Georgia Gymnastics NCAA Championships Supplement

Tiffany Tolnay

Courtney Kupets Suzanne Yoculan

Grace Taylor

Courtney McCool

April 16-18, 2009 Lincoln, Neb. Georgia Gym Dogs NCAA Championship • Lincoln, Neb.

NO. 1 GYM DOGS, YOCULAN PREPARE trust in my ability to do that, and I don’t look back.” FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS Georgia will be the top seed in the NCAAs. The The Georgia gymnastics team will attempt to win its Gym Dogs finished the regular season with the nation’s fifth straight national title and send its venerable coach highest regional qualifying score (RQS) of 197.255, then into retirement on a positive note at the NCAA Cham- added a 197.7 at the Southeast Regional. The combined pionships this week. total of 394.955 made Georgia No. 1 for the NCAAs. Georgia has earned nine national titles, including each of the last four, in the program’s history, and will be NCAA SCHEDULE looking to add to its trophy case at the 2009 NCAAs Georgia will hold its pre-NCAA Championships prac- in Lincoln, Neb. The team portion of the meet will take tice on Wednesday at 1:40 p.m. CDT. The Gym Dogs place Thursday and Friday, fol- lowed by the individuals event 2009 Georgia Roster on Saturday. The national meet will be the Name Event(s) Class Height Hometown Mariel Box AA Freshman 5-2 Calhoun, Ga. last one in the 26-year career Paige Burns V, UB, BB Senior 5-3 St. Cloud, Fla. of Coach Suzanne Yoculan, who Kathryn Ding AA Freshman 5-2 Sparks, Nev. built a once fledgling program Lauren Johnson V Junior 5-3 Cartersville, Ga. into perhaps the nation’s most AA Senior 5-3 Athens, Ga. Hilary Mauro AA Sophomore 4-8 Boston, Mass. dominant. Cassidy McComb AA Sophomore 5-4 Henderson, Nev. “I believe that our team is Courtney McCool UB, BB, FX Junior 5-0 Lees Summit, Mo. peaking at the right time, but I Marcia Newby V, UB Junior 5-7 Virginia Beach, Va. Gina Nuccio AA Freshman 5-1 Naperville, Ill. have no doubt that this champi- Lauren Sessler V, UB Junior 5-7 Snellville, Ga. onship will be a battle and a fight Abby Stack UB, FX Senior 5-3 Matthews, N.C. to the end,” senior Abby Stack Grace Taylor UB, BB, FX Junior 5-0 Aiken, S.C. Tiffany Tolnay AA Senior 5-1 Grapevine, Texas said. “In order to come out with Amber Trani AA Freshman 5-2 Richlandtown, Pa. a win, we are going to need to have calm confidence and stick Head Coach: Suzanne Yoculan Associate Head Coach: Jay Clark our routines. In regards to it Assistant Coach: Doug McAvinn Volunteer Coach: Julie Clark being Suzanne’s last meet, we try not to emphasize it, but there is no denying that it then will compete in the afternoon session on Thursday is in the back of everyone’s mind. She does not need at 1 p.m. CDT. Georgia will start with a bye before this championship to feel successful or to complete her floor, which is the same rotation the Gym Dogs had at career. I think it would simply be icing on the cake. But the Southeast Regional. who likes to eat cake with no icing?” “I feel great about this rotation,” Georgia coach Su- Yoculan said she is secure in her decision to retire. In zanne Yoculan said. “Ending on beam is great for us, and other words, don’t expect a Brett Favre-like return in we love to start a meet out on a go-for-it type event like 2010. floor or vault. For us, competing at the end of the meet “I know for sure I will not regret my decision based on makes it so much more fun.” if we win or lose,” said Yoculan, who has guided Georgia Georgia will compete with Stanford, Penn State, Okla- to a 22-1 record this year. “It has nothing to do with the homa, LSU and Florida in the afternoon