Georgia GymDogs beat Auburn

ATHENS, Ga.— The No. 20 Georgia gymnastics team beat No. 14 Auburn, 197.550-196.900, earning its highest all-around score since the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional, before 9,441 spectators on Friday evening inside Stegeman Coliseum.

The GymDogs swept the event titles, with each individual setting new career bests in the respective events. Lily Smith collected her second career all-around title with a 39.450 after setting a personal best on floor with a 9.950.

“We’ve been working really hard in the gym on the details, the landings, and just on the confidence going after all of their gymnastics,” head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. “We saw a lot of those pieces come together all in one night, especially with it being our last home meet. I think that’s a really good thing for us, this team and the excitement moving forward to two away meets and then post season starting. We knew this was going to a build, after some injuries at the beginning of the year, and they’ve done the work. Hopefully, they’re feeling what that work can bring them. They’re all very excited. I believe they’ve had a good night, so we’ll celebrate the seniors after this. “

Competing in in Olympic order, the GymDogs came out of the first rotation ahead after scoring a season-best 49.300 on vault. Ady Wahl anchored the team’s lineup, where she notched a career-best 9.950 and first career event title in her eighth routine. Ja’ Free Scott tied her personal-best as both her and Katie Finnegan earned a 9.850.

Georgia then moved onto bars where it earned another 49.300, marking the third time this season the GymDogs have reached that mark. Holly Snyder and Scott both claimed the event title after earning a 9.925 from the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Snyder’s score also gave her a new career high on bars. Wahl led the rotation with a 9.875, while Lily Smith earned a 9.850.

The Bulldogs then posted a 49.400 on beam, marking the first time since the 2020 season that Georgia reached the figure in multiple meets. Three GymDogs reached a score of 9.900 or better, with Jaydah Battle and Anya Turner both notching a career-highs of 9.925 and Scott tied her collegiate best of 9.900. Naya Howard led the lineup and tied her season-best of 9.850.

On floor, Smith capped the meet by earning her fourth career floor title. The freshman anchored Georgia’s lineup and notched her new best score of 9.950. Ashlyn La Clair tied her personal-best of 9.900, while in Holly Snyder’s first career floor routine, she earned a 9.875.

Georgia will next travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on the Michigan Wolverines on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. ET. The programs competed against each other last season in Gas South Arena in Duluth, where Michigan won by a 197.825-196.900 margin.

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FINAL RESULTS

GEORGIA: 197.550 (VT- 49.300, UB- 49.300, BB- 49.400, FX- 49450)

AUBURN: 196.900 (VT- 49.050, UB- 49.175, BB- 49.325, FX- 49.350)

VAULT-

Ashlyn La Clair: 9.775

Lily Smith: 9.825

Ja’ Free Scott: 9.850

Jaydah Battle: 9.825

Katie Finnegan: 9.850

Ady Wahl: 9.950

BARS-

Ady Wahl: 9.875

Katie Finnegan: 9.825

Naya Howard: 9.750

Holly Snyder: 9.925

Ja’ Free Scott: 9.925

Lily Smith: 9.850

BEAM-

Naya Howard: 9.850

Zora Morgan: 9.750

Jaydah Battle: 9.925

Anya Turner: 9.800

Lily Smith: 9.800

Ja’ Free Scott: 9.900

FLOOR-

Eryn Williams: 9.850

Sidney Fitzgerald: 9.875

Ashlyn Laclair: 9.900

Ady Wahl: 9.600

Holly Snyder: 9.875

Lily Smith: 9.950