NCAA Gymnastics: Georgia Finishes Sixth At NCAA Championships

Photo by Sonny Kennedy, http://www.sonnykennedyphotography.com/

The Georgia gymnastics team scored a 196.675 to finish sixth in the NCAA Super Six Saturday at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.

Florida won its first NCAA title with a 197.575, followed by Oklahoma (197.375), Alabama (197.350), UCLA (197.100), LSU (197.050) and Georgia (196.675). This marks Georgia’s best finish since 2009.

“It was an honor to lead this team into the Super Six,” said UGA coach Danna Durante. “I know that Georgia wants to win titles, but I’m so proud of this team. They trusted us as a staff and came together as a team and made it back to Super Six. They weren’t their best tonight, but they were respectable. The juniors and sophomores are fueled. They want to do even more next year.”

Georgia opened the meet with a 49.05 on floor as Sarah Persinger posted the team-high with a 9.85. After the first rotation, UCLA led with a 49.375. Florida counted a fall in the first rotation and had a 48.875 on beam.

The Gym Dogs went to beam in the second rotation and scored a 49.2 behind a team-best 9.875 by Brittany Rogers. After two rotations Georgia had a 98.25.

Georgia had a bye in the third rotation, and Florida surged into second place with a 49.725 on floor. At the halfway point, Alabama led with a 98.75, followed by the Gators with a 98.6.

Georgia used four 9.85s and a 9.8 on bars in the fourth rotation to score a 49.2. Florida led with a 148.1 with UCLA close behind with a 148.0

Photo by Sonny Kennedy, http://www.sonnykennedyphotography.com/

Shayla Worley turned in Georgia’s high score for the meet with a 9.9 on beam in the fifth rotation as the Gym Dogs scored a 49.225.

The Gators sealed the win with a 49.475 on bars in the final rotation.

“This whole year has been an amazing journey and we have so many thing to be proud of,” Worley said. “Tonight we special for us seniors, because it was something we hadn’t done yet. We wanted to win and finish on top, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way. As seniors we hope that we left behind a legacy for leadership so that next year they can rise even further.”

Three Georgia gymnasts will compete in the individual event finals on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. Brandie Jay and Chelsea Davis will be seventh and eighth, respectively, in the vault lineup, and Lindsey Cheek will go 20th. Davis will also compete on bars at the No. 8 spot out of 10 competitors.
Team Results
1. Florida – 197.575 (VT – 49.5, UB – 49.475, BB – 48.875, FX – 49.725)
2. Oklahoma – 197.375 (VT – 49.125, UB – 49.375, BB – 49.475, FX – 49.4)
3. Alabama – 197.350 (VT – 49.25, UB – 49.375, BB – 49.225, FX – 49.5)
4. UCLA – 197.100 (VT – 49.1, UB – 49.375, BB – 49.175, FX – 49.45)
5. LSU – 197.050 (VT – 49.175, UB – 49.2, BB – 49.125, FX – 49.55)
6. Georgia – 196.675 (VT – 49.2, UB – 49.2, BB – 49.225, FX – 49.05)

Georgia’s Individual Results
Vault (49.2)
Chelsea Davis – 9.85, Noel Couch – 9.65, Cat Hires – 9.85, Brittany Rogers – 9.875, Lindsey Cheek – 9.8, Brandie Jay – 9.825

Bars (49.2)
Lindsey Cheek – 9.85, Christa Tanella – 9.85, Brandie Jay – 9.8, Shayla Worley – 9.85, Brittany Rogers – 9.85, Chelsea Davis – 9.7

Beam (49.225)
Sarah Persinger – 9.825, Noel Couch – 9.8, Lindsey Cheek – ,9.7 Brittany Rogers – 9.875, Shayla Worley – 9.9, Kaylan Earls – 9.825

Floor (49.05)
Kaylan Earls – 9.8, Christa Tanella – 9.825, Sarah Persinger – 9.85, Shayla Worley – 9.05, Noel Couch – 9.875, Brandie Jay – 9.7

All photos copyrighted property of Sonny Kennedy, sonnykennedyphotography.com/