Gymnastics Team Chat Wrap

On Feb. 22 Georgia gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan and the rest of the Gym Dogs hosted an online chat in preparation for the UGA-Utah gymnastics meet next Friday night in Athens. Below is a complete transcript of the Feb. 22 chat.

Moderator: Welcome to the Gym Dog Chat room.

Moderator: We will have several of the gymnasts here tonight

Moderator: First we will start with Michelle Emmons and Kelsey Ericksen

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): For the Freshman: What has been your favorite and least favorite college class so far?

Moderator: Megan: least favorite...math pre calculus, and fav. is physics Katie: fav. Drama Least fav, English Nikki: fav class has been health promotions and behavior; least fav would be political science

Moderator: You will have to refresh the screen to get the responses

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Are any of you close friends with gymnasts at other colleges?

Moderator: meg nikki: Kailtin white at Alabama, Lindsey van Eykel UCLA, Stephanie Gentry Stanford Katie: Tabitha Yim at Standford, Liz Tricase Stanford, Tasha Schweigert UCLA Brittany: Alyssa Beckerman at UCLA, Orley Smuch at Florida

Tucker: Hey Michelle - will we see you on UB this year?

Michelle Emmons: No..I trained it for a few months but with the line up that we have, I dont think that you will be seeing me in it. It was just too hard to get back those three years that I took off of that event. Sorry

Christy (Lilburn): Are any gymnasts working on surprise upgrades that will be unveiled at SEC's &, if so, are you willing to share them at this time?

Kelsey Ericksen: I would not say that any of our upgrades are surprises, but we do have a few girls working on harder vaults. Also, we are still working with our floor routines, trying to figure out what passes will work best. Mostly, we are trying to get consistent with the routines are doing now.

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Are any of the girls on the team roommmates?

Michelle Emmons: 7:12 PM YES. I live in a house with 4 other girls which are all ex gymnast or current ones. The current gymnast in the house is Brittany Thome and the ex gymnasts are Sierra Sapunar, Tiffany Gordon, and Marie Fjordholm. Brittany Smith lives in an apartment with ex gymnast Chelsa Byrd. Ashley and Kelsey live in the dorm together and then the freshmen all live in the dorm toggether

Liz(Suwanee, GA): What is your biggest gymnastics accomplishment?

Kelsey Ericksen: My biggest gymnastics accomplishment so far was contributing to our SEC championship. As a freshman walk-on at UGA, it was truly a huge accomplishment to earn a consistent position in the line up and represent our team at SECs and Nationals.

Stacey Galloway: Hello Girls, how's it going?

Moderator: Hey this is Marie. We are doin' great!

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Are Brittany or Ashley planning any upgrades on their tumbling passes?

Ashley Kupets: Ashley: yes. I am planning on putting as double Arabian for your first pass and then a double pike or double tuck for last pass

Kelly: Kelsey, when di yo uknow you wanted to go to Georgia?

Kelsey Ericksen: AIM IM with Kelsey Ericksen 7:16 PM Becuase I trained at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy for a long time, being a Gymdog has always been an aspiration for me. Many great gymdogs have come from Cincinnati, including the Lichey sisters, Sierra Sapunar, Marie Fjordholm and Brittany Smith both trained there... it has always been a goal of mine. When I took my official visit to UGA, I felt right at home and knew this was the place for me.

Kelly: Do you girls like to do things together outside the gym?

Michelle Emmons: Yes. We love to get together even when we are not in the gym. During the fall since we werent traveling as much together, we would plan evenings and all just hangout and have a good time.

Tucker: Kelsey - are you working a different beam dismount this year from the gainer full?

Kelsey Ericksen: I am not working on a more difficult dismount this year. This summer I will try to upgrade, either by doing a gainer double full, or working on a round-off dismount.

Stacey Galloway: Past a past gym dog I will be following your year on the net (Thanks to Karlene) and wishing you the best of luck this year. Suzanne is a great motivator and amazing coach, if anyone can take you all the way its her...have a ball and enjoy every minute of it :o)

Mark: How are your fans

Moderator: Marie said: 7:18 PM They are great. They have been very supportive this year...we ahve great attendance.

athens: i just wanted to say i love watching the gymdogs in action

Liz: I thought Brittany was from Texas?

