Field Street Forum

Meet Information
Georgia vs No. 3 Florida
Friday, January 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Stegeman Coliseum | Athens, Ga.
Watch: SEC Network
Stats
Notes (PDF)

ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia gymnastics team is set to face Florida for its home opener on Friday, January 21 at Stegeman Coliseum with competition scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.

BAUMANN SISTERS BATTLE IN GEORGIA- FLORIDA RIVALRY     
Senior Rachel Baumann is set to face her older sister, Florida graduate senior Alyssa Baumann in the fourth and final “Battle of the Baumanns”.  The first duel in 2019 was the first time the sisters competed against each other and the GymDogs came out on top with an upset victory over the Gators, 197.450-197.375. It marked the first time the GymDogs beat Florida in Gainesville since 2008. The Gators won the next two dual-meets in 2020 and 2021.

Rachel is expected to compete beam for the GymDogs, while Alyssa will be in the lineup on beam and floor for the Gators.

FACING COVID CHALLENGES EARLY                                          
The GymDogs had to postpone meets two and three- at Kentucky and home against Iowa- due to COVID protocols within the program. The rescheduled date for Kentucky is February 4 in Lexington, the Iowa meet has yet to be determined.

COMPETING NEW SKILLS                                                         
Haley de Jong is competing a round-off, back handspring, back layout 3/1 in the first pass of her floor routine.  She competed this skill prior to coming to Georgia, but this is the first season she is competing it as a GymDog.

STEPPING UP FOR THE TEAM                                                    
Prior to this season, senior Abbey Ward had only competed bars twice in her collegiate career.  When she saw the lack of depth on the event, she stepped up and consistently trained the event so that she would be ready to compete for the GymDogs.

HAWTHORNE CONTINUES THE MOONWALK                                  
Junior Soraya Hawthorne assumed the responsibility of taking over the Georgia moonwalk tradition on beam as a sophomore and debuted the move at LSU in 2021. She is the seventh GymDog to perform the moonwalk on the balance beam, following Nikki Childs, Cassidy McComb, Lindsey Cheek, Mary Beth Box, Morgan Reynolds, and Sabrina Vega.

FOLLOW THE GYMDOGS
For all the latest on Georgia gymnastics, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAGymnastics), Instagram (ugagymnastics), Facebook (Georgia Gymnastics), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.