University of Georgia Athletics
Gym Dogs Set For Saturday Meet With Arkansas
February 27, 2008 | Gymnastics
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ATHENS, Ga. --- The No. 1 Gym Dogs remain home this weekend as they close out their Southeastern Conference schedule against No. 11 Arkansas on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.
Georgia is 7-1 (5-0 SEC), winners of its last seven in a row. Should Georgia defeat Arkansas, it would mark the third straight year and eighth of the last 12 to go undefeated in regular-season SEC competition.
“The SEC has some great teams, and for us to be able to get through our conference unbeaten three straight years is saying something,” Georgia head coach Suzanne Yoculan said. “We’re excited to be competing against a good opponent and for a second straight week to be in front of our home crowd.”
The Gym Dogs are coming off their highest score of the season of 197.675 in a victory over Kentucky last weekend. They posted season-highs on vault and bars as well. The scores against Kentucky kept Georgia at No. 1 in overall rankings and on bars and floor. Georgia also is third on vault and beam.
Individually, Courtney Kupets and Courtney McCool held on to their No. 1 rankings on bars and floor, respectively, while McCool also jumped to eighth on beam. Katie Heenan is fifth on vault and sixth on bars, while Cassidy McComb makes an appearance in the top 10 on floor at No. 8. Grace Taylor is No. 10 on bars.
Arkansas comes to Athens with a 4-4 (2-3 SEC) record, fresh off a 196.425 in defeating Auburn last weekend. They are ranked in the top 15 on all four individual events in addition to a No. 11 team rating. Their best event is floor, where they are averaging a 49.089 and ranked eighth in the country. Casey Jo Magee ranks 14th in the all-around and 20th on beam and Emily Peacock is 21st on floor.
In 11 total meetings, the Gym Dogs have won every single one against the Gym Backs. This marks the fourth straight opponent Georgia has never lost to in program history. It was a close contest in 2007, however, as the Gym Dogs had some struggles in Fayetteville and nearly walked away with a loss. But Heenan secured the win on beam, as Georgia escaped with a narrow victory, 196.100 - 196.075.
“Arkansas consistently has been in or near the top 10 all season long, and this is one of the better teams they have ever had,” Yoculan commented. “They really pushed us last year on their home floor and almost upset us. So we know what Arkansas is capable of. We just have to focus on ourselves and our own gymnastics.”
Gym Dog senior Heenan is due back in the all-around for the first time this season against Arkansas. Recovering from herniated discs in her back, Heenan only has competed as many as three events in Georgia’s eight meets this year. She competed floor for the first time last weekend against Kentucky, posting a 9.875. Kupets, recovering from a concussion, is also due back on all four events. McCool is slated to go on bars for the first time in her college career as well.
“Tiffany (Tolnay) got back into the all-around last weekend with a great meet, and we should have Courtney and Katie back on all four events this weekend as well,” Yoculan said. “This will be the first time this year we have all three of our all-arounders we plan on using for the championships in our lineup in the same meet. We’re looking forward to four consistent routines from those girls and then for our event specialists to fill in the other spots and really put up a high score.”
The Georgia-Arkansas meet will be televised on a tape-delay basis by FSN South to be aired March 8 at 5:30 p.m. Fans can follow along on georgiadogs.com with free livestats and play-by-play. GXtra also provides video and audio through a subscription package with commentary by former Gym Dogs Cory Fritzinger and Sam Sheehan. Highlights, post-meet interviews and the replay will be free on GXtra following the meet as well.
