University of Georgia Athletics
Gym Dogs Ready For 2010 SEC Championship
March 26, 2010 | Gymnastics
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- After a short, 48-minute chartered flight out of Athens on Thursday, the Georgia gymnastics team arrived here in Jacksonville, Fla., site of the 2010 SEC Gymnastics Championship.
Friday was a practice day, a time for the seven SEC teams in attendance to get acclimated to the atmosphere at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, where the Gym Dogs will perform on podium for the first time in the 2010 season.
With seven teams competing on Saturday, the competition order is different than the usual dual meet format. At 3:00 p.m. on Friday, with all competing SEC teams in present, SEC officials held a draw ceremony which determined the order in which each team would compete in this year's championship. Courtney McCool was Georgia's representative to draw from the proverbial hat, and the following is Georgia's draw for Saturday: bye, floor, bye, vault, bye, bars and beam. Read more about the draw ceremony | Watch draw ceremony video
Head coach Jay Clark said this year's draw has the potential to allow the Gym Dogs to win the program's 17th SEC title, and seventh out of the last 10 championships.
"We've done it all different ways. We've won championships on all different rotations, being on and off the floor, it really hasn't mattered," he said. "We didn't care what event we started on, because we feel like our strength is our balance, and that all four events are strong enough for us to win a championship."
Practice Update
Sporting new tank-tops with a "24" emblazoned on the back (representing the desire to hit all 24 routines during Saturday's meet), the Gym Dogs went to work during their afternoon practice session where players and coaches alike were relaxed, but focused.
"We've been having a fantastic time, just since we left the hotel. We're just excited to be here, and there is absolutely no pressure on us," senior Grace Taylor said.
Clark acknowledged the relaxed atmosphere, and it was clear the inspiration for it came from the top.
"Well, we've just been talking about it. It was a topsy-turvy regular season, we sort of want to hit the reset button here, and we've been talking about just competing loose, being free. I told them I was going to make a commitment to having fun this weekend, and I wanted them to do the same thing, and enjoy their teammates and enjoy this atmosphere," said Clark.
"It was a great workout. They were having fun out here today, and they executed very well. Historically, that's when Georgia teams do their best, when we're free and just having a good time," he said. "They're enjoying being with each other. We felt like we were the only ones in here today, and that's the way it has to be on competition night, too."
As expected, freshman Shayla Worley will likely not be competing in this weekend's championship due to a foot injury suffered in the February 26 meet against LSU. Outside of Worley's injury, the Gym Dogs appear healthy and ready to compete for a championship.
Be sure to tune back in to Georgiadogs.com on Saturday for all the latest coverage. The SEC Championship will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Learn more about Saturday's coverage.