session. UCLA, number of championships or who’s on the team or any- Utah, Illinois, Oregon State, Alabama and Arkansas have thing like that. It’s entirely based on where I am person- been assigned to the evening session. The top three ally and where the program is. I would never have made teams from each session will advance to the Super Six this decision unless I thought it was the right time for on Friday at 6 p.m. CDT. The individual championships the program, and it is. I make my decisions instinctively, I will be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. CDT. Ge o r g i a Gy m Do g s No t e s NATIONAL CHAMPS APLENTY was No. 2 on beam, No. 5 on bars and No. 6 on floor, In addition to its nine NCAA team championships, while Tiffany Tolnay was No. 10 on bars and No. 20 on Georgia has produced 33 individual national titles by 17 vault, and Gina Nuccio was No. 17 on bars. women. Leading the way is current Gym Dog Courtney Ku- ON THE AIR pets, who won the 2006 all-around, bars and beam titles GXtra, the official premium online service of the and the 2007 all-around and vault crowns. (An Achilles , will stream live audio of the NCAA injury suffered late last season kept her out of the 2008 Championships, with commentary provided by former NCAAs.) Gym Dogs Dodson and Emily Bridgers. A year ago, Courtney McCool claimed the floor title The meet will be shown on tape delay by CBS on and Grace Taylor won the beam crown at the NCAAs Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. Tim Brando will handle the in Athens. play-by-play and Amanda Borden will provide analysis. Tiffany Tolnay is a 12-time All-American and leads the Live scoring can be found at the University of Nebras- current Gym Dogs in that category. She has finished ka’s website, huskers.com. fourth, fourth and third in the all-around in her three previous trips to the NCAAs. Coach Suzanne Yoculan LINEUP FOR NCAAS has called Tolnay “the X-factor” for the Gym Dogs at The Gym Dogs have the nation’s top regional qualify- the NCAAs. ing scores on bars, beam and floor and they are fourth Georgia also boasts past All-Americans in Kupets (10), on vault. Here is the lineup for the NCAA Champion- Taylor (5), Marcia Newby (2), McCool (1), Cassidy Mc- ships. As always, the lineup is subject to change. Comb (1) and Hilary Mauro (1). Vault: Lauren Sessler, Hilary Mauro, Cassidy Mc- Comb, Marcia Newby, Courtney Kupets, Tiffany Tolnay. GEORGIA AGAINST THE FIELD Bars: Kathryn Ding, Gina Nuccio, Courtney McCool, The Gym Dogs are pretty familiar with the other Grace Taylor, Tiffany Tolnay, Courtney Kupets. teams at the NCAA Championships, having met four of Beam: Hilary Mauro, Cassidy McComb, Tiffany Tol- them twice and three others once each this season. This nay, Grace Taylor, Courtney Kupets, Courtney McCool. will be the first time Georgia has met Stanford, Oregon Floor: Abby Stack, Hilary Mauro, Cassidy McComb, State, Illinois and Oklahoma this year. Grace Taylor, Tiffany Tolnay, Courtney Kupets. Alabama: W 197.175-196.275 (Regular Season) L 197.300-196.925 (SECs) GRAND SLAM OF PERFECTION Arkansas: W 196.925-196.725 (Regular Season) Courtney Kupets has earned a 10.0 on all four events W 196.925-195.650 (SECs) this season, becoming just the third Gym Dog to accom- Florida: W 198.200-196.650 (Regular Season) plish that feat. W 196.925-196.750 (SECs) Kupets recorded 10.0s on bars and beam against LSU: W 196.850-195.950 (Regular Season) W 196.925-196.550 (SECs) 2009 Georgia Schedule Penn State: W 197.700-195.800 (NCAA Regional) Jan. 9 West Virginia W, 195.425-194.075 UCLA: W 197.725-196.125 (Regular Season) Jan. 16 at LSU W, 