University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: Ashley Potts
Gymnastics Falls Short In NCAA Regionals First Round
March 30, 2023 | Women's Gymnastics
DENVER, Colo. – The University of North Carolina gymnastics team battled but fell short in the first round of NCAA Regionals in Denver, Colorado, falling to Arizona, 196.050-194.600, at Magness Arena on Thursday afternoon.
The Tar Heels conclude the season with a 15-7 overall record, having gone a perfect 6-0 in East Atlantic Gymnastics League action to be crowned the regular season champion for the second year in a row.
Lali Dekanoidze (vault, bars) and Julia Knower (all-around) will continuing competing as individuals at NCAA Regionals and are back in action Friday during Session II beginning at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT).
Rotation One – Bars
Dekanoidze, the UNC program record holder, led the way on bars with a meet-high 9.900, her 10th score above the 9.9-threshold this season. Also scoring for the Tar Heels in their first rotation were Gwen Fink (9.800), Isabelle Schaefer (9.775), Knower (9.750) and Jamie Shearer (9.675).
North Carolina totaled 48.900 on its first rotation, slightly behind Arizona's 48.925.
Rotation Two – Vault
Dekanoidze once again posted the meet's highest score on vault as her performance earned a mark of 9.850. Knower tied for third at 9.800, while Fink (9.775), Schaefer (9.725) and Paige Prejean (9.650) contributed to UNC's total tally as well.
Both the Tar Heels and the Wildcats registered a team score of 48.800 on vault.
Rotation Three – Floor
Kaya Forbes produced a team-high 9.825 on floor and Fink matched her career-high 9.775 in Carolina's third rotation. Hannah Nam (9.750), Knower (9.550) and Bri Greenlow (9.000) also had routines that added to the team score.
Arizona had the higher score of the two programs at 49.350 followed by North Carolina's 47.900.
Rotation Four – Beam
The Tar Heels ended the meet on beam with Knower, Nam and Shearer all tying for third with matching scores of 9.825. Taylor Schulze (9.800) and Hallie Thompson (9.725) rounded out UNC's scorers.
North Carolina totaled 49.000 on its final rotation, ahead of Arizona's 48.975.
Up Next
North Carolina's season competing as a team has come to end following today's result. However, Dekanoidze (vault, bars) and Knower (all-around) qualified as individuals for NCAA Regionals and will go again Friday, March 31, at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT).
The sophomore duo will compete individually in Session II at Magness Arena in conjunction with the team competition between Arizona, Denver, Michigan and Minnesota. Knower will be paired with Arizona for all four events and Dekanoidze will rotate with Denver.
Tomorrow's meet will be streamed on ESPN+ and live scoring can be found here.
Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Tar Heels conclude the season with a 15-7 overall record, having gone a perfect 6-0 in East Atlantic Gymnastics League action to be crowned the regular season champion for the second year in a row.
Lali Dekanoidze (vault, bars) and Julia Knower (all-around) will continuing competing as individuals at NCAA Regionals and are back in action Friday during Session II beginning at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT).
Rotation One – Bars
Dekanoidze, the UNC program record holder, led the way on bars with a meet-high 9.900, her 10th score above the 9.9-threshold this season. Also scoring for the Tar Heels in their first rotation were Gwen Fink (9.800), Isabelle Schaefer (9.775), Knower (9.750) and Jamie Shearer (9.675).
North Carolina totaled 48.900 on its first rotation, slightly behind Arizona's 48.925.
Rotation Two – Vault
Dekanoidze once again posted the meet's highest score on vault as her performance earned a mark of 9.850. Knower tied for third at 9.800, while Fink (9.775), Schaefer (9.725) and Paige Prejean (9.650) contributed to UNC's total tally as well.
Both the Tar Heels and the Wildcats registered a team score of 48.800 on vault.
Rotation Three – Floor
Kaya Forbes produced a team-high 9.825 on floor and Fink matched her career-high 9.775 in Carolina's third rotation. Hannah Nam (9.750), Knower (9.550) and Bri Greenlow (9.000) also had routines that added to the team score.
Arizona had the higher score of the two programs at 49.350 followed by North Carolina's 47.900.
Rotation Four – Beam
The Tar Heels ended the meet on beam with Knower, Nam and Shearer all tying for third with matching scores of 9.825. Taylor Schulze (9.800) and Hallie Thompson (9.725) rounded out UNC's scorers.
North Carolina totaled 49.000 on its final rotation, ahead of Arizona's 48.975.
Up Next
North Carolina's season competing as a team has come to end following today's result. However, Dekanoidze (vault, bars) and Knower (all-around) qualified as individuals for NCAA Regionals and will go again Friday, March 31, at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT).
The sophomore duo will compete individually in Session II at Magness Arena in conjunction with the team competition between Arizona, Denver, Michigan and Minnesota. Knower will be paired with Arizona for all four events and Dekanoidze will rotate with Denver.
Tomorrow's meet will be streamed on ESPN+ and live scoring can be found here.
Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
UNC Football: Lopez, June Shine in Win at Syracuse, 27-10
Saturday, November 01
UNC Volleyball: Tar Heels Upset #7 SMU in 5 Sets
Saturday, November 01
UNC Field Hockey: Tar Heels Battle Back to Top Duke in OT, 2-1
Saturday, November 01
Carolina Insider - Football at Syracuse Preview (Full Segment) - October 30, 2025
Friday, October 31

