Moderator: Marie Says: Brittany Smith is originally from California but trained for a while in Texas before joining the UGA gymdog team

Kelsey: How much down time do you get and how and what do you do durig the dummer to keep in shape?

Kelsey Ericksen: After Nationals, we have all summer off until mandatory practice can begin again sometime during September. This past summer I went home to Cincinnati and trained with my old teammates there. This summer I will stay in Athens and train with Doug and our conditioning coach while I take summer school.

steven(Anaheim): Are any of you girls single?

Michelle Emmons: none of us are tied down with marriage but many of us have serious boyfriends. For the most part just the freshmen are single

Dana: Will UGA ever travel to Denver for a meet?

Moderator: Not in the next two year

Irma, Fort Mill, SC: What is the most effective conditioning exercise you do to prepare for the competitive season?

Kelsey Ericksen: In preparing for the competition season, I think the most important thing is to run and get in good cardiovascular shape. Routines take a lot of endurance and it is important to train you muscles to perform for long periods of time. I like to run hills, and do interval sprinting combined with strength conditioning.

Tucker: Michelle, as the senior, how do you help the team pace themselves on these two-meet weekends - the one coming up will be exciting but very tiring, I would think.

Michelle Emmons: Well we train very hard and are training really prepares us for the hard weekends. We usually do every event with full routines on thrusdays before Friday meets, so we will be used to the two days in a row at nationals and the weekends like the one comming up.

john columbus: how is your diet offseason and during the season

Kelsey Ericksen: My diet stays fairly consistent throughout the entire year. I eat everything I like, including ice cream and pizza, but everything in moderation! Of course, during season I try to eat a lot of protein to keep my body strong and enough carbohydrates to get me through a long day of class and practice.

John (Salt Lake City): The upcoming meet with Utah obviously has a great rivalry that hasn't been seen much in head-to-head dual meet fashion. What kind of a feeling do you get from both fans and athletes in preparation for the upcoming meet?

Ashley Kupets: Having never competed in a dual meet against Utah, I don't know much about their team and the atmosphere in their gym. We do know that they are doing very well this season so it is important for us to know what we will be going up against at Nationals. Hopefully it will be a friendly competition and we can give them a challenge, and maybe even an upset.

Melissa (Chamblee): I miss the old days when Georgia consistently ruled the floor exercise with unique & innovative routines--it is a bitter pill to swallow seeing Alabama excel in this area! Are we no longer going to see full-ins, triple twists or rudis due to the trend towards boring front tumbling passes in the modified Level 10 rules for college?

Suzanne Yoculan: It is not our plan to do boring tumbling. We have the the girls perform what they can do well. Ashley Kupets will compete a double arabian first pass and of course, you know Michelle does a great double lay. Katie's first pass is an E with two tenths bonus so I think it is great. You will lvoe our freshman next year. Three of them do double layouts and we plan to do them when they are at Georgia as well.

Kelly: Are you going to compete in the Super Six and if not Why?

Moderator: From Marie: We are not competing in the Super Six because there are so many teams in the SEC that want to be a part of the Super Six competition so the teams are going to rotate opportunities and we wont fror another 3 years.

Dave,NYC: Will we be seeing a Yurchenko 1 1/2 from either Megan or Michelle this season? It could make the difference in the post season. Is the team still confident that it can win SEC's?

Michelle Emmons: 7:35 PM Megan and I are working hard and training the new vault (1 1/2) because it could make a difference in the long run. We are still confident that we have a chance at SEC's for the title. We are training hard and taking different approaches every week, to see which one will click. The upgrades will deffinitly help, but we have to be safe and clean at the same time

Lizard: Do any of you gymnasts ever miss the club gymnastics atmosphere?

Moderator: From Marie: After comparing college gymnastics to club, it is hard to miss the atmosphere of club gymnastics.

Michelle Emmons: No. The college atmosphere of being a part of a team is so different and much more enjoyable. It brings the fun and love of gymnastics back, that club gymnastics might drain from most.

Ashley Kupets: There is a big difference between club and college. College gymnastics is obviously fun and exciting, but I wouldn't be here without my coaches and teammates from club. I miss the people from club but definately enjoy competing in college athletics.

Tucker: Suzanne, you are the BEST! You keep UGA in the hunt every single year - this year I do believe y'all will bring home three more trophies. Congrats!

