Tar Heels Head West For ESPN Events Gymnastics Invitational

Friday, January 12

West Valley City, UT

9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT)

North Carolina

Arizona

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

January 11, 2024 | Women's Gymnastics

2024 Quick Facts Watch Live Scores UNC Meet Notes Meet Info

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina gymnastics team hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to West Valley City, Utah, for the inaugural Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad. The first invitational of its kind is hosted by ESPN Events and will take place at the Maverik Center, just outside of Salt Lake City.

The Tar Heels will compete against Arizona, Boise State and Nebraska in the meet's first session on Friday, Jan. 12. Competition will commence at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT). More information about the event can be found here.

Marking yet another historic moment during the 2024 season, UNC's quad will be the first gymnastics meet to ever air nationally on ACC Network. Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke will be on call with Taylor Davis serving as the sideline reporter.

Meet Info
Who: UNC vs. Arizona, Boise State, Nebraska
What: Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad, hosted by ESPN Events
Where: Maverik Center – West Valley City, Utah
When: Friday, Jan. 12 – 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT)
Links: Live Stream | Live Scores

Ten Things to Know

This is ESPN Events' first-ever owned-and-operated gymnastics invitational, which is entitled by Sprouts Farmers Market.
The Tar Heels' quad with the Wildcats, Broncos and Huskers will be the first televised gymnastics meet in ACC Network history. It's the first of four meets on national television this season for UNC.
Carolina held its season and home opener last Friday in Carmichael Arena, finishing ahead of Rutgers and Utah State but fall to Ball State.
Lali Dekanoidze impressed with a 9.925 on vault to tie for first place. Not only was it a career best, but her score moved her up to be tied for third all-time in program history.
Dekanoidze's 9.925 is the highest score among all ACC gymnasts across all four events this season. The junior is one of two student-athletes who have posted a mark above 9.9 in the league.
For her incredible efforts on vault, Dekanoidze was named the first-ever ACC Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 9. Between the EAGL and ACC, it was the ninth weekly conference honor of her career.
To kickstart her sophomore season, Kaya Forbes matched her career-best 9.875 on vault for the third time in her career during the first meet of the season.
UNC's final tally of 49.150 on vault last weekend is the team's best score on the event since Feb. 19, 2022.
North Carolina was ranked 32nd in the WCGA Preseason Poll, the second year in a row the team received a preseason nod.
The Tar Heels also tied with NC State for the top spot in the inaugural ACC Preseason Coaches Poll after both receiving a pair of first-place votes. Dekanoidze and Julia Knower were named to the first-ever ACC Preseason Watch List while Camryn Rueda was tabbed to the inaugural ACC Newcomer Watch List.