The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Daniel Shirey Coach Suzanne Youclan and her Gym Dogs had many ups and downs this season, but still managed to win the program's fifth straight championship and 10th overall. [Click to enlarge]

The Gym Dogs finished the 2009 season atop the podium yet again Friday, giving head coach Suzanne Yoculan a 10th NCAA championship for a retirement gift.

But it wasn't all smiles and stuck landings along the way - there were twists, turns and tears, too. Here's a look at Georgia gymnastics' road to a fifth consecutive national title.

• After a slow season-opener against West Virginia, the Gym Dogs rattled off three straight victories over top-10 opponents at LSU and at home against Utah and Alabama. As she continued to return from an Achilles tear that saw her miss the last half of 2008, senior Courtney Kupets charted a pair of perfect 10s against Alabama.

"It's more for the team," Kupets said after the meet. "Yes, I did get two 10s tonight, which is amazing … But this year is about the team."

• On Jan. 30, Georgia gymnastics goes to Raleigh, and hits its first low point of the season, posting a lackluster 195.0 - its lowest score during its string of five national championships - in a win against N.C. State.

• Following wins against Auburn, Kentucky and Centenary, the Gym Dogs went to Arkansas, where the upstart Gym 'Backs had been giant killers. They already had bested conference powerhouses Alabama and Florida, but they couldn't quite pull off the upset this time - Georgia escaped with a 196.925-196.425 win.

• The final day of February brought more fight from the Gym Dogs. Senior Courtney Kupets brought boxing gloves to their date with Florida, and she and the Gym Dogs exploded. Kupets put up another perfect 10, this time on floor, fueling Georgia to a huge score of 198.2, its highest score in a decade.

• A road win against UCLA (marked by a 10 from Courtney McCool in just her second meet back from a foot fracture) set the Gym Dogs up for the final home meet of Yoculan's 26-year career.

Continued...

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