Dekanoidze Wins Twice Against Kentucky As Gymnastics Honors Senior Class

Friday, March 8

Chapel Hill, NC

7:30 p.m. ET

North Carolina

196.525

197.800

Kentucky

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

Dekanoidze Wins Twice Against Kentucky As Gymnastics Honors Senior Class

March 8, 2024 | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Lali Dekanoidze shared event titles on vault and bars to highlight a successful meet against Kentucky for the North Carolina gymnastics team during its final home competition of the 2024 season at Carmichael Arena on Friday night.

With three rotations above 49.0, the Tar Heels totaled 196.525 for their second highest team score of the year. The Wildcats, who are ranked sixth nationally, won the meet in 197.800.

At the conclusion of the meet, the Tar Heels honored their graduating class in seniors Kate Greene, Allison LaNasa, Jamie Shearer and Cory Shinohara as well as graduate student Hallie Thompson for Senior Night presented by Carolina Alumni.

All-Around
Julia Knower finished second in the all-around competition with a final tally of 39.375, her second highest score this year. She received marks of 9.85 on vault, 9.825 on bars, 9.8 on beam and 9.9 on floor.

Gwen Fink was also on all-around duty, ending the meet with 39.150 which was also her second-best score of the season. The sophomore's total came after a 9.8 on vault, 9.875 on bars, 9.8 on beam and 9.575 on floor.

Rotation One – Vault (49.025)
Lali Dekanoidze, whose career best on vault ranks third in program history, led the way for the Tar Heels during the opening rotation. The junior recorded a 9.875 to be in a four-way tie for first place, her 15th event title on vault.

Knower followed with a 9.85 while Fink received a 9.8, with both gymnasts earning their second-highest marks of the year. Paige Prejean had a season-high 9.775 while Shinohara's 9.725 also scored for UNC.

The Tar Heels opened the meet with a 49.025, their fourth score of 49.0+ on vault this year. The Wildcats posted a 49.250.

Rotation Two – Bars (49.400)
Dekanoidze once again found herself in the top spot, this time on bars with a season-high 9.95. The program record holder on the event, she tied for first place in what was also her 15th event title on bars. It was her 16th routine of 9.9+ on bars.

Isabelle Schaefer also put together an impressive performance on her signature event, as her 9.925 earned her a second place finish. It matched her career-high for the fourth time this year and marked her eighth score ever above a 9.9.

Also scoring for the home team was Fink's 9.875, Knower's 9.825 and Amy Wozniak's 9.825. Wozniak matched the best score of her career.

Carolina's 49.400 was its highest team bars score of the 2024 campaign, surpassing its 49.300 from Feb. 16. Kentucky was slightly higher with a 49.500.

Rotation Three – Beam (48.975)
Jessica Naranjo produced a team-high 9.85 on beam in the Tar Heels' third rotation. It was a new career high for the freshman who erased her previous mark of 9.825 done twice prior.

Routines that also counted for Carolina included a pair of 9.8s from Fink and Knower, a 9.775 from Thompson and Shearer's 9.775. Both seniors, it was the final routine in Carmichael Arena for Thompson and Shearer.

The home team totaled 48.975 on beam while the visitors' team score stood at 49.450.

Rotation Four – Floor (49.125)
North Carolina had a strong floor performance to end the meet after a pair of 9.9s from Forbes and Knower. Forbes' 9.9 matched her personal best for the second time this season and was the third routine of 9.9+ of her career. Knower saw her 22nd 9.9+ routine and her 14th on floor.

Another standout floor showing came from Bella Miller with a career-high 9.875, eclipsing her 9.85 from Feb. 11. Scores from Wozniak (9.775) and Fink (9.675) also contributed.

The Tar Heels finished with a 49.125 on floor while the Wildcats totaled 49.600.

Up Next
Next, the Tar Heels travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a meet at third-ranked LSU on Friday, March 15, for the regular season finale. Competition will start at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and will air on SEC Network+.

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