Georgia Finishes First at Kidney Care Gymnastics Championship

Saturday, March 16

Nashville, Tenn.

1:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

197.450

196.725

Maryland

Georgia gymnast Lily Smith during Georgia’s meet against LSU at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Cassie Baker/UGAAA)

Photo by: Cassie Baker/UGAAA

Georgia Finishes First at Kidney Care Gymnastics Championship

March 16, 2024 | Gymnastics

NASHVILLE --- The No. 20 University of Georgia gymnastics team posted its highest away score to finish first at the Kidney Care Gymnastics Championship with a 197.450.  The GymDogs beat No. 23 Maryland (196.725), Iowa (196.525), Pitt (195.925), and Talladega (192.450).

Freshmen Lily Smith and Ady Wahl competed all-around, compiling totals of 39.625 and 39.525 to finish first and third, respectively.  Wahl scored the highest of the day on vault with a 9.900 while Smith was the top finisher on bars, beam, and floor with a 9.950 on those three events.

"What a great meet," Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter said. "This was a good opportunity for our team to perform on podium ahead of the SEC Championship next week and I'm really proud of how they did.  We are right at the cusp of meeting everyone's full potential.  We are looking forward to carrying this momentum into postseason and peaking at the right time."

Georgia started on a bye before competing in Olympic order.  The GymDogs scored a 49.225 on vault.  Wahl led the rotation with a 9.900 from the anchor position and fellow freshman Jaydah Battle followed with a 9.875. Sophomore Ja Free Scott contributed a 9.850 and senior Ashlyn La Clair scored a 9.825 in the lead off spot.

Moving onto bars, the GymDogs scored a 49.350.  Smith was the top scorer of the event with a 9.950.  Wahl and sophomore Naya Howard both scored a 9.875.

Georgia continued to build, adding a 49.425 on beam.  Again it was Smith who led the team with a 9.950 from the fifth spot in the lineup.  Freshman Anya Turner scored a 9.900 and Scott moonwalked her way to a 9.875.  Howard received a 9.875 from the lead off position.

Finishing on floor, the GymDogs tallied a 49.450 for the rotation.  Smith led the event with a 9.950 from the anchor spot after fellow freshmen Wahl and Holly Snyder received a 9.925 and 9.900, respectively- all three matching their season-high marks.  Sophomore Sidney Fitzgerald and La Clair both contributed scores of 9.850 for their routines.

The GymDogs will compete at the SEC Championship in New Orleans on March 23 at the Smoothie King Center.

FINAL RESULTS
GEORGIA: 197.450 (VT- 49.225, UB- 49.325, BB- 49.425, FX- 49.475)
MARYLAND: 196.725 (VT- 49.275, UB- 49.225, BB- 48.950, FX- 49.275)
IOWA: 196.525 (VT- 48.950, UB- 49.075, BB- 49.200, FX- 49.300)
PITT: 195.925 (VT- 49.000, UB- 48.975, BB- 48.825, FX- 49.125)
TALLADEGA: 192.450 (VT- 48.400, UB- 47.775, BB- 47.325, FX- 48.950)

VAULT- 49.225
Ashlyn LaClair: 9.825
Jaydah Battle: 9.875
Lily Smith: 9.775
Ja Free Scott: 9.850
Naya Howard: 9.775
Ady Wahl: 9.900

BARS- 49.325
Sidney Fitzgerald: 9.800
Naya Howard: 9.875
Ady Wahl: 9.875
Holly Snyder: 9.825
Ja Free Scott: 9.250
Lily Smith: 9.950

BEAM- 49.425
Naya Howard: 9.875
Ady Wahl: 9.825
Jaydah Battle: 9.775
Anya Turner: 9.900
Lily Smith: 9.950
Ja Free Scott: 9.875

FLOOR- 49.425
Eryn Williams: 9.800
Sidney Fitzgerald: 9.850
Ashlyn LaClair: 9.850
Ady Wahl: 9.925
Holly Snyder: 9.900
Lily Smith: 9.950