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No. 8 Georgia Gymnastics To Face Auburn Friday

Posted on Jan 17, 2013 by Georgia Sport Communications  | 

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ATHENS——-Following its first win of the 2013 season, the eighth-ranked Georgia gymnastics team will face No. 24 Auburn Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum. The Gym Dogs are coming off a 196.200-195.775 win at Arkansas last Friday, while Auburn fell to Kentucky in its home opener, 195.525-194.250.

Georgia-Auburn History
This marks the 76th all-time meeting between Georgia and Auburn with the Gym Dogs holding a 72-3 advantage, including a 23-0 mark in Athens. In 27 dual meets between the two schools Georgia is 25-2.

Last year, the Gym Dogs won their dual meet against Auburn on the road, 195.975-195.600. Georgia also traveled to Auburn for the NCAA Regional and placed first with a 197.100.

Noteworthy
In the first two meets of the season, Georgia has a combined vault score of 98.625. That is the Gym Dogs’ highest vault score in the first two meets of the year since a 98.825 in 2003…Noel Couch missed has missed the first two weeks with an injury. From 2011-2012 she competed in the all-around in a school-record 28 consecutive meets…Cat Hires competed in the all-around for the first time in the season opener against Oklahoma. She tied her career-highs on vault (9.925) and bars (9.825). The Gym Dogs did not have an all-around competitor against Arkansas…Georgia has posted the high team score on vault, bars and beam in both meets this season, and a Georgia gymnast has also placed first or tied for first in all six of those events.

Freshmen Contribute Early On
Two of Georgia’s freshmen have contributed in the first two meets against Oklahoma and Kentucky. Brittany Rogers has competed on three events – vault, bars and beam – in both meets, while Brandie Jay earned a spot in the vault and floor lineups. The two have combined for 10 routines, with nine counting towards the team score.

Rankings
After securing its first win of the season Friday night at Arkansas, the Georgia gymnastics team moved up three spots to No. 8 in this week’s top 25 national rankings. Current rankings are based on a team’s average total score, and the Gym Dogs have a 195.813 average.

In the event rankings, Georgia is No. 2 nationally on vault with a 49.313 average. The Gym Dogs scored a 49.3 on vault in the season-opener, and topped that mark with a 49.325 against Arkansas. Georgia is ranked fifth on bars (49.088) and seventh on beam (49.0).

Individually, Shayla Worley is tied for fifth on beam with a 9.9 average, while Cat Hires is tied for sixth on vault (9.913). Sophomore Chelsea Davis is tied for 14th on bars with a 9.863.

2011 Flashback
Lindsey Cheek competed in the all-around for the first time in her career and tied the highest score in the country to date, logging a 39.550 to help No. 5 Georgia to a 196.650-194.975 win over Auburn Friday at Stegeman Coliseum. Cheek posted career-highs on all four routines include 9.9s or above on vault and bars, and claimed three event titles in addition to the all-around. Georgia swept the event titles with Cheek and Hilary Mauro taking vault, Cheek and Kat Ding taking bars, Cheek tying the Tigers’ Rachel Inniss for beam, and Cassidy McComb taking floor.

Up Next
Georgia will be back in action Monday afternoon against Stanford at 2 p.m. The Cardinal – currently ranked 12th – have won a pair of quad meets to start the season.

Tagged: uga gymnastics, gymdogs, ga bulldogs, georgia gymnastics, noel couch, shayla worley