Georgia GymDogs

Georgia GymDogs
Founded1981
UniversityUniversity of Georgia
Athletic directorJosh Brooks
Head coachCécile Canqueteau-Landi & Ryan Roberts (1st season)
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Home arenaStegeman Coliseum (Capacity: 10,523)
NicknameGymDogs
National championships
1987, 1989, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Super Six appearances
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016
NCAA Regional championships
1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
NCAA Tournament appearances
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, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference championships
1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008

The Georgia GymDogs[1] (officially the Georgia Bulldogs) is the women's gymnastics team of the University of Georgia. The team is part of NCAA Division I and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The GymDogs compete in Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.

The GymDogs lead the nation with 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship titles (including five consecutive wins from 2005 to 2009) and 16 SEC championships. The team was coached by Suzanne Yoculan from 1983 to 2009, Jay Clark from 2009 to 2012, Danna Durante from 2012 to 2017,[2] and Courtney Kupets from 2017 to 2024.[3][4]

History

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The women's gymnastics program was started in 1973 with Melinda Airhart as the head coach, and the team competed in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). After the 1979–80 season, the team began competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) following the dissolution of the AIAW.[5][6]

On July 1, 2009, Suzanne Yoculan retired after 26 years as head coach, and Clark, her assistant coach, took over as head of the program.[7][8][9] In 2012, Clark was replaced by Durante.

Championships

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As of 2012, the team had won 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships.[10][11] As of 2012, it had also won 16 Southeastern Conference titles (1986, '87, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '04, '05, '06, '08)[12][13] and 22 NCAA regional titles.[12][14][15]

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

NCAA individual event champions

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Georgia's home venue

As of the end of the 2016 season, 20 Georgia gymnasts have won a total of 42 individual event championships.[12][16]

Georgia Bulldogs Individual NCAA Championship Titles
Gymnast Balance Beam Vault Uneven Bars Floor Exercise All-Around
Brittany Rogers 2016
Brandie Jay 2016
Kat Ding 2011, 2012 2012
Courtney McCool 2008
Grace Taylor 2008
Courtney Kupets 2006, 2009 2007 2006, 2009 2009 2006, 2007, 2009
Cory Fritzinger 2001
Suzanne Sears 2000
Karin Lichey 1998
Kim Arnold 1998 1997, 1998
Jenni Beathard 1998 1997
Leah Brown 1996 1997
Leslie Angeles 1995
Lori Strong 1994
Agina Simpkins 1993
Heather Stepp 1992, 1993 1993
Hope Spivey 1991 1991, 1994 1991
Kelly Macy 1991
Corrinne Wright 1989 1989
Lucy Wener 1986, 1987, 1989

Coaches

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Head coaching records

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The team has had eight head coaches.

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 – 2017 6 – 5 – 1 0.545
8 Courtney Kupets Carter 2017 – 2024 0 – 0 – 2 0
0 Cécile Canqueteau-Landi & Ryan Roberts 2025– 0 – 0 – 0 0

Roster

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2024–2025[17]
Name Height Year Hometown Club
Nyla Aquino FR Boston, MA
Csenge Bácskay JR Budapest, Hungary
Jaydah Battle SO Hampton, VA World Class Gymnastics
Sadie Jane Berry FR Mooresville, NC
Alexis Czarrunchick FR Howell, NJ
Kara Eaker JR Grain Valley, MO GAGE
Sidney Fitzgerald 5–2 JR Evans, GA C&C Gymnastics
Brooke Gleichowski FR Gainesville, FL
Naya Howard 5–6 JR Chesapeake, VA Ocean Tumblers
Nicole King 5–5 JR Johns Creek, GA BIO Gymnastics
Kelsey Lee SO Bradenton, FL Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics
Emma Mason FR Scott Depot, WV
Zora Morgan SO Atlanta, GA Orlando Metro Gymnastics
Aberdeen O'Driscoll FR Léglise, Belgium Topsportschool Gent
JaFree Scott 5–3 JR Kansas City, MO Great American Gymnastics Express
Anaya Smith GS
Lily Smith SO Limerick, PA Silvia's Gymnastics
Holly Snyder SO Annapolis, MD Docksiders Gymnastics
Harley Tomlin FR Pittsburgh, PA
Anya Turner SO Highlands Ranch, CO Colorado Gymnastics Institute
Ady Wahl SO Zanesville, OH Zanesville Gymnastics
Eryn Williams 5–1 JR Knoxville, TN Premier Athletics

Home venue

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Past Olympians

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "2011 Georgia Bulldogs Gymnastics Preview".
  2. ^ Emerson, Seth. "UGA reaches into its recent past for new gymnastics coach: Courtney Kupets". Dawg Nation.
  3. ^ Georgia Gymnastics [@UGAGymnastics] (9 May 2017). "The new head coach of the Georgia Gym Dogs - @CourtneyKupets!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Georgia Announces Leadership Change in Gymnastics". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  5. ^ 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. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Year by Year" (PDF). GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia. Retrieved 2008-03-25. [dead link]
  7. ^ Starrs, Chris (January 8, 2009). "Clark's time to shine". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  8. ^ Clarkson, Roger (September 20, 2009). "Jay Clark era in full swing with mandatory practices". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  9. ^ http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=3758550&?DB_OEM_ID=8800[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Gym Dog National Championships". Georgiadogs.com. Archived from the original on 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  11. ^ "National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics". NCAA. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  12. ^ a b c "SEC Gymnastics History and Records". SECsports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  13. ^ "Georgia Biographies: Suzanne Yoculan". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved 2007-04-15. [dead link]
  14. ^ "North Central Regional: Georgia takes top spot". NCAA. April 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  15. ^ "Dogs finish first at Regional". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. April 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  16. ^ "Individual NCAA Champions". Georgiadogs.com. Archived from the original on 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  17. ^ "2024 Gymnastics Roster". Georgia Dogs. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
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