Georgia GymDogs
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The Georgia GymDogs[1] (officially the Georgia Bulldogs) is the women's gymnastics team of the University of Georgia. The team is part of NCAA Division I and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The GymDogs compete in Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.
Key Information
The GymDogs lead the nation with 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship titles (including five consecutive wins from 2005 to 2009) and 16 SEC championships. The team was coached by Suzanne Yoculan from 1983 to 2009, Jay Clark from 2009 to 2012, Danna Durante from 2012 to 2017,[2] and Courtney Kupets from 2017 to 2024.[3][4]
History
[edit]The women's gymnastics program was started in 1973 with Melinda Airhart as the head coach, and the team competed in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). After the 1979–80 season, the team began competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) following the dissolution of the AIAW.[5][6]
On July 1, 2009, Suzanne Yoculan retired after 26 years as head coach, and Clark, her assistant coach, took over as head of the program.[7][8][9] In 2012, Clark was replaced by Durante. Courtney Kupets Carter took over the GymDogs in 2017. Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts were named co-head coaches in April 2024.
Championships
[edit]As of 2012, the team had won 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships.[10][11] As of 2012, it had also won 16 Southeastern Conference titles (1986, '87, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '05, '06, '08)[12][13] and 22 NCAA regional titles.[12][14][15]
| Year | National Champion | Score | Runner-up | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Georgia | 187.900 | Utah Red Rocks | 187.550 | Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 1989 | Georgia | 192.650 | UCLA Bruins | 192.600 | Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Georgia |
| 1993 | Georgia | 198.000 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 196.825 | Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, Oregon |
| 1998 | Georgia | 197.725 | Florida Gators | 196.350 | Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California |
| 1999 | Georgia | 196.850 | Michigan Wolverines | 196.550 | Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 2005 | Georgia | 197.825 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 197.400 | Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum, Auburn, Alabama |
| 2006 | Georgia | 197.750 | Utah Red Rocks | 196.800 | Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, Oregon |
| 2007 | Georgia | 197.850 | Utah Red Rocks | 197.250 | Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 2008 | Georgia | 197.450 | Utah Red Rocks | 197.125 | Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Georgia |
| 2009 | Georgia | 197.825 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 197.575 | Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, Nebraska |
NCAA individual event champions
[edit]
As of the end of the 2016 season, 20 Georgia gymnasts have won a total of 42 individual event championships.[12][16]
| Gymnast | Balance Beam | Vault | Uneven Bars | Floor Exercise | All-Around |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brittany Rogers | 2016 | ||||
| Brandie Jay | 2016 | ||||
| Kat Ding | 2011, 2012 | 2012 | |||
| Courtney McCool | 2008 | ||||
| Grace Taylor | 2008 | ||||
| Courtney Kupets | 2006, 2009 | 2007 | 2006, 2009 | 2009 | 2006, 2007, 2009 |
| Cory Fritzinger | 2001 | ||||
| Suzanne Sears | 2000 | ||||
| Karin Lichey | 1998 | ||||
| Kim Arnold | 1998 | 1997, 1998 | |||
| Jenni Beathard | 1998 | 1997 | |||
| Leah Brown | 1996 | 1997 | |||
| Leslie Angeles | 1995 | ||||
| Lori Strong | 1994 | ||||
| Agina Simpkins | 1993 | ||||
| Heather Stepp | 1992, 1993 | 1993 | |||
| Hope Spivey | 1991 | 1991, 1994 | 1991 | ||
| Kelly Macy | 1991 | ||||
| Corrinne Wright | 1989 | 1989 | |||
| Lucy Wener | 1986, 1987, 1989 |
Coaches
[edit]Head coaching records
[edit]| Name | Seasons | W-L-T | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melinda Airhart | 1973–1976 | 14 – 15 – 0 | 0.483 |
| 2 | Andy Long | 1976–1979 | 33 – 12 – 0 | 0.733 |
| 3 | Terri Parsons Richie | 1979–1981 | 28 – 6 – 0 | 0.823 |
| 4 | Rick Walton | 1981–1983 | 45 – 31 – 0 | 0.592 |
| 5 | Suzanne Yoculan | 1983–2009 | 831 – 117 – 7 | 0.870 |
