Tar Heels Claim Three ACC Gymnastics Postseason Awards

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Three members of the North Carolina gymnastics team earned postseason awards from the Atlantic Coast Conference, as announced by the league on Saturday night following the 2025 ACC Championships in Greensboro, N.C.

Lali Dekanoidze was named the ACC Specialist of the Year while JoJo Valahovic was tabbed the ACC Newcomer of the Year. Danna Durante was also selected as the ACC Co-Coach of the Year.

Now in their second year competing in the ACC, these mark the Tar Heels' first major postseason awards from the conference in program history.

Dekanoidze picked up her second career end-of-season honor as she was also chosen as the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Co-Specialist of the Year in 2023. The senior, who specializes on vault and bars, earned All-ACC Team recognition on bars for the second year in a row.

The Matthews, N.C. native is one of two ACC gymnasts to score a perfect 10 on bars this season. She received that mark at the ACC Championships to break her own school record, becoming the fourth gymnast in program history to reach perfection. Eight of her 11 bar routines this year have been 9.9+.

With a national qualifying score of 9.93, she ranks second in the ACC and Southeast Region as well as eighth in the country on bars. Her average bar score of 9.907 leads the conference and sits at sixth in the nation.

She has won right event titles this season, all on bars. Also excelling on vault, Dekanoidze boasts an NQS of 9.815 to rank among in the ACC's top 18 and set a season-high 9.9 on March 22 at the conference meet.

Valahovic was selected as the ACC Newcomer of the Week four times this season, the most of any conference rookie. She became the first ACC gymnast to win the recognition more than two times, and the first Tar Heel to win multiple ACC weekly honors in the same season.

One of two conference freshmen to be named to the 2025 All-ACC Team, Valahovic earned the honor on vault for ranking fifth in the league with an NQS of 9.86. Her career-high 9.9 is tied for fourth in program history, and she is accompanied by just one other ACC rookie who has scored 9.9 or higher on vault this season.

The only ACC freshman to score a 9.95+ on beam, Valahovic ended the regular season ranked ninth in the league with an NQS of 9.87. Her career-high 9.95 – which she has done twice – is tied for third all time in Carolina laurels. Additionally, she has earned a career-high 9.9 on floor on three occasions.

A native of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, Valahovic has competed on vault, beam and floor every meet. Six of her routines have scored 9.9 or better. She has won four event titles, including a pair on vault.

Now in her fourth season at the helm, Durante – along with associate head coach Marie Denick and assistants Sami Durante-Money and Matt DeGrandpre – has continued to take UNC to new heights.

The Tar Heels were ranked in the NCAA's top 25 for nine straight weeks – their highest national rankings since the early 2000s – and several gymnasts ranked among the ACC's top 10 throughout the season. The team has scored 49.0+ in at least one rotation for 15 straight meets dating back to 2024, the second longest streak in school history.

Under her direction, Carolina capped off the regular season with a season-high 196.75 on March 14, the sixth highest score in school history and the best in the Durane era. The Tar Heels also saw their best season-opening road score on Jan. 10 at Alabama since Durante took over the reins.

Then, at the ACC Championships, Durante led the Tar Heels to a 197.225, their third best team score in school history and highest since she has been head coach. The team also set a program record on bars with a 49.475.

Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Players Mentioned

Lali Dekanoidze

JoJo Valahovic

Related Videos