Georgia Gym Dogs

University of Georgia
Gymdogs
Founded: 1981

University University of Georgia
Conference SEC
Location Athens, GA
Head Coach Danna Durante (1st year)
Home Arena Stegeman Coliseum
(Capacity: 10,523)
Known As Gymdogs
Colors Red and Black

             

National Championships
10
(1987, 1989, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Super Six Appearances
19
(1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014)
NCAA Regional Champions
24
(1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015)
NCAA Tournament Appearances
31
(1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Conference Champions
16
(1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)

The Georgia Gymdogs women's gymnastics team represents the University of Georgia and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gymdogs compete in Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia and compete in NCAA Division I. As of the end of the 2009 season, the Gymdogs lead the nation with 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships, the latest five being consecutive (2005–09), and 16 SEC championships. The team was coached by Suzanne Yoculan from 1983-2009, and was coached by Yoculan's assistant coach Jay Clark until his resignation May 4, 2012.

History

The women's gymnastics program was started in 1973 with Melinda Airhart (14-15) as the head coach, and the team competed in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). After the 1975-76 season, Airhart was replaced with Andy Long (33-12). After the 1978-79 season Long was replaced by Terri Parsons Richie (28-6). Following the 1979-80 season Richie was followed by Rick Walton (45-31), and the team began competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) following the dissolution the AIAW.[1][2] On July 1, 2009, Coach Yoculan officially retired after 26 years with the team, and her former assistant coach Jay Clark has taken over as head coach.[3][4][5]

Championships

As of 2012, the team has won 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships.[6][7] As of 2012, the team has also won 16 Southeastern Conference Championships (1986, '87, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '05, '06, '08)[8][9] and 22 NCAA Regional Titles.[8][10][11]

The 2008 Gym Dogs, including individual apparatus national champions Courtney McCool and Grace Taylor, are honored at the White House by President of the United States George W. Bush in June 2008 for their winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I team championship.
Georgia Bulldogs Team NCAA National Championships
Year National Champion Score Runner-up Score Location
1987 Georgia 187.900 Utah Red Rocks 187.550 Jon M. Huntsman Center,
Salt Lake City, Utah
1989 Georgia 192.650 UCLA Bruins 192.600 Stegeman Coliseum,
Athens, Georgia
1993 Georgia 198.000 Alabama Crimson Tide 196.825 Gill Coliseum,
Corvallis, Oregon
1998 Georgia 197.725 Florida Gators 196.350 Pauley Pavilion,
Los Angeles, California
1999 Georgia 196.850 Michigan Wolverines 196.550 Jon M. Huntsman Center,
Salt Lake City, Utah
2005 Georgia 197.825 Alabama Crimson Tide 197.400 Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum,
Auburn, Alabama
2006 Georgia 197.750 Utah Red Rocks 196.800 Gill Coliseum,
Corvallis, Oregon
2007 Georgia 197.850 Utah Red Rocks 197.250 Jon M. Huntsman Center,
Salt Lake City, Utah
2008 Georgia 197.450 Utah Red Rocks 197.125 Stegeman Coliseum,
Athens, Georgia
2009 Georgia 197.825 Alabama Crimson Tide 197.575 Bob Devaney Sports Center,
Lincoln, Nebraska

Coaches

Head Coaching Records

The team has had six head coaches in the history of the program.

Name Seasons W – L – T Win %
1 Melinda Airhart 1973 – 1976 14 – 15 – 0 0.483
2 Andy Long 1976 – 1979 33 – 12 – 0 0.733
3 Terri Parsons Richie 1979 – 1981 28 – 6 – 0 0.823
4 Rick Walton 1981 – 1983 45 – 31 – 0 0.592
5 Suzanne Yoculan 1983 – 2009 831 – 117 – 7 0.870
6 Jay Clark 2009 – 2012 6 – 7 – 0 0.462
7 Danna Durante 2012 – Present 6 – 5 – 1 0.545

Other coaches currently working in the gym include Jay Hogue and Philip Ogletree.

Roster (2014)

2014 Georgia Gym Dogs Roster
Gymnast Events† Year
Mary Beth Box VT, BB, FX Sophomore
Ashlyn Broussard AA Freshman
Kiera Brown AA Freshman
Lindsey Cheek VT, UB, BB Senior
Chelsea Davis VT, UB, BB Junior
Kaylan Earls VT, BB, FX Senior
Cat Hires AA Senior
Demetria Hunte VT, BB, FX Junior
Brandie Jay AA Sophomore
Lauren Johnson AA Freshman
Whitney Kirby UB, BB Junior
Sarah Persinger VT, BB, FX Junior
Morgan Reynolds AA Freshman
Beth Roberts VT, BB, FX Freshman
Brittany Rogers AA Sophomore
Rachel Schick VT, UB, BB Freshman
Anysia Unick UB, BB Sophomore

† Vault (VT), Uneven Bars (UB), Balance Beam (BB), Floor Exercise (FX), All Around (AA)

NCAA individual event champions

As of the end of the 2012 season, 18 different Georgia gymnasts have won a total of 40 individual event championships.[8][12]

Georgia Bulldogs Individual NCAA Championship Titles
Gymnast Balance Beam Vault Uneven Bars Floor Exercise All-Around
Kat Ding 2011, 2012 2012
Courtney McCool 2008
Grace Taylor2008
Courtney Kupets2006, 200920072006, 200920092006, 2007, 2009
Cory Fritzinger 2001
Suzanne Sears 2000
Karin Lichey 1998
Kim Arnold1998 1997, 1998
Jenni Beathard1998 1997
Leah Brown 1996 1997
Leslie Angeles 1995
Lori Strong 1994
Agina Simpkins 1993
Heather Stepp 1992, 1993 1993
Hope Spivey 1991 1991, 19941991
Kelly Macy 1991
Corrinne Wright 19891989
Lucy Wener 1986, 1987, 1989

Home venue

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Rossiter. Following the 1982-83 season Walton was replaced by Suzanne Yoculan., Erin (December 4, 2006). "Page-flipping gymnastics: Coach Suzanne Yoculan relates ups, downs and details of her successful women's program at UGA". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  2. ↑ "Year by Year" (PDF). GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  3. ↑ Starrs, Chris (January 8, 2009). "Clark's time to shine". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  4. ↑ Clarkson, Roger (September 20, 2009). "Jay Clark era in full swing with mandatory practices". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  5. ↑ http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=3758550&?DB_OEM_ID=8800
  6. ↑ "Gym Dog National Championships". Georgiadogs.com. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  7. ↑ "National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics". NCAA. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "SEC Gymnastics History and Records". SECsports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  9. ↑ "Georgia Biographies: Suzanne Yoculan". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  10. ↑ "North Central Regional: Georgia takes top spot". NCAA. April 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  11. ↑ "Dogs finish first at Regional". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. April 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  12. ↑ "Individual NCAA Champions". Georgiadogs.com. Retrieved 2008-03-30.

External links