University of Georgia Athletics
Gym Dogs Win NCAA North Central Regional
April 15, 2007 | Gymnastics
DENVER, Colo. --- The two-time defending national champion Georgia Gym Dogs scored a 197.275 to win the NCAA North Central Regional at Magness Arena on Saturday night.
It marks the program’s 19th NCAA Regional victory.
Second-ranked Georgia will now make its 25th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships on April 26-28 in Salt Lake City. The last team to capture three straight national titles was Utah when that team won five in a row in the mid-1980s.
To win the North Central Regional, the Gym Dogs defeated No. 14 Denver (195.825), No. 11 Penn State (195.625), No. 23 BYU (193.3), No. 25 Minnesota (192.9) and Utah State (192.525).
Courtney Kupets was the meet’s high scorer, finishing with a 39.525 in the all-around. Katie Heenan won the balance beam event with a 9.925, Kelsey Ericksen was first on bars at 9.925, Tiffany Tolnay won vault with a 9.95, and Courtney McCool won the floor exercise with a 9.95.
Ericksen led Georgia in the first rotation with a meet-high 9.925 on the uneven bars as the team posted a 49.425. It was Ericksen’s highest score ever in an NCAA Regional meet. Courtney Kupets had a 9.9 in the anchor position while Grace Taylor and Heenan each scored 9.875s. Nikki Childs and Tolnay scored a pair of 9.85s.
Georgia’s team total on bars was its highest in a regional competition in at least five years.
The Gym Dogs built on their first-rotation lead with a 49.375 on the balance beam, their identical score from the SEC Championships just two weeks ago. Heenan was the meet’s high scorer at 9.925 and Courtney McCool added a 9.9.
Georgia’s late-season troubles on the floor exercise continued on the third event. Senior Ashley Kupets went down with a left Achillies’ injury during the three-minute touch warm-up, moving Ericksen (9.85) into the second position. Two out-of-bounds penalties and a fall held the team score at 49.125. Courtney McCool was the highlight of the rotation, matching her career-high of 9.95, while Courtney Kupets scored a 9.9.
Ashley Kupets will miss the remainder of the season with her injury.
“Ashley’s been hurting for three months but she wanted to go,” said Georgia head coach Suzanne Yoculan. “It’s unfortunate that she can’t finish her career on her own terms. No one has more heart than Ashley. She showed so much determination throughout her career.”
Tolnay paced the Gym Dogs on vault in the final rotation with a 9.95 which tied her season best. Courtney Kupets had a 9.9. Senior Adrienne Dishman moved into Ashley Kupets’ spot in the vault lineup, scoring a 9.775, and the team finished at 49.35.
FINAL TEAM SCORES
Georgia 197.275
Denver, 195.825
Penn State, 195.625
BYU 193.3
Minnesota 192.9
Utah State 192.575
GEORGIA INDIVIDUALS
Vault
Marcia Newby 9.85
Katie Heenan 9.875
Courtney Kupets 9.9
Kelsey Ericksen 9.775
Tiffany Tolnay 9.95
Adrienne Dishman 9.775
Bars
Nikki Childs 9.85
Tiffany Tolnay 9.85
Grace Taylor 9.875
Katie Heenan 9.875
Kelsey Ericksen 9.925
Courtney Kupets 9.9
Beam
Grace Taylor 9.85
Nikki Childs 9.85
Tiffany Tolnay 9.85
Courtney McCool 9.9
Courtney Kupets 9.825
Katie Heenan 9.925
Floor
Grace Taylor 9.675
Kelsey Ericksen 9.85
Katie Heenan 9.75
Courtney McCool 9.95
Tiffany Tolnay 9.3
Courtney Kupets 9.90
