University of Georgia Athletics
Gymdogs Set to Face Arkansas on Friday
January 17, 2017 | Gymnastics
Meet Information
No. 16 Georgia (2-1, 1-1) vs. No. 23 Arkansas (0-2, 0-1)
Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m. | Stegeman Coliseum
Watch: SEC Network (Bart Conner - Play by Play, Kathy Johnson Clark - Analyst, Laura Rutledge - Reporter)
Stream: http://es.pn/2j1nTc9
Live Stats: http://gado.gs/6ub
Tickets: http://gado.gs/gymtix
ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia gymnastics team (2-1, 1-1) looks to keep its momentum as it hosts No. 23 Arkansas (0-2, 0-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.
The 16th-ranked Gymdogs are seeking their third-consecutive victory after impressive wins over the weekend which included a road conference win at Auburn, 196.800-196.075, and a successful home opener against North Carolina State, 196.875-194.800.
"I think the great thing is what we saw on Friday and Monday, the work and the details, the small things that they worked on all fall are coming to life," said Georgia gymnastics head coach Danna Durante. "It's always exciting to compete at Stegeman Coliseum and we can't wait to get out there again on Friday."
Georgia has impressed of late, as the team has won seven of eight possible event titles over the last two meets as well as both all-around titles as the Gymdogs have set 20 individual career highs in the process.
Arkansas comes to Athens after dropping each of its first two meets - a week one loss at UCLA and a home defeat at the hands of Missouri on Friday. The Razorbacks have never won at Stegeman Coliseum, with Georgia holding an all-time 7-0 record in Athens against Arkansas, which began its gymnastics program in 2003.
The meet will be the annual blackout meet with all fans encouraged to wear black to the arena.
Gymdogs Romp in Home Opener
The Gymdogs celebrated their home opener in style, comfortably defeating NC State by a 196.875-194.800 margin on Monday afternoon in Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia swept all four event titles as well as the all-around crown in the contest.
Senior Rachel Schick finished off a memorable weekend with two career-best scores on Monday, posting twin 9.925s on bars and beam to take two event titles in the meet.
Sophomore Sydney Snead also posted a career-high score in the meet with her 9.95 on vault as she showcased her Yurchenko 1.5 in front of the home crowd for the first time this season.
Freshman Sabrina Vega also had a notable meet, winning her first event title as a Gymdog with a 9.925 on floor. The former Team USA gymnast appeared to thrive in front of the student section and the home crowd at Stegeman Coliseum.
The meet capped a weekend in which the Gymdogs registered 20 different career highs in two meets.
UGA vs. Arkansas Series History
Georgia holds an all-time record of 30-2-0 against Arkansas, and has only lost once to the Razorbacks in the regular season - 2011.
Under head coach Danna Durante, Georgia has swept Arkansas and leads the series 9-0 since 2013.
Rachel Schick Named Specialist of the Week
Rachel Schick had a historic weekend, posting three career-best scores and winning three event titles in four total routines.
Schick scored a 9.875 on bars at Auburn before hitting a new career-best on beam with a 9.9, helping Georgia win its first meet of the season.
Just three days later, the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native went for twin 9.925s, both career highs, on bars and beam in Georgia's win over NC State.
The biological sciences major now has three event titles this season, second only to Sydney Snead.
A 2016 All-SEC honoree, the Specialist of the Week nod was the first weekly honor that Schick has won from the SEC.
Gymdogs Taking Titles
The Gymdogs have found themselves on a hot streak of late, earning seven of eight possible event titles and both all-around crowns over the weekend.
Georgia won all but floor at Auburn prior to sweeping NC State for the best score in each event. Sydney Snead leads the team with five combined event and all-around titles, followed by Rachel Schick (3) and Sabrina Vega (1).
Super Syd
It didn't take long for Sydney Snead to make an impact in collegiate gymnastics, as she won an event title on bars in her first-ever meet as a Gymdog (at Michigan, Jan. 9, 2016).
The sophomore leads this year's team with five event titles in the early running. She has two on vault, one on bars and two for the all-around.
The Raleigh, N.C. native also claims the team's highest score this season on vault (9.95) and second-highest on bars (9.9) and floor (9.9).
Gigi On That Beat
Junior Gigi Marino quietly produced great numbers on floor in 2016, posting the 10th-best season all-time at UGA in the event. Marino's total of 157.975 points was second-best on the team, trailing only All-American Mary Beth Box and her 158.2125.
Marino's career numbers are equally impressive, if not more. In fact, if the Scottsdale, Ariz. native can maintain her career routine average on floor and can compete in 16 meets per year, she will finish as Georgia's all-time leading scorer on floor for a career.
The Scottsdale, Ariz. native has been consistent so far this season with a 9.825, 9.85 and 9.825 so far.
Sanders Gets Her Shot on Beam
Junior Hayley Sanders has wanted to compete on beam since arriving on campus, and she finally got her shot on Monday against NC State.
The McKinney, Texas native took a confident beam turn, performing to "Lip Gloss" by Lil Mama and scored a 9.775.
Head coach Danna Durante spoke after the meet about the long journey Sanders took to crack the beam lineup, progressing during practice and remaining patient while perfecting her routine, logging long hours and countless reps in the process before having her hard work pay off.
Gymdogs Remain a Draw
Georgia had its seventh-highest attendance for a season a year ago, averaging 9,212 fans per home meet. Over the regular season, the Gymdogs brought in an average of 10,055 fans per meet, the highest number in program history.
For the home opener, a Monday afternoon, Georgia had 9,872 fans packed into Stegeman Coliseum for their first home meet of the season. The crowd was treated to the team's highest score of the year as well as numerous career-best performances.
G.R.O.W. Debuts
The Gymdogs held their first edition of Gymdogs Reaching Our World (G.R.O.W.) following the meet against NC State. Vivi Babalis, Ashlyn Broussard, Gigi Marino and Natalie Vaculik spoke to a group of roughly 100 children and their families about trust and the role it plays in their lives, both in and out of gymnastics.
The gymnasts took questions for a little more than 20 minutes after the meet from the group before the crowd dispersed from the Suzanne Yoculan Gymnastics Center.
Following the Arkansas meet, Georgia will hold its second edition of G.R.O.W. Gracie Cherrey, Rachel Dickson, Morgan Reynolds and Rachel Schick will speak about appreciation and where that fits in to their world.
