It has been a busy day in Bulldog Nation, and especially here at Dawg Sports, so I regret that I cannot give the Gym Dogs the full attention they deserve. However, it suffices to say that, as suddenly as the bottom appeared to have fallen out on the nation’s top women’s gymnastics program, the Red and Black bounced back with a convincing win over Kentucky.
The Wildcat gymnasts outdueled the Red and Black in the vault, edging the Athenians 49.15-48.95 in the event in Friday’s meet at Stegeman Coliseum. Nevertheless, the home team was much more poised this week, as no Georgia gymnast earned a mark below 9.7 and three carded a 9.8 or better.
After that, the Gym Dogs took charge on the bars, notching an overall 49.45 to the Blue and White’s 48.925 score. A pair of 9.9s from Courtney McCool and Gina Nuccio were eclipsed by Kat Ding’s 9.975.
Georgia earned cumulative tallies of 49.4 both on the beam and in the floor exercise to put up a total of 197.2, for a figure much more in line with what we have come to expect from the Red and Black. Scores of 9.9 or above were received by Hilary Mauro (beam), McCool (floor), Grace Taylor (beam), and Shayla Worley (beam and floor). Kentucky limped home with a 48.65 on the beam and a 48.725 in the floor exercise to tally a 195.45 mark.
That’s more like it! While a victory over Kentucky in a home meet only proves so much, the collective score posted by the Gym Dogs offered a very encouraging sign that quality Georgia gymnastics did not end when Suzanne Yoculan retired. Nice job, ladies.
I’m almost hesitant to say this, but it’s been a pretty good week in Bulldog Nation.
Go ‘Dawgs!