Sunny in Athens: What is the most difficult part about the travel on away meets?

Moderator: from marie: I would have to say adjusting to new equipment would be the hardest part of traveling to meets.

Tanya (Bogart): Ashley: You are in awesome shape this year & we're all so proud to see you toned & trim--what are some of your secrets for regaining your true competitive form?

Ashley Kupets: Well I pretty much eat what I want, but I only eat when I'm hungry and in small portions.

Atlanta, GA: Is Courtney Pratt going to compete in the next Gym Meet?

Courtney Pratt: I know that I'm competing this weekend, but Suzanne hasn't decided on which meet yet. I'm hoping to do great in Thursday's practice, so that she'll put me in both Utah and UCLA!

Courtney Pratt: Most of the girls will disagree, but I personally enjoy competing in Alabama. Their fans are hardcore, and even though they constantly boo us, they really push us to do better. I enjoy all of the excitment and always like a big crowd.

Kacie (Flowey Branch, GA): I thought Sierra decided to use her extra year of eligibility this year. What happened?

Suzanne Yoculan: Sierra was back and forth all spring. she was never sure what she wanted to do. She had so many injuries during her career, she was afraid to push it. she is doing great now, and training for a part in a movie.

Greg(Bloomington, IN): Coach

I wondered what your in-season weight training consisted of? number days/wk, etc.

thanks

greg

Suzanne Yoculan: We try to stick with an intense schedule even during season. The girls have strength training on Mon. and Wed. morning before class. Their aerobic (spinning) classes are Tues. and Thurs. after practice. When we are on the road, we get in one other work out, usually a long walk.

athens: Ashley Kupets HOW YOU AND THE REST OF THE GIRLS HANDLING LOSING FOUR MEETS IN A ROW RIGHT ABOUT NOW suzanne is pulling what left of her hair to help the program turn around

Ashley Kupets: Well it's really hard on our confidence to lose four meets, but we are going to keep working hard to get out of this rut, but it really doesn't count for anything until SEC's

athens: As you prepare for each meet do you pay any attention to the team you will be competing against? Does it make any difference who the opposing team is or is each week's preparation basically the same.

Suzanne Yoculan: Most years, we do pay attention to our opponent. Certain meets, we prefer to rest the girls who do four events. Also, we try to compete the girls when they are near their home towns...Texas girls when we are in LSU or Oklahoma. This year we have not had the luxury to even consider who our opponent is going to be. They have all been top ten teams for the last four weeks and we still have three more to go in the top ten.

Do you think it is necessary to be homes: Do you think it is necessary to be homeschooled to be an elite? and do you think it is more difficult to transition to college and college gymnastics if you were homeschooled?

Courtney Pratt: I dont think it is necessary to be home schooled to be a successful gymnast. Obviously it is easier to get more training time, if you're able to study on your own; however, I feel that the college transition is much more difficult without going to a public school. Often girls who are home schooled have a much more difficult time adjusting socially to everyday situations in college.

Amy (Ann Arbor): Hello there! First, I'd like to congratulate your team on its storied success. As a Michigan fan, I've always admired the competitiveness and determination that your teams exhibit year-after-year. We always love it when the Gym Dogs come to Ann Arbor! My question is this...what do you think of the stricter scoring this year and the national assignment of judges? Also, what teams do you expect to meet up w/ in Auburn @ Nationals?

Ashley Kupets: Well I kinda lean both ways with the scoring. I think it's a good thing because it will push us to do even better routines, but on the other hand there are not many huge scores right now and thats what the fans love to see. The fans want to see the 9.95's and 10's.

Carly in Cumming: Coach Yaculan do you think that Ashley and Nikki are the best on team?

Suzanne Yoculan: I think they are all great!

Skylar: How can I sing the national Anthem before the meet?

Moderator: Call the Promotions office at 542-9039

Kelly ( Denison): Do you girls like each other outside the gym and do you do things together

Ashley Kupets: Definetly. Our team has such great chemistry and we all really do like each other and hang out all the time!

Orlando: Do you get punished from your coaches, if you loose a meet?

Courtney Pratt: Our coaches for the most part are very positive, so no, we do not get punished for losing a meet. Of course the coaches aren't happy if they feel that we didn't perform our best, but neither are we. The coaches understand that most gymnasts are tough enough on themselves and dont think its necessary to put down their girls. Our coaches make adjustments in our workouts after a loss and remind us to stay positive and to perservier.

