Spring Break
Taylor, McCool win individual titles
KEVIN COPP
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
After Friday's Super Six title, the Gym Dogs took home two more NCAA National Championships Saturday, as Grace Taylor won the balance beam and Courtney McCool won floor exercise in the individual event championships.
Multiple Gym Dogs won National Championships for the first time since 1998, when Kim Arnold, Jenni Beathard and Karin Lichey captured individual titles.
McCool scored a 9.9625 on floor, receiving perfect 10.0s from two of the six judges and scores of 9.95 from the other four.
As she was finishing her routine, Taylor was preparing to go on the balance beam, where she scored a 9.95 to win the title.
Taylor credited McCool's performance for giving her the boost that she needed on beam.
"Iron sharpens iron, and she makes me better," Taylor said of McCool. "When I saw her out there having so much fun, it just kept that so fresh in my mind how fun gymnastics is."
Head coach Suzanne Yoculan, who finished her penultimate season on Saturday, was encouraged about the future based on this weekend's performance by the Gym Dogs.
"What's exciting about that is that they're both sophomores and
they'll both be back next year," Yoculan said. "Having a nice core and foundation that works and having the athletes that know how to compete, I feel that the future is bright for Georgia."
Senior Katie Heenan, in her final meet at Georgia, finished runner-up in the nation on the uneven bars with a score of 9.90.
Multiple Gym Dogs won National Championships for the first time since 1998, when Kim Arnold, Jenni Beathard and Karin Lichey captured individual titles.
McCool scored a 9.9625 on floor, receiving perfect 10.0s from two of the six judges and scores of 9.95 from the other four.
As she was finishing her routine, Taylor was preparing to go on the balance beam, where she scored a 9.95 to win the title.
Taylor credited McCool's performance for giving her the boost that she needed on beam.
"Iron sharpens iron, and she makes me better," Taylor said of McCool. "When I saw her out there having so much fun, it just kept that so fresh in my mind how fun gymnastics is."
Head coach Suzanne Yoculan, who finished her penultimate season on Saturday, was encouraged about the future based on this weekend's performance by the Gym Dogs.
"What's exciting about that is that they're both sophomores and
they'll both be back next year," Yoculan said. "Having a nice core and foundation that works and having the athletes that know how to compete, I feel that the future is bright for Georgia."
Senior Katie Heenan, in her final meet at Georgia, finished runner-up in the nation on the uneven bars with a score of 9.90.
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