196.850-195.950 Utah: W 197.150-196.725 (Regular Season) Jan. 19 Utah W, 197.150-196.725 Jan. 23 Alabama W, 197.175-196.275 GYM DOGS END REGULAR Jan. 30 at N.C. State W, 195.000-193.150 SEASON WITH NO. 1 RANKINGS Feb. 7 Auburn W, 197.250-195.925 Georgia finished No. 1 in the final GymInfo poll with a Feb. 13 at Kentucky/Centenary W, 196.975-195.150-187.350 regional qualifying score (RQS) of 197.255. Utah is No. 2 Feb. 20 at Arkansas W, 196.925-196.725 with an RQS of 197.190. As a team, the Gym Dogs also Feb. 28 Florida W, 198.200-196.650 March 8 at UCLA W, 197.725-196.125 finished No. 1 on bars, beam and floor, and No. 4 on March 14 Michigan W, 197.400-195.825 vault. March 21 SEC Championship 2nd place, 196.925 Courtney Kupets completed the regular season ranked April 4 NCAA Regional 1st place, 197.700 No. 1 in the nation in the all-around as well as on bars April 16-18 NCAA Championship Lincoln, Neb. and beam, and at No. 2 on vault and floor. Grace Taylor Ge o r g i a Gy m Do g s No t e s

Yoculan’s Career Record beam, and I never thought I’d see that day,” Georgia coach Suzanne Year Record SEC NCAA 1984 27-13 2nd 9th Yoculan said. “Whether the judges 1985 30-17 3rd 7th would put up three 10.0s in a row 1986 32-8 1st 4th 1987 38-3 1st 1st is another question, but we could 1988 35-8-1 2nd 5th legitimately earn three in a row. 1989 35-6 3rd 1st They are phenomenal, and in my 1990 38-6 3rd 3rd 1991 31-5 1st 3rd book Tiffany Tolnay is right in 1992 34-1 1st 2nd there with them as well. 1993 32-0 1st 1st 1994 28-2 1st 3rd “No one can match Tolnay, 1995 28-8 3rd 5th Taylor, Kupets and McCool on 1996 30-3-1 1st t3rd Alabama on Jan. 23, added a 10.0 1997 30-3-1 1st 3rd balance beam. Can someone beat on floor against Florida on Feb. 28, 1998 35-0 1st 1st us on beam? Yes. They can have 1999 32-0 1st 1st then picked up a 10.0 on vault at 2000 30-5-1 t2nd 3rd bad days and wobble and fall. But I the Southeast Regional on April 4 2001 33-3-1 1st 2nd don’t think anyone can deny that’s to complete the career grand slam 2002 34-4-1 1st 2nd potentially the best beam lineup in 2003 31-6 2nd 3rd of perfection. 2004 30-6 1st 2nd the country, especially since Hilary Kupets, who now has five 10.0s 2005 33-5 1st 1st Mauro and Cassidy McComb can 2006 36-0 1st 1st in her career, joined 2007 31-2-1 2nd 1st be 9.9s.” and Heather Stepp as the only 2008 31-2 1st 1st Kupets is No. 1 in the nation on 2009 22-1 2nd ---- Gym Dogs with 10.0s on each TOTALS 826-117-7 beam, while Taylor is second. Ku- event, both for a single season pets also notched 10.0s this year and for a career. Lichey had 20 on bars and floor. 10.0s in her career, and she got one of all four events in 1996 against Kentucky when she earned the only 40.0 in THE LAST TIME OUT college gymnastics history. Stepp, who was perfect six Georgia won the NCAA Southeast Regional at North times, earned 10.0s on all four events in 1993. Carolina State to qualify for the NCAA Championship. The national leader in the all-around, Kupets has Behind 10.0s from Courtney Kupets and Courtney posted 39 9.9s or better this season, which is third on McCool, the Gym Dogs rolled up a score of 197.7. Ku- Georgia’s all-time list. The season record of 42 was set pets was selected as the Southeast Regional Gymnast of by Karin Lichey in 1999. the Year. In Georgia’s win over Florida, Kupets posted a career- “This is absolutely the way we wanted to get into best 39.85 in the all-around, the fourth-best figure in the NCAAs,” said Coach Suzanne Yoculan, who guided school history. She also scored a 39.825 against Alabama Georgia to its 21st NCAA Regional title. “It really to set