Updates and observations from UGA GymDogs at Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth

The stars were out to shine.

Four of the star teams across college gymnastics, that is. Georgia (4-1, 0-1 SEC) competed in the Metroplex Challenge on Saturday night alongside defending champion Oklahoma, rival Alabama and No. 4 Denver.

The Telegraph was at the Fort Worth Convention Center to bring live updates of the event.

PRE-MEET

Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets Carter sets her lineup. The GymDogs will compete in the following order.

▪ Beam: Mikayla Magee, Rachael Lukacs, Haley de Jong, Marissa Oakley, Rachel Baumann and Sabrina Vega

▪ Floor: Alyssa Perez-Lugones, Magee, Baumann, Soraya Hawthorne, Lukacs, Vega

▪ Vault: Amanda Cashman, Abbey Ward, Magee, Vega, Hawthorne, Lukacs

▪ Bars: Lukacs, Cashman, Loulie Hattaway, Megan Roberts, de Jong, Oakley

The four teams are introduced, and a celebrity-filled video starts it off. Georgia football legend David Pollack said, “I know y’all will take down Bama.” Snoop Dogg (yes, that Snoop Dogg) finished the video by wishing all competitors well.

BEAM

Mikayla Magee: 9.800

Magee skipped slightly on her dismount. Kupets Carter watched eagerly as the routine ended, because there were a lot of crisp elements. Reminder: Teams don’t get beam music, which gymnasts become accustomed to due to rhythm and flow, in a quad meet.

Rachael Lukacs: 9.650

Lukacs didn’t land her dismount clearly. There’s some frustration on the sophomore’s face after being solid on balance beam throughout the season’s early stages.

Haley de Jong: 9.800

I didn’t see whether the confetti made an appearance, but the freshman stuck her beam routine. Kupets Carter mumbled “come on, come on, come on” at the end and raised her arms before embracing de Jong when she landed.

Marissa Oakley: 9.825

A slight loss of balance, but regained. Oakley with a clean routine otherwise.

Rachel Baumann: 9.775

Baumann wobbled while finishing a pass, and then took a deep breath to recollect. She had some crisp elements, but also wobbled on dismount. Kupets Carter trying to keep her gymnasts encouraged.

Sabrina Vega: 9.825

The anchor did her thing, per usual. A result a bit lower than usual, but Vega brought some momentum with a roar after finishing.

SCORE: 49.025 — The GymDogs averaged a 49.275 on beam (fifth-best nationally) during their first three meets.

FLOOR

Alyssa Perez-Lugones: 9.775 (DROP)

Mikayla Magee: 9.800

Rachel Baumann: 9.800

A nice bounceback for Baumann. After a shakier-than-usual beam routine, she landed her floor passes and brought some energy.

Amanda Cashman: 9.800

Georgia pulled Soraya Hawthorne from the lineup after she performed an exhibition on balance beam. Hawthorne isn’t currently with her teammates, but is off to the side doing stretches with trainer Doug Contaoi. The freshman is listed in the vault lineup as of now. Baumann is the alternate.

Rachael Lukacs: 9.825

Sabrina Vega: 9.875

SCORE: 49.100 — Georgia entered the meet with an average of 49.358 (No. 4 nationally)

VAULT

Amanda Cashman: 9.575 (drop)

A significant stumble

Abbey Ward: 9.775

Mikayla Magee: 9.750

Sabrina Vega: 9.750

Soraya Hawthorne: 9.825

Back in lineup after leaving briefly with injury; cleanest landing of the first four vaulters

Rachael Lukacs: 9.850

Lukacs has been frustrated throughout warmups, even on vault. But she walked away satisfied with that double-twisting Yurchenko. Her signature celebration returned and teammates joined her at the bottom of the podium.

SCORE: 48.950 — Georgia’s vault averages, after being a strength last season, haven’t been as strong. It entered with the 14th-best mark at 49.067.

BARS

Rachael Lukacs: 9.850

Lukacs’ strongest bar routine this season, and tied a career-high. She exhaled, let out a big ‘Yes!’ and seemed a bit surprised.

Amanda Cashman: 9.850 (career-high)

Loulie Hattaway: 9.800

Megan Roberts: 9.850

Haley de Jong: 9.875

Marissa Oakley: 9.750 (drop)

SCORE: 49.225

In summary

FINAL: 196.300 — UGA records its second-highest total through four meets this season.

The GymDogs finished in last place as their record dropped to 4-4. Oklahoma won the meet with a 197.525 while Alabama and Denver tied with a 196.575.

This story was originally published January 25, 2020 at 7:14 PM with the headline "Updates and observations from UGA GymDogs at Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth."