‘Dawgs Encounter Setback in NCAA Regionals, Lily Smith Shines On…
Following a challenging performance at the SEC Championship marked by two falls on the vault, the GymDogs demonstrated resilience with a commendable showing at the NCAA Gainesville Regional. While the young squad narrowly missed advancing to the NCAA Championships, they achieved a season-high total score of 197.425, marking Georgia’s best regional score since 2019. This promising outcome signals hope for the future, especially considering the team’s struggles with injuries throughout the year.
Although the season concludes for most GymDogs, freshman Lily Smith stands out as she prepares to compete as an individual qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Gymnastics National Championship.
Hailing from Limerick, Pennsylvania, Smith secured her spot as an all-around competitor after impressively earning a score of 39.675 in the second round of the NCAA Gainesville Regional, clinching the event title.
Smith delivered her strongest all-around performance of the season in Gainesville, achieving remarkable scores of 9.975 on bars, 9.950 on beam, 9.925 on floor, and 9.825 on vault. This performance stands out as one of the best by a Bulldog freshman in history, matching Courtney Kupets’ score of 39.675 against Auburn in 2006.
Heading into the Nationals, Smith holds the 20th rank in the country in the all-around category and has been honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year for her outstanding achievements. Her impressive NQS of 9.950 places her as the highest-ranked SEC freshman and 10th overall on bars.
Coach Kupets-Carter’s top priority this offseason will be to nurture Smith and other freshmen who stepped up in the absence of injured teammates. With their continued development, the Bulldogs could emerge as formidable contenders in the SEC next season.
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