB- 49.300, BB- 49.475, FX-49.325)

FLORIDA: 197.375 (VT- 49.275, UB- 49.400, BB- 49.175, FX-49.525)

BARS– 49.300

Megan Roberts: 9.825

Emily Schild: 9.775

Sydney Snead: 9.875

Alexa Al-Hameed: 9.875

Rachel Dickson: 9.200

Marissa Oakley: 9.950

VAULT– 49.350

Mikayla Magee: 9.775

Abbey Ward: 9.825

Sabrina Vega: 9.825

Rachel Dickson: 9.900

Rachael Lukacs: 9.900

Sydney Snead: 9.900

FLOOR– 49.325

Alyssa Perez-Lugones: 9.850

Rachel Baumann: 9.775

Sydney Snead: 9.875

Rachael Lukacs: 9.900

Rachel Dickson: 9.825

Sabrina Vega: 9.875

BEAM– 49.475

Sydney Snead: 9.875

Rachel Dickson: 9.850

Mikayla Magee: 9.825

Marissa Oakley: 9.875

Rachel Baumann: 9.925

Sabrina Vega: 9.950