The University of Georgia gymnastics team hit a 197.325 in a win over Iowa State (196.625) on Monday. The GymDogs are only the eighth team in the country to achieve that mark so far this season.
Multiple GymDogs (4-1, 0-1 SEC) earned event titles throughout the meet. Junior Marissa Oakley and sophomore Megan Roberts shared the title on bars after both scored a 9.925. Sophomore Rachel Baumann posted the top score on balance beam with a 9.925 and senior Sabrina Vega took home the crown on floor with a 9.950.
“This meet definitely builds confidence,” Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. “They are a strong team. They need to stay within themselves, take it one event at a time, one routine at a time. They’re really taking that to heart and you can see the difference in this team. I’m proud of them and now we have to carry this momentum into this weekend.”
The GymDogs posted a 49.200 on vault to start the meet. Freshman Amanda Cashman improved her season-best score to a 9.825, while sophomore Rachael Lukacs led the squad with a 9.875 in the anchor position. Iowa State scored a 49.200 on bars to keep a close race after one rotation.
Georgia showed leaps of improvement on bars, posting a 49.275, which is 1.225 higher than last week. Junior Marissa Oakley and sophomore Megan Roberts led the GymDogs with 9.925s.
Georgia continued to shine on beam, scoring a 49.400 in the third rotation. Sophomore Rachel Baumann earned the top score with a 9.925 and Vega followed with a 9.900. Again, Oakley hit a season- high mark with a 9.850. The GymDogs totaled a 147.875 compared to Iowa State’s 147.550 heading into the final rotation.
In true Georgia gymnastics fashion, the GymDogs put on a show on floor. In the final performance of the day, Vega scored a 9.950. Before her, Lukacs earned a 9.900 while freshman Soraya Hawthorne and sophomore Mikayla Magee followed with scores of 9.875.
The GymDogs are back in action at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, January 25. Georgia will face Oklahoma, Alabama, and Denver. The team returns to Stegeman Coliseum on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 2) for a 4 p.m. meet against Auburn.
FINAL RESULTS-
GEORGIA: 197.325 (VT- 49.200, UB- 49.275, BB- 49.400, FX- 49.450)
IOWA STATE: 196.625 (VT- 49.150, UB- 49.200, BB-49.075, FX- 49.200)
VAULT- 49.200
Amanda Cashman: 9.925
Abbey Ward: 9.850
Mikayla Magee: 9.725
Sabrina Vega: 9.800
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.850
Rachael Lukacs: 9.875
BARS-
Rachael Lukacs: 9.750
Amanda Cashman: 9.775
Loulie Hattaway: 9.775
Megan Roberts: 9.925
Haley De Jong: 9.875
Marissa Oakley: 9.925
BEAM- 49.400
Mikayla Magee: 9.850
Rachael Lukacs: 9.650
Haley De Jong: 9.875
Marissa Oakley: 9.850
Rachel Baumann: 9.925
Sabrina Vega: 9.900
FLOOR- 49.450
Alyssa Perez-Lugones: 9.850
Mikayla Magee: 9.875
Rachel Baumann: 9.800
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.875
Rachael Lukacs: 9.900
Sabrina Vega: 9.950