GymDogs Receive Top Scores, Finish Third at Metroplex Challenge

Saturday, February 11

Fort Worth, Texas

University of Georgia

196.100

197.600

Utah

GymDogs Receive Top Scores, Finish Third at Metroplex Challenge

February 11, 2023 | Gymnastics

FORT WORTH, Texas ---  The University of Georgia gymnastics team scored a 196.100 to finish third at the Metroplex Challenge against Utah, Illinois, and Illinois State on Saturday afternoon at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Utah finished first with a 197.600, followed by Illinois with a 196.300. After the GymDogs in third, Illinois State scored a 195.850 to finish fourth.

Georgia gymnasts finished with top scores on each event of the day and all-around. Seniors Haley de Jong and Soraya Hawthorne shared the event title on floor after both GymDogs scored a 9.950.  Howard was the top all-around finisher of the day with a 39.025..

De Jong's show-stopping 9.950 on floor marked a career-high, while her beam score of 9.925 notched a season-high.

"The second half of our lineup on all four events did really well," head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. "We had gymnasts with top scores of the meet on every event. It's the first few routines in our lineup that we have to figure out. We have to fix errors and be able to adjust in-meet.  We're looking forward to being back in Stegeman Coliseum next week."

Competition started on beam for the GymDogs, notching a 48.700.  De Jong led the charge with a 9.925 in the anchor position. Senior Vanessa Deniz and Hawthorne both scored a 9.850.

Moving on to floor, the GymDogs totaled a 49.150.  The first three routines struggled before senior Amanda Cashman changed the momentum with a 9.900.  De Jong followed with a beautiful routine, receiving her career-high score of 9.950 and Hawthorne closed out the rotation matching her season-high of 9.950.

The GymDogs added a 48.925 on vault. Howard received the top score of the day with a 9.850 and junior Katie Finnegan followed with a 9.825.  Cashman added a 9.775 and graduate Josie Angeny contributed a 9.750 in her vault line-up debut as a GymDog.

Georgia finished strong on bars, moving into third place with a 49.325. Howard, Scott, and de Jong all scored a 9.900 for their routines and Finnegan swung to a 9.825.

The GymDogs are back home in Stegeman Coliseum on Friday, February 17 against Alabama.  The meet is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network's Friday Night Heights.

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FINAL RESULTS
UTAH: 197.600 (VT- 48.975, UB- 49.550, BB- 49.600, FX- 49.475)
ILLINOIS: 196.300 (VT- 48.875, UB- 49.125, BB- 49.125, FX- 49.175)
GEORGIA: 196.100 (VT- 48.925, UB- 49.325, BB- 48.700, FX- 49.150)
ILLINOIS STATE: 195.850 (VT- 48.825, UB- 48.900, BB- 48.925, FX- 49.200)

VAULT- 48.925
Josie Angeny:  9.750
Katie Finnegan: 9.825
Sandra Elsadek: 9.725
Amanda Cashman: 9.775
Naya Howard: 9.850
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.700

BARS- 49.325
Amanda Cashman: 9.800
Josie Angeny: 9.300
Naya Howard: 9.900
JaFree Scott: 9.900
Katie Finnegan: 9.825
Haley de Jong: 9.900

BEAM- 48.700
Naya Howard: 9.675
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.200
Jacquie Moran: 9.850
Josie Angeny: 9.400
Vanessa Deniz: 9.850
Haley de Jong: 9.925

FLOOR- 49.150
Eryn Williams: 9.675
Sandra Elsadek: 9.675
Naya Howard: 9.600
Amanda Cashman: 9.900
Haley de Jong: 9.950
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.950