The 8th-ranked Georgia GymDogs stayed perfect with a second win over a Top-25 team defeating #2 LSU 197.200-196.850 in the home opener at Stegman Coliseum Friday night.
LSU rolled into Athens brimming with confidence after going 2-0-1 against the top-ranked Sooners, fourth-ranked Bruins, and fifth-ranked Utes. The Tigers hadn’t loss to the GymDogs since 2016 when the freshman and sophomores were finishing up elementary school.
Georgia is off to its first 2-0 start since 2023 when they defeated Oregon State and Rutgers in Las Vegas at the Super 16. Winning a championship is every coach’s goal. For second-year head coaches Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts, winning a championship is a step towards returning the GymDogs to the powerhouse form that Suzanne Yoculan built over the course of a 26 year Hall of Fame career. Yoculan won ten NCAA championships including five straight from 2005-2009.
In 2016, 11th-ranked Georgia beat 5th-ranked LSU 197.525-196.800.
Georgia – 197.525 (VT – 49.425, UB – 49.250, BB – 49.425, FX – 49.425)
LSU – 196.800 (VT – 49.275, UB – 49.200, BB – 49.050, FX – 49.275)
Compared to the scores this time around
Georgia – 197.200 (VT – 49.250, UB – 49.275, BB – 49.200, FX – 49.475)
LSU – 196.850 (VT – 49.075, UB – 49.375, BB – 49.450, FX – 48.950)
The GymDogs trailed after the opening rotation on the bars and vault competitions. LSU’s Lexi Zeiss opened up on the uneven bars with a 9.900 and Konnor McClain shut it down with a 9.950. Nyla Aquino and Avery Moll posted a pair of 9.900s to keep Georgia close.
Georgia pulled ahead at the halfway point 98.525-98.450 on the strength of a fine performance on the bars. Lily Smith posted a near-perfect 9.950 to edge LSUs performance on the vault.
LSU was a bit better head-to-head on the balance beam 49.450 – 49.200. Kailin Chio posted a 9.950 and teammate Amari Drayton dropped a 9.925 to lead the Tigers. Georgia was led by Holly Snyder’s 9.925 and Ja’Free Scott’s 9.875.
Where the GymDogs shined the brightest was on the floor routine. CaMarah Williams, Aquino, and Smith finished up the scoring with 9.925, 9.925, and 9.950.
Co-head coach Roberts is looking forward to the remaining matches on the 2026 schedule. “I mean we went lights out on floor,” said Roberts. “We still can do better on all four, I think, but I mean for second meet of the year I’m I’m very optimistic about our season.”