Friday, February 17
Athens, Ga.
6:45 p.m.
University of Georgia
197.325
vs
197.525
Alabama
Georgia Scores Season Best 197.325 Against Alabama
February 17, 2023 | Gymnastics
ATHENS, Ga. --- The University of Georgia gymnastics team scored a season best 197.325 in front of a sold out crowd in Stegeman Coliseum on Friday night, but ultimately fell to Alabama's 197.525.
With outstanding performances in the final two rotations, the GymDogs posted their best beam (49.400) and floor (49.500) scores of the season to finish the meet. Graduate Josie Angeny and senior Haley de Jong each notched season-high scores on beam (9.925). Angeny also reached her season-high on vault (9.825). Freshman Naya Howard flipped to a career-high on floor with a score of 9.900 while tying her career-high all around (39.475). Finnegan's career-high came on vault (9.850), as Sandra Elsadek scored her career-high on floor with a 9.925.
"It was great to be back in Stegeman Coliseum after three weeks on the road," head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. "Being on the road is a little bit more taxing and a little more difficult just because it's new and you have to make adjustments. So to do that three weeks in a row was hard on the team but I think it's going to prepare them for what we need to do postseason. I'm very glad we had some of those challenges along the way, but it is nice to get them back in more of a comfort. They know the equipment, they know their routine here. It's fun to be in the crowd, the crowd was amazing tonight. To have all of Stegman cheering for them, I know they had so much fun."
Beginning on vault, the GymDogs tallied a team total of 49.150. Senior Haley de Jong led the rotation with a 9.800 followed by senior Katie Finnegan's career-high score of 9.850. Freshman Naya Howard matched Finnegan with a 9.850 while graduate Josie Angeny notched her season-high of 9.825. Senior Amanda Cashman added to the GymDogs' total with a 9.825.
The GymDogs added 49.275 on bars with impressive 9.900 scores from both Howard and Finnegan. Both gymnasts matched their career highs with these beautiful routines. Angeny and Scott each scored a 9.825 with de Jong anchoring a 9.800.
Transitioning to beam, the GymDogs' strong performance added 49.400 to the team total. Howard began with a solid 9.800 followed by JaFree Scott's 9.800. The final three routines narrowed the score for the GymDogs with a 9.925 for Angeny, Deniz and de Jong. Angeny's 9.925 notched her season-high with a gorgeous beam routine followed by Deniz's 9.925 which tied her career-high. With de Jong in the anchor position scoring a 9.925 to match her season-high set a week ago, the GymDogs gained momentum for the final rotation.
"It's absolutely incredible to finish like that when you come off of a mistake in the middle of the lineup that's a little bit larger and you really do need those last three to hit," Kupets Carter continued. "So Josie Angeny who was up next, for her to go out and hit that routine in the moment we needed it, I think that set the rest of the lineup perfectly to just feel confident and comfortable with their routines."
The GymDogs wrapped up on floor with showstopping routines adding a season high 49.500 in the final rotation. Maeve Hahn's debut resulted in a 9.825 for the GymDogs. Sandra Elsadek followed with an impressive performance resulting in a career-high 9.925. Continuing to make way for the GymDogs, Howard notched her career-high with a score of 9.900. Cashman added a score of 9.900 for the second meet in a row with Hawthorne anchoring a 9.950, her third straight and fourth this season.
Senior Soraya Hawthorne's consistent floor performances continue to be a force for the GymDogs as she tied Alabama's Luisa Blanco as top floor scorer.
Georgia will continue its SEC competition next week at Auburn as they take on the 5th ranked Tigers on Friday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE GYMDOGS
For all the latest on Georgia gymnastics, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAGymnastics), Instagram (ugagymnastics), Facebook (Georgia Gymnastics), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
FINAL RESULTS
GEORGIA: 197.325 (VT- 49.150, UB- 49.275, BB- 49.400, FX- 49.500)
ALABAMA: 197.525 (VT- 49.350, UB- 49.375, BB- 49.325, FX- 49.475)
VAULT-
Haley de Jong: 9.800
Katie Finnegan: 9.850
Josie Angeny: 9.825
Amanda Cashman: 9.825
Naya Howard: 9.850
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.750
BARS-
Amanda Cashman: 9.725
Josie Angeny: 9.850
Naya Howard: 9.900
JaFree Scott: 9.825
Katie Finnegan: 9.900
Haley de Jong: 9.800
BEAM-
Naya Howard: 9.825
JaFree Scott: 9.800
Jacquie Moran: 9.500
Josie Angeny: 9.925
Vanessa Deniz: 9.925
Haley de Jong: 9.925
FLOOR-
Maeve Hahn: 9.825
Sandra Elsadek: 9.925
Naya Howard: 9.900
Amanda Cashman: 9.900
Haley de Jong: 9.700
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.950
With outstanding performances in the final two rotations, the GymDogs posted their best beam (49.400) and floor (49.500) scores of the season to finish the meet. Graduate Josie Angeny and senior Haley de Jong each notched season-high scores on beam (9.925). Angeny also reached her season-high on vault (9.825). Freshman Naya Howard flipped to a career-high on floor with a score of 9.900 while tying her career-high all around (39.475). Finnegan's career-high came on vault (9.850), as Sandra Elsadek scored her career-high on floor with a 9.925.