the fifth-best figure in school history. helps with confidence to have a good meet before the Of the 65 possible titles in meets this year, Kupets has NCAAs. When they set their mind to it and really have won outright or shared 50 of them. that focus, we’re an unbeatable team. Our expectations are very high.” PERFECT ON BEAM Kupets won the all-around title for the 12th time in The Gym Dogs came into the 2009 campaign with just 13 meets, posting a score of 39.675. Kupets recorded a five perfect 10.0s on beam in the program’s history. By 10.0 on vault, giving her the grand slam of perfection this comparison, Georgia entered the year with 64 on vault, year with 10.0s on all four events. McCool posted her 51 on floor and 25 on bars. second 10.0 of the year on beam. But the number of 10.0s on beam has jumped to nine after Courtney McCool (twice), Courtney Kupets and ALL IN FOR TEN Grace Taylor achieved perfection earlier this year. Georgia adopted a preseason theme of “All In For Georgia has reached a high score of 49.55 this season Ten,” symbolizing the Gym Dogs’ quest for the pro- and had a regional qualifying score of 49.49 – both of gram’s 10th national championship. which are tops in the nation. “I think ‘All In For Ten’ describes perfectly what our “We could legitimately earn three 10.0s in a row on goal has been this year,” Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan Ge o r g i a Gy m Do g s No t e s

2009 Georgia SCHEDULE AND RESULTS Date Opponent Team Vault Bars Beam Floor Att. Rank Jan. 9 # 23 West Virginia (W) 195.425 49.175 48.850 48.775 48.625 8,639 1 Jan. 16 at # 14 LSU (W) 196.850 49.300 49.175 49.300 49.075 4,369 8 Jan. 19 #3 Utah (W) 197.150 49.300 49.450 49.025 49.375 9,113 4 Jan. 23 #9 Alabama (W) 197.175 48.975 49.525 49.475 49.200 9,938 4 Jan. 30 at #41 N.C. State (W) 195.000 49.125 49.225 48.200 48.450 3,614 1 Feb. 7 #5 Auburn (W) 197.250 49.250 49.150 49.475 49.375 10,224 3 Feb. 13 at # 29 Kentucky/ #52 Centenary (W, W) 196.975 49.175 49.475 49.175 49.150 1,953 3 Feb. 20 at # 7 Arkansas (W) 196.925 49.325 49.350 49.350 48.900 4,222 2 Feb. 28 #7 Florida (W) 198.200 49.425 49.550 49.550 49.675 10,224 1 March 8 at #6 UCLA (W) 197.725 49.425 49.425 49.400 49.475 4,709 1 March 14 # 14 Michigan (W) 197.400 49.475 49.525 49.200 49.200 10,224 1 March 21 SEC Championship (2nd) 196.925 49.325 49.500 48.600 49.500 5,045 1 April 4 NCAA Regional (1st) 197.700 49.525 49.400 49.550 49.225 1,725 1 said. “We love the ‘all in’ part as our gymnasts empha- 2009 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS size the importance of a cohesive team in accomplishing success. We have always stressed the importance of our W. Virginia • W, 195.425-194.075 Bars...... Courtney Kupets Vault...... Courtney Kupets All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Beam...... Courtney Kupets Bars...... Courtney Kupets fans, friends and staff being passionate about our team Vault...... Cassidy McComb, Floor...... Taylor Seaman (NCS) Beam...... Courtney Kupets, goal to win the national title. The right theme really sets Tiffany Tolnay, Courtney McCool the tone for the season, and we feel that we found the Chelsi Tabor (WVU) Auburn • W, 197.250-195.925 Floor...... Courtney Kupets Bars...... Courtney Kupets All-Around...... Courtney Kupets perfect one.” Beam...... Courtney Kupets, Vault...... Marcia Newby, UCLA • W, 197.725-196.125 Hilary Mauro Tiffany Tolnay All-Around...... Courtney Kupets CONFERENCE CALLS FOR GYM DOGS Floor...... Courtney Kupets Bars...... Courtney Kupets, Vault...... Hilary Mauro Marcia Newby, Kathryn Ding Bars...... Courtney Kupets Georgia claimed