Moderator: Meg: after losing four in a row there hasn't been a punishment just constant motivation

Keith (Athens): Nikki , What is your #1 favorite thing to do Singing or Gymnastics ? You've got a GREAT voice and i think you ought to audition for American Idol .

Nikki Childs: I enjoy doing both very much, and thank you! I'm considering it...

Findlay, OH: Katie, Where did you develop your writing style ? I really look forward to your comments each week.

Katie Heenan: I had a very tough enlgish course for the home-school curriculum I used. I had lots of reading and writing. Plus I love doing journalist type writing.

Dave (Marietta): Speaking of the National Anthem.. I understand that Nikki is interested in singing... any chance she might sing the National Anthem someday?

Nikki Childs: No i'm not singing on Carly's album lol But hopefully I'll have one of my own someday!

Alex in Woodstock: Coach Yoculan, Over the years, the judges just don't seem to score Ashley Kupet's vault very high. She is so powerful, but doesn't seem to get rewarded for her powerful vaults. As powerful as Ashley is, couldn't she perform a Tsuk with a full twist that is as high as Bama's Ashley Mile's, and score in the 9.9s??? Go Dawgs!!!!

Suzanne Yoculan: Ashley can do any vault. The problem is her back. she has only been able to practice one day a week sind Jan. and was restricted all fall. The vault that she does now, the yurcheko, half with a front pike is a difficult vault and you wait...she will nail one yet. Also, eventually the yurchenko full will be down graded. Then everyone will be scrambling to get 10.00 vaults and ashley will have hers.

cin, MA: do you girls like living in the dorms or off campus better? are the kupets duo gonna room together?

Megan Dowlen: Well, Since I am a Freshman... I love the dorm life! It is so much fun because you meet so many people. The dorms are awesome here also!

Keith: Even though the Gymndogs has lost their last 4 meets , I stiil think that ya'll are GREAT !! MY advice to you is to not to try so hard and have more fun doing your routines .

cin, ma: coach yoculan...do your athletes ever give you suggestions on which girls to scout for upcoming seasons?

Suzanne Yoculan: yes, all the time. As a matter of fact, our current athletes play a huge hand in who we recruit and who we don't.

KC: Why was the switchleap-one armed backhandspring combo. taken out of Katie's beam routine? What her gym acro now?

Katie Heenan: I had enough bonus without it and it seemed like I was getting deducted for the leap. I just rearranged my routine a little. I am planning on putting the one arm back in again later this year or next year.

Cin, MA: what teams would you like to compete against at nationals?

Megan Dowlen: Well since I have best friends at Standford, UCLA, and Alabama.... I would love to compete with them.

Carly in Cumming: Coach Yoculan how is the best on the team?

Suzanne Yoculan: Everyone on our team is great.

Gramsthecoolest: Nikki and Megan - I've been working on my Yurchenko, how old were you when you could finally do one? When I grow up i want to be like y'all!

Megan Dowlen: Gramsthecoolest Nikki and Megan - I've been working on my Yurchenko, how old were you when you could finally do one? When I grow up i want to be like y'all!

Nikki Childs: Honestly I think that at the beginning of the year they were not being fair, but now I think they are being more consistent.

Cin, MA: do ya'll listen to any songs in the locker room to get you fired up before a meet?

Katie Heenan: All the time! We always have some music playing...we try to accommodate everyone's different music style, whether its country, rap, pop, and so on.

Steve ( Lebanon): Do the coaches compete girls each meet who earn the spot or is their favoritsm and coaches picks?

Katie Heenan: Well usually it is the people who perform the best in practice the week before and those who competed well in the previous competition, however, this year is a little different because our team is small, with few upperclassmen. So almost all the freshmen have to compete and the line up is usually set week to week.

KC: Nikki and Megan - Do you keep in touch with your old teammates from WOGA? What was it like seeing Carly win the gold medal at the Olympics?

Megan Dowlen: yes, I normally talk to them about once a week over the phone and I talk to them all the time online. Seeing Carly win the Olympics was so amazing! I was still in shock a few weeks later. I am so happy for her though. Thanks for the question!

