First-year gymnastics head coach Danna Durante started her tenure at UNC with a bang Friday night, as the Tar Heels put together a program-best performance for a season-opener in front of a record crowd at Carmichael Arena.

“I loved all of the fans and community support we had tonight,” Durante said. “They brought incredible energy all night. Their energy made this night all the more special for this staff and our team.”

UNC’s Lali Dekanoidze, competing in her first collegiate gymnastics meet, earned the all-around title with a total score of 39.325. It’s the second-best season-opening all-around total in program history. Julia Knower, also competing with Carolina for the first time, scored a 9.925 on beam, the highest Tar Heel score of the night, to take the title on that event. Freshman Isabelle Schaeffer tied with Dekanoidze for the title on bars.

“It was a phenomenal start for all three freshmen that competed tonight,” said Durante. “With Isabelle and Lali winning bars, Julia winning beam and Lali winning the all-around, these freshmen have a bright future.”

Auburn, with Olympic all-around gold medalist Suni Lee, took the meet title with a 196.250 score, while Carolina placed second and Bowling Green third at 192.600.

Up next for the Tar Heels is a quad meet this weekend against Rutgers, NC State and New Hampshire. Carolina will be back in Carmichael Arena the following weekend for another quad meet.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Lighting and Video Board Upgrades Coming to Carmichael Arena
Carmichael Arena on the UNC campus is undergoing significant lighting and video board upgrades this summer, which the school says will create “an enhanced and exciting game day atmosphere.” The new lighting inside the arena, which has already been installed, is an LED system with the capability to make the arena “awash in Carolina blue […]
Career Highs Help UNC Gymnastics Defeats NC State in Home Opener
Program records and career highs were shattered Monday night in Carmichael Arena. The UNC gymnastics team won its dual meet against NC State in the program’s home opener and got standout performances from Lali Dekanoidze and Julia Knower. CAROLINA VICTORY!! The GymHeels post the highest score for a home opener in program history, beginning @EAGL_Gymnastics […]
UNC's Julia Knower Named WCGA Regional Gymnast of the Year
Following a breakout season for both herself and her Carolina gymnastics team, freshman Julia Knower was named the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Region Six Gymnast of the Year on Thursday. Julia Knower is the WCGA 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟔 𝐆𝐲𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 👑 pic.twitter.com/FPp99jWRgX — Carolina Gymnastics (@uncgymnastics) April 7, 2022 Knower was one of several […]
UNC Gymnastics Sets Season-High Score in Win At NC State
The UNC gymnastics team posted its best team score in 18 years Saturday at NC State, winning 196.625-196.350. WHAT 👏 A 👏 MEET ‼️ Road victory over NC State ✅Highest team score since Feb. 27, 2004 ✅#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/sStwC4U7Sl — Carolina Gymnastics (@uncgymnastics) February 19, 2022 “It was a fantastic competition,” said head coach […]
UNC Gymnastics Edges Temple in Dual Win
UNC gymnastics freshman star Lali Dekanoidze won another all-around title Saturday and set a new career-best score with a 39.550. The Tar Heels would need every last one of those points in a close dual win over Temple in Carmichael Arena. Tar Heels 𝐖𝐈𝐍!#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/mkLrIIZL80 — Carolina Gymnastics (@uncgymnastics) February 13, 2022 For Dekanoidze, it […]
UNC Gymnastics Takes First Place In Tri-Meet
The UNC gymnastics team, ranked No. 25 in the latest national poll, backed up that ranking by taking its first meet title of the season Friday night, winning a tri-meet in Carmichael Arena over Towson and Pittsburgh. 𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙇𝙎 𝙒𝙄𝙉 💥#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/XTkuEB6LhL — Carolina Gymnastics (@uncgymnastics) January 29, 2022 The Tar Heels and Tigers stayed close […]
UNC's Clay Lautt and Lali Dekanoidze Earn Weekly Recognition
Two UNC winter sport student-athletes were named Performers of the Week by their respective conferences. In wrestling, graduate Clay Lautt was named Co-Wrestler of the Week in the ACC after helping the Tar Heels to a 2-0 weekend on the mats. And in gymnastics, freshman Lali Dekanoidze was named the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) […]
Historic Power Surge Helps UNC Baseball Beat Pittsburgh in Series Opener
The Diamond Heels hit seven home runs – tied for the team’s second-most in a single game since 2000 – en route to a 15-5 win at Pittsburgh in the first game of a three-game series with the Panthers Friday night. UNC has now won six consecutive series-opening games. The Bosh Bombers 💣 go nuclear! […]
UNC Women's Lacrosse Beats Clemson, Advances to ACC Championship
Three Tar Heels each scored hat tricks to help No. 1 UNC beat Clemson 17-7 in the ACC Tournament semifinals in Charlotte Friday and advance to Sunday’s championship game. To the final 💥 #GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/PjVgHPEagw — UNC Women's Lacrosse (@uncwlax) April 25, 2025 Goals from Chloe Humphrey, Marissa White and others staked UNC […]
Virginia Tech Transfer Jaydon Young Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Jaydon Young, who spent the first two seasons of his career at Virginia Tech, committed to head coach Hubert Davis and UNC out of the transfer portal Friday. He will have two years of eligibility in Chapel Hill. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jaydon Young (@jaaaydonn3) A six-foot-four guard from Goldsboro, […]
›