Georgia GymDogs' Freshman Shines at NCAA Regionals

The Georgia GymDogs may have fallen short of reaching the NCAA Gymnastics Championships as a team, but their freshman standout Lily Smith ensured the program would still have representation on the national stage. In a historic performance at the NCAA Gainesville Regional, Smith compiled an impressive all-around score of 39.675, winning the event title and qualifying her as an individual for the 2024 NCAA Gymnastics National Championship.

Smith’s all-around total was the highest by a Georgia freshman since Courtney Kupets’ 39.675 against Auburn in 2006, solidifying her status as one of the Bulldogs’ most promising young talents. The Limerick, Pennsylvania native delivered season-high scores on multiple events, notching a 9.975 on bars, 9.950 on beam, 9.925 on floor, and 9.825 on vault.

Her standout performance was a bright spot for the GymDogs, who bounced back from a disappointing SEC Championship with a season-high team score of 197.425 at the Gainesville Regional. While the team’s score wasn’t enough to advance to the national championships, it was Georgia’s best regional performance since 2019 and a promising sign for the future.

“Lily has been a revelation for us this season,” said Georgia head coach Courtney Kupets-Carter. “To see her rise to the occasion at such a crucial meet and deliver those kinds of scores as a freshman is truly remarkable. She’s set the bar high for herself, and we can’t wait to see what she can do on the national stage.”

Smith’s emergence has been a welcome development for the GymDogs, who battled injuries throughout the season and relied heavily on their talented freshman class to fill the void left by sidelined veterans. Her success at the Gainesville Regional earned her SEC Freshman of the Year honors, as she was the highest-ranked SEC freshman and 10th overall on bars with an NQS of 9.950.

Heading into the NCAA Championships, Smith will look to build on her momentum and continue her impressive rookie campaign. Ranked 20th in the country in the all-around, she’ll have the opportunity to compete against the nation’s best gymnasts and further etch her name in Georgia’s storied gymnastics history.

“I’m just trying to soak in every moment and enjoy the experience,” Smith said. “To have the chance to compete at the NCAA Championships as a freshman is a dream come true. I’m going to give it my all and represent Georgia to the best of my ability.”

For Kupets-Carter and the GymDogs, keeping Smith and the rest of the freshmen who stepped up this season will be a top priority in the offseason. With a talented core in place, Georgia could be poised to make serious noise in the SEC next year and potentially challenge for a spot at the national championships as a team.

But for now, all eyes will be on Smith as she looks to cap off her remarkable freshman campaign with a strong showing at the NCAA Gymnastics National Championship.