Cracker: Katie - I really enjoy your bars routine - is the shoposh the most challenging aspect?

Katie Heenan: Well Cracker, I would have to say yes. It is the first big release in the routine and immediately following is the shoot over, which I am sure you know, that it is difficult to do if the swing out of the shaposh is not strong.

Tucker: Megan, will your Onodi be back on beam? It was really sharp!

Megan Dowlen: umm, it might be. I'm just trying out different skills in my routine right now. Thanks for the question!

Cin, MA: Nikki i heard you were 1/2 PR..do you speak any espanol?

Nikki Childs: I speak some Spanish and I can understand it most of the time, but I do not speak it fluently like my mother.

Emily( Wheaton): Do the freshman look up to the upperclassman adn who is the team member you most look to for advice and support?

Katie Heenan: The freshmen definately look up to our few upperclassmen because we are having to compete a lot more then most freshmen and they are such great leaders. I would probably say I look to Kelsey, Michelle, and Brittany Smith the most.

Taylor, Alpharetta: Suzanne, beam seems to be a problem lately. Georgia seems to throw a lot more risky difficulty than the other teams and not hitting those difficult skills in competition. Any plans on watering down these layout-layout skills on beam and double back dismounts?

Suzanne Yoculan: You must be referring to Michelle as she is the only gymnast on our team is is having trouble with lay lay and double back. and no, there is no plan to change it. she hits it perfectly every day. She will overcome this mental hurdle. Our only other gymanst who does lay lay is audrey and she has never missed it. She has been out with a sprained ankle but will be back and she will be doing the lay lay. katie's double back will remain in her routine. we believe at Nationals, we will need that difficulty to be competitive.

Moderator: KC When will Audrey be back in the beam lineup?

Audrey Bowers: No, not yet.. I'm still not ready to compete on Beam

John (chantilly): Does Katie get her good looks from her father and gymnastics skills from her mother or vice versa?

Katie Heenan: Believe it or not... I get a little from each one. I have awesome parents

Joe Ward (Dunwoody): Nikki, Considering your gorgeous form on bars, I was wondering if you are ever planning to upgrade your dismount to a double layout which, in my humble opinion, would look beautiful with your long lines and excellent execution.

Nikki Childs: Considering that I have never trained or performed a double layout I probably wont do that but I have trained a full out so if I were to upgrade it would be a full out.

Jason (Garden Grove, CA): Why hasn't Sam Sheehan been doing all-around???

Samantha Sheehan: I am currently doing floor and bars, i just started twisting vaults within the last couple of weeks as i hurt my wrist at the beginning of the season, and i have been training beam but our team has alot of depth on beam so i am not currently in the line up. I have been training on beam and am ready to go in if need be.

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Katie, Nikki, Megan, Audrey, and Sam: How has being a Gymdog/college life in general been different from what you expected?

Megan Dowlen: Meg: managing time and coping with the different hours (less workout time) has been difficult. Also implementing weights into the program has also been a change, not necessarily harder but something to get used to. I have loved every minute of it! Katie: fewer hours has been the biggest change but workouts are still as intense because there is more efficiency in the workouts. Being on my own and making decisions for myself has also been a change for me. Nikki: managing my time has been very difficult for me. There isn't as much homework as high school but it is harder to keep up with the material in class.

Kacie (Flowery Branch): Why did Katie take the switch-leap one-armed backhandspring out of her beam routine? That was a great combination.

Moderator: She had enough bonus...it was also an extra deduction

KC: Are y'all watching American Idol right now? lol

Samantha Sheehan: no i wish i was, but i try to watch EVERY episode!

KC: As a fellow college student, I was wondering, is it hard to keep up with your academics during the season?

Audrey Bowers: It has been very time consuming, but we have a lot of people to help us keep on track with our studies during our season. Thanks for the question!

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): I love Katie's floor routine, the choreography and her presentation are fantastic. Will she be upgrading her last tumbling pass to a rudi by the end of the season?

Katie Heenan: No, planning on switching her 2nd and third pass so she will be doing her double pike at the end.

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): What kind of conditioning do the girls do? Are they on a special diet?