| 6 | Jay Clark | 2009–2012 | 6 – 7 – 0 | 0.462 |
| 7 | Danna Durante | 2012 – 2017 | 6 – 5 – 1 | 0.545 |
| 8 | Courtney Kupets Carter | 2018 – 2024 | 38 – 60 – 0 | 0.388 |
| 9 | Cécile Canqueteau-Landi & Ryan Roberts | 2025 – | 5 – 9 – 1 | 0.333 |
Roster
[edit]| Name | Height | Year | Hometown | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyla Aquino | 5'0 | SO | Boston, MA | Elite Gymnastics Academy |
| Csenge Bácskay | 5'2 | SR | Budapest, Hungary | Postás SE |
| Jaydah Battle | 5'1 | JR | Hampton, VA | World Class Gymnastics |
| Kara Eaker | 5'4 | SR | Grain Valley, MO | GAGE |
| Brooke Gleichowski | 5'4 | SO | Gainesville, FL | Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics |
| Nicole King | 5'5 | SR | Johns Creek, GA | BIO Gymnastics |
| Emma Mason | 5'5 | SO | Scott Depot, WV | Revolution Gymnastics |
| Avery Moll | FR | Westerville, OH | Buckeye Gymnastics | |
| Zora Morgan | 5'5 | JR | Atlanta, GA | Orlando Metro Gymnastics |
| Aberdeen O'Driscoll | 5'9 | SO | Léglise, Belgium | Topsportschool Gent |
| Brooke Pierson | FR | Spring, TX | World Champions Centre | |
| Autumn Reingold | FR | Cypress, TX | World Champions Centre | |
| JaFree Scott | 5'3 | SR | Kansas City, MO | Great American Gymnastics Express |
| Lily Smith | 5'2 | JR | Limerick, PA | Silvia's Gymnastics |
| Holly Snyder | 5'3 | JR | Annapolis, MD | Docksiders Gymnastics |
| Harley Tomlin | 5'3 | SO | Pittsburgh, PA | Xquisite Gymnastics |
| Anya Turner | 5'0 | JR | Highlands Ranch, CO | Colorado Gymnastics Institute |
| Ady Wahl | 5'3 | JR | Zanesville, OH | Zanesville Gymnastics |
| Eryn Williams | 5'1 | SR | Knoxville, TN | Premier Athletics |
| Kelise Woolford | FR | Westerville, OH | Buckeye Gymnastics |
Home venue
[edit]Georgia gymnasts at the Olympics
[edit]Olympians
[edit]| Year | Country | Name | Medal(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 |  United States |
Hope Spivey | |
| 1992 |  Canada |
Lori Strong | |
| 2004 | United States |
Courtney Kupets |  team uneven bars
|
| Courtney McCool | team
| ||
| 2012 | Canada |
Brittany Rogers | |
| 2024 |  Hungary |
Csenge Bácskay |
Alternates
[edit]| Year | Country | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Canada |
Megan Roberts |
| 2020 | United States |
Kara Eaker |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "2011 Georgia Bulldogs Gymnastics Preview".
- ^ Emerson, Seth. "UGA reaches into its recent past for new gymnastics coach: Courtney Kupets". Dawg Nation.
- ^ Georgia Gymnastics [@UGAGymnastics] (May 9, 2017). "The new head coach of the Georgia Gym Dogs - @CourtneyKupets!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Georgia Announces Leadership Change in Gymnastics". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Rossiter. Following the 1982–83 season Walton was replaced by Suzanne Yoculan., Erin (December 4, 2006). "Page-flipping gymnastics: Coach Suzanne Yoculan relates ups, downs and details of her successful women's program at UGA". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Year by Year" (PDF). GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia. Retrieved March 25, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ Starrs, Chris (January 8, 2009). "Clark's time to shine". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
- ^ Clarkson, Roger (September 20, 2009). "Jay Clark era in full swing with mandatory practices". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
- ^ http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=3758550&?DB_OEM_ID=8800[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Gym Dog National Championships". Georgiadogs.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2006. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
- ^ "National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics". NCAA. Retrieved April 15, 2007.
- ^ a b c "SEC Gymnastics History and Records". SECsports.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
- ^ "Georgia Biographies: Suzanne Yoculan". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved April 15, 2007. [dead link]
- ^ "North Central Regional: Georgia takes top spot". NCAA. April 15, 2007. Retrieved April 15, 2007.
- ^ "Dogs finish first at Regional". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. April 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
- ^ "Individual NCAA Champions". Georgiadogs.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
- ^ "Gymnastics Roster". Georgia Dogs.
