University of Georgia
Missouri
Dickson Leads Gymdogs to Season-Best Score
January 27, 2017 | Gymnastics
Highlights of the Georgia gymnastics team's victory over the Missouri Tigers including interviews with Morgan Reynolds, Rachel Dickson, and Coach Danna Durante..
Jan. 27, 2017
ATHENS, Ga. - The 12th-ranked Georgia Gymdogs (4-1, 3-1) claimed their highest score of the season and defeated No. 11 Missouri (5-2, 1-2) by a 197.075-196.075 score on Friday night in Stegeman Coliseum.
Freshman Rachel Dickson and senior Morgan Reynolds competed all-around for the first time in their careers, posting a 39.525 and 39.4, respectively. Dickson became the first freshman to compete all four events in a meet since Brittany Rogers in 2013.
Georgia saw a record-breaking night, which started in the first event of the meet when the team tied their season-best score on vault. Dickson registered career highs in all four events and in the all-around in the meet with a 9.9 on vault, 9.925 on bars, 9.75 on beam and 9.95 in her floor debut, and she took home event titles for vault, bars and floor as well as the all-around title. Reynolds (9.85 on bars), Hayley Sanders (9.875 on beam) and Beth Roberts (9.85 on floor) also posted career-best scores in the meet, and the 49.5 team score on floor was the Gymdogs' best score for any rotation this season.
"They're just fighters. They talk all the time about having each other's back," said Georgia head coach Danna Durante. "With it being our pink and green night, we talked in the circle yesterday about who are you competing for? Beyond your teammates. We know you are competing for them, for each other. But beyond that, who are you competing for? I think all of them had somebody. A loved one, a friend and some of them had several people who had passed away from cancer or who had fought that battle. The whole night was about fighting for something greater than ourselves."
The Gymdogs got a strong start with a 49.275 on vault, tying their best score of the season in the event. Dickson highlighted the team's effort with a 9.9 while all six competitors for Georgia posted a 9.825 or higher in the rotation. Ashlyn Broussard's 9.875 was a season high, followed by consecutive 9.825s from Reynolds and Roberts. Lauren Johnson and Gigi Marino then closed the rotation with a 9.85 and 9.825, respectively.
Georgia added to its score with a 49.225 on bars, including another event title for Dickson with a 9.925. Rachel Schick was close behind the freshman in the event with a 9.9, and Reynolds finished with her best bars routine with a career-best 9.85.
All six Gymdogs connected on their beam routines, with Sanders leading the way with a 9.875. Reynolds debuted the traditional moonwalk in the third rotation while Broussard (9.8) and Babalis (9.825) also made big contributions.
The Gymdogs then shined in the final event of the night, claiming a 49.5 on floor for the team's best score in any rotation this season. Reynolds got the team started with a 9.9, followed by a career-best 9.85 from Roberts. Dickson's 9.95 continued to build momentum, and Babalis followed with a season-best 9.85. Marino then closed the show with a 9.95, pushing Georgia past the 197-point barrier.
The Gymdogs return to action next Friday, February 3 as they host Kentucky at 7 p.m. in Stegeman Colisuem. The meet will be a "redout" to raise awareness for women's heart health.
For all the latest on Georgia gymnastics, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAGymnastics), Instagram (ugagymnastics), Facebook (Georgia Gymnastics) and Snapchat (UGAGymdogs), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
MEET RESULTS
Georgia - 197.075
Missouri - 196.075
Vault - 49.275
Ashlyn Broussard - 9.875, Morgan Reynolds - 9.825, Beth Roberts - 9.825, Rachel Dickson - 9.900, Lauren Johnson - 9.850, Gigi Marino - 9.825
Bars - 49.225
Hayley Sanders - 9.775, Morgan Reynolds - 9.850, Lauren Johnson - 9.775, Rachel Dickson - 9.925, Rachel Schick - 9.900
Beam - 49.075
Morgan Reynolds - 9.825, Hayley Sanders - 9.875, Rachel Dickson - 9.750, Ashlyn Broussard 9.800, Vivi Babalis - 9.825, Rachel Schick - 9.750
Floor - 49.500
Morgan Reynolds - 9.900, Beth Roberts - 9.850, Rachel Dickson - 9.950, Vivi Babalis - 9.850, Gigi Marino - 9.950
Players Mentioned