Moderator: strength and conditioning drills about 3 times per week

Cin & co, MA: How is Sam doing on adjusting to the college level? Also, (i was dared to ask this sorry..) does anyone else on the team think Katie H looks like the main girl from The Secret World of Alex Mack? : )

Samantha Sheehan: It has taken me a little while to get adjusted to the college life, as college is a different way of life than what i was used to for 18 years of my life, but college is so much fun and i have very encouraging friends and caring people around me. About the other question, i am not sure what the show The Secret World of Alex Mack is, sorry!

izzie new zealand: do the freemen miss training at their old gyms

Audrey Bowers: I miss all my old teammates and coaches, but it is exciting to train here at UGA with new teammates and coaches. I will be able to go back during the summer and train at my old gym and that will be lots of fun! Thanks for the question.

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Katie, What exactly were your duties and responsibilities as the athlete representative at the Olympic Selection Camp?

Katie Heenan: I was supposed to keep the atmosphere upbeat and be a cheerleader on the side and be there for the girls.

Melissa, Alpharetta: Sam, How has the transition been from elite gymnastics to college gymnastics? I was thrilled that you decided to become a gymdog!

Samantha Sheehan: Well thanks, i am so glad that i chose to be a gymdog at Georgia! It is great to be a gymdog! Transition from elite gymnastics to college gymnastics is very different. In elite we trained alot of hours and the whole season of gymnastics was different, in college you do not train as much and you compete alot more.College is more of a team atmosphere and elite gymnastics is a lot more individualized. Adjusting is always hard as a freshmen, but college gymnastics is a whole lot of fun!

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Do you feel like the stricter scoring system is being implemented fairly across the nation? Can you explain composition deductions?

Katie Heenan: At the beginning of the year we did not feel like it was fair but as the season progresses it seems to be getting fairer.

jam bishop: are all the freshmen friends outside of gym if so what do they do in there free time?

Audrey Bowers: Oh yes! We always hang out together outside of the gym. In the fall we went to football games, as well as basketball games, and now we are loving to go to baseball games!!! we also enjoy watching movies together, going out to eat, or just spending time with each other. We all have a great friendship and it is so nice to always have 4 other friends there for you! Thanks for the question!

Carly in Cumming: Coach Yoculan do you think this team will take you far this year?

Suzanne Yoculan: What is the status of the "injured reserve" list... are most of the girls ready to go for the weekend? (And, by the way, we are behind you ALL THE WAY - regardless of record!)

Moderator: (133) jam bishop are all the freshmen friends outside of gym if so what

Samantha Sheehan: Oh yeah!!! We are all really close outside of the gym and we are all like sisters to each other. We all do many things together and we can always count on one another to help us out if we need something. In our free time we play football outside, watch movies, go tanning, and have tons of laughs together! We truly have a great friendship together and are having a great time being freshmen!

KC: Do you feel the stricter scoring is being implemented fairly across the country?

Audrey Bowers: I think it was kind of different in the beginning across the whole country, but i feel like it is getting a lot better... I was so excited about coming to college and seeing all the high scores...I can't wait til someone on our team gets a 10.... I will be ecstatic!!!!!!!!

Dave (Marietta): What is the status of the "injured reserve" list... are most of the girls ready to go for the weekend? (And, by the way, we are behind you ALL THE WAY - regardless of record!)

Suzanne Yoculan: Thank you for the support. The team is doing well right now. Audrey's ankle is better everyday. she is now doing most of her skills on the beam and she stuck 10 dismounts today off the bars.(double layouts). Ashley and Brittany Smith did great floor rooutines today witha double back last pass. You never knowi, though, when their backs will prevent them from competing. Everyone else is full go!!

Cin, MA: do you ever give the cheerleaders tips on how to tumble?

Samantha Sheehan: no i do not know any of the cheerleaders very well. and i haven't heard of any of the upperclassmen teaching them.

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Nikki and Megan, Do you keep in touch with your old Woga teammates? What was it like watching Carly win the gold medal?

Megan Dowlen: Meg: all the time I usually try to call once a week and keep in touch online Nikki: all the time. By phone online and text messages What was it like watching Carly win the gold medal? Meg: it was amazing and I was very happy for her...I was still in shock a couple weeks after nikki: it was amazing I was very happy for her and Evgeny because I know how hard they worked to accomplish that goal. I was very excited that Evgeny was chosen to be the Olympic head coach.

