Georgia GymDogs Begin Season at Super 16

Meet Information
Super 16, Session 2
No. 20 Georgia, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 17 Stanford, Rutgers
Friday, January 6 | 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT | Orleans Arena | Las Vegas
Watch: Big Ten Network
MEDIA GUIDE
MEET NOTES
SUPER 16 INFO

LAS VEGAS- The University of Georgia gymnastics team opens the 2023 season at the Inaugural Super 16 presented by Ozone on Friday, January 6 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Georgia will compete in the second session on Friday against Oregon State, Stanford, and Rutgers, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. local time. The meet will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

The 2023 Georgia roster features seven returners and 11 newcomers, three of which are transfers. The GymDogs showcased their new depth at the Annual First Look in December with 15 of the 18 Georgia gymnasts performing routines.  Senior Haley de Jong and freshman Naya Howard competed in all four events, with an additional five gymnasts going up on three apparatuses. In total, Georgia had seven gymnasts on vault, 11 on bars, 10 on beam, and 11 on floor with the potential for more.

HAWTHORNE CONTINUES THE MOONWALK
Senior Soraya Hawthorne assumed the responsibility of taking over the Georgia moonwalk tradition on beam as a sophomore and debuted the move at LSU in 2021. She is the seventh GymDog to perform the moonwalk on the balance beam, following Nikki Childs, Cassidy McComb, Lindsey Cheek, Mary Beth Box, Morgan Reynolds, and Sabrina Vega.

GYMDOGS IN SEASON OPENERS
Georgia is 3-2 in season openers under head coach Courtney Kupets Carter. This is the second time her team will open the season with a quad-meet, last time being in 2020 at the Critique Classic in Orlando with Oregon State, Iowa and Bridgeport.

THE TOP-RANKED SIGNING CLASS
According to collegegymnews.com, the Georgia GymDogs signed the No. 1 recruiting class for 2023.

The class includes Jaydah Battle of Hampton, Virginia, Kelsey Lee of Bradenton, Florida, Zora Morgan of Atlanta, Georgia, Heather Parker of Rockvale, Tennessee, Lily Smith of Limerick, Pennsylvania, Holly Snyder of Annapolis, Maryland, and Anya Turner of Highland Ranch, Colorado.

Kupets Carter on the class: "This is a momentous time for Georgia Gymnastics as we have signed the #1 recruiting class in the nation. We couldn't be more excited about this class. Our staff has worked extremely hard and we're ready to get to work with these talented athletes. Our signees know by coming here they will receive an outstanding education, be developed to become the best that they can be on and off the floor and compete for championships. These athletes have proven themselves as outstanding competitors on all four events and will impact our line-ups and team immediately. We have the best environment in college gymnastics, and I can't wait to see these athletes shine in Stegeman Coliseum."

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haley de Jong

Soraya Hawthorne

Naya Howard

University of Georgia Athletics