"It was great to be back in Stegeman Coliseum after three weeks on the road," head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. "Being on the road is a little bit more taxing and a little more difficult just because it's new and you have to make adjustments. So to do that three weeks in a row was hard on the team but I think it's going to prepare them for what we need to do postseason. I'm very glad we had some of those challenges along the way, but it is nice to get them back in more of a comfort. They know the equipment, they know their routine here. It's fun to be in the crowd, the crowd was amazing tonight. To have all of Stegman cheering for them, I know they had so much fun."
Beginning on vault, the GymDogs tallied a team total of 49.150. Senior Haley de Jong led the rotation with a 9.800 followed by senior Katie Finnegan's career-high score of 9.850. Freshman Naya Howard matched Finnegan with a 9.850 while graduate Josie Angeny notched her season-high of 9.825. Senior Amanda Cashman added to the GymDogs' total with a 9.825.
The GymDogs added 49.275 on bars with impressive 9.900 scores from both Howard and Finnegan. Both gymnasts matched their career highs with these beautiful routines. Angeny and Scott each scored a 9.825 with de Jong anchoring a 9.800.
Transitioning to beam, the GymDogs' strong performance added 49.400 to the team total. Howard began with a solid 9.800 followed by JaFree Scott's 9.800. The final three routines narrowed the score for the GymDogs with a 9.925 for Angeny, Deniz and de Jong. Angeny's 9.925 notched her season-high with a gorgeous beam routine followed by Deniz's 9.925 which tied her career-high. With de Jong in the anchor position scoring a 9.925 to match her season-high set a week ago, the GymDogs gained momentum for the final rotation.
"It's absolutely incredible to finish like that when you come off of a mistake in the middle of the lineup that's a little bit larger and you really do need those last three to hit," Kupets Carter continued. "So Josie Angeny who was up next, for her to go out and hit that routine in the moment we needed it, I think that set the rest of the lineup perfectly to just feel confident and comfortable with their routines."
The GymDogs wrapped up on floor with showstopping routines adding a season high 49.500 in the final rotation. Maeve Hahn's debut resulted in a 9.825 for the GymDogs. Sandra Elsadek followed with an impressive performance resulting in a career-high 9.925. Continuing to make way for the GymDogs, Howard notched her career-high with a score of 9.900. Cashman added a score of 9.900 for the second meet in a row with Hawthorne anchoring a 9.950, her third straight and fourth this season.
Senior Soraya Hawthorne's consistent floor performances continue to be a force for the GymDogs as she tied Alabama's Luisa Blanco as top floor scorer.
Georgia will continue its SEC competition next week at Auburn as they take on the 5th ranked Tigers on Friday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE GYMDOGS
For all the latest on Georgia gymnastics, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAGymnastics), Instagram (ugagymnastics), Facebook (Georgia Gymnastics), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
FINAL RESULTS
GEORGIA: 197.325 (VT- 49.150, UB- 49.275, BB- 49.400, FX- 49.500)
ALABAMA: 197.525 (VT- 49.350, UB- 49.375, BB- 49.325, FX- 49.475)
VAULT-
Haley de Jong: 9.800
Katie Finnegan: 9.850
Josie Angeny: 9.825
Amanda Cashman: 9.825
Naya Howard: 9.850
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.750
BARS-
Amanda Cashman: 9.725
Josie Angeny: 9.850
Naya Howard: 9.900
JaFree Scott: 9.825
Katie Finnegan: 9.900
Haley de Jong: 9.800
BEAM-
Naya Howard: 9.825
JaFree Scott: 9.800
Jacquie Moran: 9.500
Josie Angeny: 9.925
Vanessa Deniz: 9.925
Haley de Jong: 9.925
FLOOR-
Maeve Hahn: 9.825
Sandra Elsadek: 9.925
Naya Howard: 9.900
Amanda Cashman: 9.900
Haley de Jong: 9.700
Soraya Hawthorne: 9.950
Players Mentioned
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