Ashley (Lawrenceville): What apparatus(s) or event(s) does Sam Sheehan have the potential to be in the line-up for between now and Regionals? Your elite following misses you because we know how much you are capable of contributing, especially for Team USA!

Suzanne Yoculan: Sam is really looking good on floor. That is by far her best event. Right now, she is number 6 or 7 in our bar and floor line up. She continues to work hard, stay positive and improve. College life has beena big adjustment for Sam. We are all very proud of her and are confident that she will eventually be a great collegiate gymnast.

Carly in Cumming: Nikki do you think you will do more gymnastics when you are out?

Nikki Childs: Nope, not in my plans right now.

Tallie: Do you ever feel like your being pushed to your limites?

Samantha Sheehan: Sometimes between school and training i feel a little stressed out but you learn how to deal with it.

MamaE: Just wanted to say that you are all awesome and so fun to watch. I know you will all get this together. Believe and you will Achieve! Love you All!!

Audrey Bowers: After a long day of school and practice, i feel like i have been worked hard, but in the end i know it will all pay off.

Ryan (NYC): Ashley, what are the names of the different songs that you use during your floor exercise routine- especially the first one!?

Moderator: Ashley: Sugar Sugar and lean back

Cin & co, Ma: okay last question from the gym dawg fans of the north...if you girls had the power to master ANY skill what would it be?

good luck on the rest of the season..."WORK HARD, PLAY TOGETHER, LAUGH OFTEN!" : )

Samantha Sheehan: I would like to stick my dismount every time on bars.. thank you very much for being a gym dawg fan!

Carly in Cumming: Ashley do you think you will do more gymnastics when you are out?

Moderator: Ashley: No, college is pretty much it for me.

Kacie (Flowery Branch, GA): Nikki, I saw you perform at the Ten-O reception and you were great. Have you considered trying out for American Idol? Any plans to sing the National Anthemn at a meet? When will I see a Nikki Childs c.d. in stores? :)

P.S. - I've got some great pictures from the ten-o reception of you singing. Would you like copies? You can email me at kacieconway@hotmail.com

Nikki Childs: Well, maybe. I used to not consider it but I am now thinking about it.

Chris Reid (Butler, GA): Kelsey,

As a former walk-on who has earned a full-scholarship and has risen to the top of the NCAA ranks, what advice would you give to other walk-on athletes--namely in the area of walking-on at their dream school or settling for a scholarship elsewhere?

Moderator: Kelsey: I think it is important to follow your dreams and not let money be an object everyone should set their goals high and it is awesome to be able to prove your worth when you are initially recognized as a scholarship athlete.

Chandler, Atlanta: Ashley, I have noticed that your ankles have been wrapped pretty heavily. It seems like you have had a hard time absorbing your landings. Should you be resting those ankles for a couple of weeks so that you are 100% for Nationals?

Moderator: Ashley: No, I tape my ankles from previous years when I broke themseveral times. They feel fine.

Brandy - Atlanta: Michelle, who did your choreography on floor? Your routine is awesome...I've never seen you make a mistake on that double layout. It's amazing how consistent you are on floor with all of that difficult tumbling. I hope you make it to ncaa floor finals. Good Luck!

Moderator: For floor we use Russel (last name?) and for beam the girls usually just use their routines from club gymnastics and alter them as they see needed in workout.

Moderator: And where is Jaime Ackerman?

Moderator: Jamie is doing the radio commentary for Gxtra during the meets and is studying health promotions.

Moderator: What ever happened to Monica Flammer I remember seeing her compete for one year in 2000.

Moderator: She remained on a full scholarship at the university of Georgia and graduated in 2004 in criminology. She is currently married and living in Texas.

Moderator: How does the Regional Qualifying work? How do they select teams to go to Regionals?

Moderator: The top 6 teams from each of 6 regions qualify to one of the six regional sites. Scores are ranked based on the regional qualifying score, which is the average of the five highest scores of the season with two scores being away scores... dropping the high and averaging the remaining four.

Moderator: Coach Yoculan do you think that Ashley and Nikki are the best on team?

Suzanne Yoculan: There are different people that are the best on different days. The same goes for how the girls do on the different events each day.

Moderator: Coach Yoculan do you think this team will take you far this year?

Moderator: This year the team is very unpredictable. At this point I think our potential has not yet been reached.

University of Georgia Athletics

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