The University of Georgia GymDogs gymnastics team fell to No. 8 seed Minnesota (197.625) and No. 9 seed Denver Friday afternoon at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia finished third overall with a 196.750 -196.375 win over Oregon State to conclude the 2021 season.
“We knew it was going to be a tough first-round session, so we knew we had to come in and be very focused,” head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. “I had a lot of faith in this team. Our goal was to make it through, and that is what our intention was coming in and the focus from the team, and you could just see a lot of jitters. We haven’t competed in about a month and were just getting back out there, but I saw so much fight, so much heart from our girls. I truly believe that sometimes you need to be kicked down a little bit to really find that heart and motivation, and it just drives you, so that is what we are going to use for next year. I saw so much in our team this year that I am so proud of, and I saw so much today and am so proud of them.”
The GymDogs began competition on floor, where Georgia scored its highest mark of the day with a 49.275. Soraya Hawthorne performed to a team-best of 9.900 in the event. Rachel Baumann helped boost Georgia’s score with a 9.875, while Megan Roberts added a 9.850. Rounding out the first rotation for the GymDogs were Sterlyn Austin and Alyssa Perez-Lugones, who each added a 9.825.
On vault, Roberts led the charge for Georgia after propelling herself to a 9.925. Three GymDogs – Baumann, Hawthorne and Lukacs – scored 9.800 apiece. Abbey Ward capped the second rotation score with a 9.750.
Haley de Jong and Marissa Oakley each scored 9.875 to lead the GymDogs in the third rotation on bars. Once again, three GymDogs added 9.825 apiece thanks to performances by Roberts, Katie Finnegan, and Emily Schild.
Wrapping up competition on beam, Georgia’s Baumann led the team with a 9.900 followed by Magee’s 9.875. A pair of 9.850 scores from de Jong and Oakley, along with Victoria Nguyen’s 9.700, helped to push the GymDogs’ final score to 196.750 and conclude competition.
FINAL RESULTS
MINNESOTA: 197.625 (VT-49.525, UB-49.250, BB-49.350, FX-49.500)
DENVER: 196.775 (VT-49.150, UB-48.975, BB-49.225, FX-49.425)
GEORGIA: 196.750 (VT-49.075, UB-49.225, BB-49.175, FX-49.275)
OREGON STATE: 196.375 (VT: 49.175, UB-48.725, BB-49.075, FX-49.400)
VAULT- 49.075
Megan Roberts: 9.925
Rachel Baumann: 9.800
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.800
Rachael Lukacs: 9.800
Abbey Ward: 9.750
Mikayla Magee: 9.275
BARS- 49.225
Haley de Jong: 9.875
Marissa Oakley: 9.875
Katie Finnegan: 9.825
Emily Schild: 9.825
Megan Roberts: 9.825
Victoria Nguyen: 9.800
BEAM- 49.175
Rachel Baumann: 9.900
Mikayla Magee: 9.875
Haley de Jong: 9.850
Marissa Oakley: 9.850
Victoria Nguyen: 9.700
Emily Schild: 9.575
FLOOR- 49.275
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.900
Rachel Baumann: 9.875
Megan Roberts: 9.850
Sterlyn Austin: 9.825
Alyssa Perez-Lugones: 9.825
Mikayla Magee: 9.700