(c) GymShark


We all wondered who would come out on top at the LSU vs. UGA competition Friday night and it looks the Tigers were the victors! They proved that their performance against Auburn was just an “off meet” and they were back on their game! Last night was also the first time the Tigers hit 197 at home, causing fans to go wild! The fact that it was autograph night was just an extra perk.

 The Tigers started off strong on Vault with Kaleigh Dickson scoring a career high 9.90. Britney Taylor and Jessie Jordan also scored 9.90’s back to back. Maliah Mathis with a 9.775, Randi Lau scored  with a 9.875, and Rheagan Courville scored a 9.925! The fans went wild!

 
(c) Erin Long

The Georgia Gym Dawgs started off on bars. Brandie Jay had an uncharacteristic fall landing her a 9.425 but the rest of the team kept it together, earning UGA a 49.25 bar score. Lindsey Cheek scored a 9.8, Christa Tanella and Shayla Worley received a 9.825, and both Chelsea Davis and Brittany Rogers scored a 9.90.

 The next event for the Tigers was bars. Fans were worried when Jessie Jordan started off the rotation with a fall scoring a 9.125. However, the rest of the team pulled through. Britney Ranzy scored a 9.75, Kaleigh Dickson scored a 9.85, Rheagan Courville with a 9.85, and Randii Wyrick scored a career high 9.925!

 Georgia was now on vault and feeling the pressure. LSU was leading them 98.800 to 98.450. Chelsea Davis came out strong with a 9.90. Sarah Persinger was next, and scored a 9.75 with a difficult landing, and Cat Hires came out with a 9.825. Brittany Rogers, Lindsey Cheek, and Brandie Jay all stayed in the 9.80 range scoring a 9.80, 9.85, and 9.825 respectively.

 By this point, all of the fans, Georgia and LSU, were going crazy in the Pete Maravich Center. Both of their teams were posting great scores.

 Then came beam…

LSU struggled a little bit with a fall by Britney Ranzy, 9.075, and a huge save on her double back dismount by Lloimincia Hall, 9.65. Kaleigh Dickson contributed a 9.775, as did Britney Taylor with a 9.725. Rheagan Courville performed almost flawlessly, scoring a 9.825 and Jessie Jordan made a huge come back from bars, scoring a 9.875!

 
(c)Erin Long

Although the Gym Dawgs were eight hours away from home, they still managed to entertain the crowd with their fun and energetic floor routines. The scores were as follows: Kaylan Earls, 9.8. Christa Tanella, 9.875. Sarah Persinger, 9.85. Brittany Rogers, 9.675. Shayla Worley, 9.775, and Brandie Jay scored a 9.85.

 

Now it was time for the No. 1 Nationally Ranked team on floor, do their thing on their best event! It was clear that the Tigers were excited. They stormed the floor, getting the entire arena on their feet just as a football team does in the fourth quarter. LSU came out solid with Jessie Jordan scoring a 9.8, and Kaleigh Dickson scoring a 9.85. Jessica Savona pumped the crowd up with her Michael Jackson routine, scoring a 9.875, and Maliah Mathis tied with Savona, scoring a 9.875. Then came Lloimincia Hall. The crowd erupted in cheers before she stepped foot on the floor, and they had a reason to. She scored a 9.95 for the team!

 

While the Tigers were rocking the floor, UGA was trying to keep cool on beam. They did just that. Sarah Persinger scored a 9.725, Lindsey Cheek scored a 9.875, Brittany Rogers and Kaylan Earls tied with a 9.80, and Kati Brezeal scored a 9.75. They weren’t done there. Shayla Worley came out with a 9.90 on beam!

The Georgia Gym Dawgs put up a good fight, but the Louisiana State University Tigers came out on top with a 197.050. UGA finished with a 196.825.

 The crowd was amazing, and the energy was great by both teams the entire night. It was truly the amazing competition we all hoped to see.

Will the Tigers be able to do the same against the Alabama Crimson Tide next week? Keep checking Gymnastike to find out!