Georgia Gym Dogs

Georgia Bulldogs gymnastics
Founded	1981
University	University of Georgia
Conference	SEC
Location	Athens, Georgia
Head coach	Danna Durante (4th year)
Home arena	Stegeman Coliseum (Capacity: 10,523)
Nickname	Georgia Gymdogs
Colors	Red and Black[1]
National Championships
10 (1987, 1989, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Super Six Appearances
20 (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016)
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
32 (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)
Conference Champions
16 (1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)

The Georgia Gymdogs^[2] (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 2005–09) and 16 SEC championships. The team was coached by Suzanne Yoculan from 1983–2009 and by Jay Clark from 2009–12, and is currently coached by Danna Durante.

History

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.^[3][4]

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.^[5][6][7] In 2012, Clark was replaced by Durante.

Championships

As of 2012, the team had won 10 NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships.^[8][9] 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)^[10][11] and 22 NCAA regional titles.^[10][12][13]

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

As of the end of the 2016 season, 20 Georgia gymnasts have won a total of 42 individual event championships.^[10][14]

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

Head coaching records

The team has had seven 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 – Present	6 – 5 – 1	0.545

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

Roster

2015–16^[15]

Name	Height	Year	Hometown	Club
Jasmine Arnold	5-3	SO	Murfreesboro, TN	Elite Energy Gymnastics
Vivi Babalis	5-1	SO	Montreal, Quebec	Gymnix
Mary Beth Box	5-2	SR	Calhoun, GA	Cartersville Twisters
Caroline Bradford	5-5	FR	Prairieville, LA	Cypress Pointe
Ashlyn Broussard	5-1	JR	Plano, TX	WOGA
Gracie Cherrey	5-4	FR	Woodbury, MN	Twin City Twisters
Brandie Jay	5-3	SR	Fort Collins, CO	GK's Gymnastics
Lauren Johnson	5-3	JR	Atlanta, GA	Gwinnett Gymnastics Center
Gigi Marino	4-10	SO	Scottsdale, AZ	Desert Devils
Morgan Reynolds	5-1	JR	Athens, GA	Georgia Elite Gymnastics
Beth Roberts	5-4	JR	Tifton, GA	Tift Gymnastics Academy
Brittany Rogers	5-6	SR	Coquitlam, British Columbia	Flicka Gymnastics
Hayley Sanders	5-1	SO	McKinney, TX	WOGA
Rachel Schick	5-1	JR	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	Charter Oak Gymnastics
Sydney Snead	5-2	FR	Raleigh, NC	Sonshine Gymnastics
Natalie Vaculik	5-2	SO	Whitby, Ontario	Gemini Gymnastics

Home venue

• Stegeman Coliseum

See also

• Georgia Bulldogs
• Uga (mascot)
• Southeastern Conference

Notes

1. "Color Palette–Brand Identity Guidelines" (PDF). University of Georgia Athletics. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
2. http://www.secsportsfan.com/georgia-bulldogs-gymnastics.html
3. 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.
4. "Year by Year" (PDF). GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
5. Starrs, Chris (January 8, 2009). "Clark's time to shine". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
6. Clarkson, Roger (September 20, 2009). "Jay Clark era in full swing with mandatory practices". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
7. http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=3758550&?DB_OEM_ID=8800
8. "Gym Dog National Championships". Georgiadogs.com. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
9. "National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics". NCAA. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
10. "SEC Gymnastics History and Records". SECsports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
11. "Georgia Biographies: Suzanne Yoculan". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics Association. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
12. "North Central Regional: Georgia takes top spot". NCAA. April 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
13. "Dogs finish first at Regional". Athens Banner-Herald. Morris Communications. April 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
14. "Individual NCAA Champions". Georgiadogs.com. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
15. "2015-16 Roster". Georgia Dogs. Retrieved 21 October 2015.

External links

• Georgia Gym Dogs official website