University of Georgia Athletics
Gym Dogs Cap Perfect Season
April 22, 2006 | Gymnastics
April 22, 2006
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CORVALLIS, Ore.---The Gym Dogs completed a perfect season at the Women's Gymnastics Championships on Friday night with a score of 197.75, the team's highest since winning last year's national title.
For Georgia (36-0) it is the second time in program history to complete back-to-back NCAA championship seasons (also in 1998-99) and the fourth time to finish undefeated. Georgia is the only program in NCAA history with an undefeated national title season.
To win the title Georgia had to outlast second-place Utah (196.8) and Alabama (196.725), which both put up impressive performances. The Gym Dogs only led the Crimson Tide by .025 entering the final rotation.
Florida (196.275) placed fourth followed by Nebraska (196.175) and Iowa State (194.725)
"I want to first congratulate Alabama and Utah," said Georgia head coach Suzanne Yoculan. "I love the fact that they came after us. We had to perform tonight and have our best meet to win - and that's what we did. They were right on our heels the whole way.
"This team is very special. We set a goal at the beginning of the year to go undefeated. I'm so proud to have this national title and the fourth undefeated season. It just shows the work ethic and focus this team had. It was a total team effort," Yoculan said.
It was the vaulting event in the final rotation that helped the Gym Dogs pull away at the end of the competition. The team score of 49.65 is the highest in at least three years. In that rotation Courtney Kupets (9.975) and Kelsey Ericksen (9.95) had career highs while Megan Dowlen (9.875) tied her career best in the leadoff spot. Tiffany Tolnay had a 9.95 as the anchor and Katie Heenan and Ashley Kupets added a 9.9 and 9.85, respectively.
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