Georgia Scores 196.075, Finishes Eighth at SEC Championship

Saturday, March 23

New Orleans, La.

3:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

196.075

197.275

Missouri

Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA

Georgia Scores 196.075, Finishes Eighth at SEC Championship

March 23, 2024 | Gymnastics

NEW ORLEANS --- The No. 18 University of Georgia gymnastics team scored a 196.075 to finish eighth at the SEC Championship in the Smoothie King Center on Saturday.

In the first session, Georgia finished behind Missouri (197.275), Arkansas (197.050), and Auburn (196.775). LSU was crowned SEC Champions with a 198.075, followed by Alabama (197.750), Kentucky (197.600), and Florida (197.300).

Freshmen and sophomores competed 22 of the 24 routines for the GymDogs at the championship.  Freshmen Anya Turner and Lily Smith finished top on beam in the first session and were individual champion runner-ups after both rookies scored a 9.950. Smith and Ja Free Scott finished tied for third overall on bars with scores of 9.925. Smith also had the highest all-around score for the first session, posting a 39.600 and finishing tied for fourth overall. She was Georgia's top finisher on all four events.

"This is not the performance we were expecting and we're disappointed," head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. "We have 22 of 24 routines performed by underclassmen and this was a new environment for them. We need to shake it off and prepare for regionals. I'm so proud of Lily Smith, Ja Free Scott, and Anya Turner.  They were not only top finishers of our session but of the entire championship."

Georgia started on floor, scoring a 48.875 in the first rotation.  Smith led the rotation for Georgia from the anchor spot with a 9.875.  Sidney Fitzgerald and Ady Wahl both contributed a 9.800 and two GymDogs had a tenth deduction for stepping out of bounds.

Moving onto vault, Georgia scored a 48.400 in the second rotation.  Again, it was Smith who led the rotation for the GymDogs, scoring a 9.850 in the second spot. Ashlyn La Clair and Naya Howard scores 9.800s and Ja Free Scott received a 9.750 for her stuck vault.

The GymDogs picked up momentum on bars, scoring a 49.450 in the third rotation. Smith and Scott led the squad with a 9.925 from the fifth and sixth spots in the lineup.  Howard and Holly Snyder both scored a 9.875 for their routines and Wahl swung to a 9.850.

Finishing on beam, Georgia added a 49.350 to the team total.  Smith and Turner received the highest scores of the session with a 9.950 for their near-perfect routines.  Zora Morgan and Battle contributed scores of 9.850 and 9.825, while Howard added a 9.775 for the GymDogs.

Next, the GymDogs await their fate for the NCAA Regional with host locations at Florida, Arkansas, Michigan, and Cal.

###