several postseason awards from the LSU • W, 196.850-195.950 Beam...... Courtney Kupets Beam...... Courtney McCool . All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Floor...... Courtney Kupets Floor...... Courtney Kupets Senior Courtney Kupets was named the SEC Gymnast Vault...... Courtney Kupets, of the Year, junior Grace Taylor was chosen as the SEC Ashleigh Clare-Kearnes (LSU) Kentucky/Centenary Michigan • W, 197.400-195.825 Bars...... Courtney Kupets W, 196.975-195.150-187.350 All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Scholar-Athlete of the Year, junior Marcia Newby was Beam...... Courtney Kupets All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Vault...... Cassidy McComb selected to the SEC Community Service Team and Su- Floor...... Courtney Kupets Vault...... Kathryn Ding Bars...... Tiffany Tolnay zanne Yoculan was picked as the SEC Coach of the Year...... Bars...... Courtney Kupets Beam...... Grace Taylor Utah • W, 197.150-196.725 Beam...... Courtney Kupets Floor...... Courtney Kupets Kupets became the seventh SEC Gymnast of the Year All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Floor...... Courtney Kupets, in Georgia history after leading the conference in four of Vault...... Courtney Kupets Hillary Ferguson (UK) SECs • 2nd, 196.925 the five individual categories and earning SEC Gymnast Bars...... Courtney Kupets All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Beam...... Grace Taylor Arkansas • W, 196.925-196.725 Vault...... Courtney Kupets, of the Week honors four times. Floor...... Courtney Kupets, All-Around...... Jaime Pisani (Ark.) Morgan Dennis (Ala.) Taylor has a 3.97 grade point average as she majors in Annie Diluzio (Utah), Vault...... Tiffany Tolnay, Bars...... Courtney Kupets Health Promotion and minors in Spanish. She is the 2009 Nina Kim (Utah) Marcia Newby, Lauren Sessler, Beam...... Courtney Kupets, Casey Jo Magee (Ark.), Susan Jackson (LSU), recipient of a Ramsey Scholarship for Academic and Alabama • W, 197.175-196.275 Michelle Stout (Ark.), Casey Jo Magee (Ark.) Athletic Excellence and is a past Academic All-American All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Jaime Pisani (Ark.), Floor...... Courtney Kupets, and SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. Vault...... Courtney Kupets, Alexandra LaChance (Ark.) Morgan Dennis (Ala.), Newby serves as the Vice President of Georgia’s Brittany Magee (Ala.) Bars...... Courtney Kupets Ashleigh Clare-Kearney (LSU) Bars...... Courtney Kupets Beam...... Courtney Kupets Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, overseeing, coor- Beam...... Courtney Kupets Floor...... Grace Taylor, SE Regional • 1st, 197.700 dinating and participating in several community service Floor...... Courtney Kupets Jaime Pisani (Ark.), All-Around...... Courtney Kupets efforts – including the Together We Can food drive that Michelle Stout (Ark.) Vault...... Courtney Kupets N.C. State • W, 195.000-193.150 Bars...... Courtney Kupets collected more than 1,200 pounds of food. Newby also All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Florida • W, 198.200-196.650 Beam...... Courtney McCool earned a Peach of an Athlete Award from the Atlanta Vault...... Courtney Kupets All-Around...... Courtney Kupets Floor...... Taylor Seaman (NCS) Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Ge o r g i a Gy m Do g s No t e s Yoculan earned SEC Coach of the Year honors for the THEY SAID IT ... eighth time in her career. She guided the Gym Dogs to Here are more comments on Coach Suzanne Yocu- the No. 1 ranking and an undefeated regular season. lan’s retirement following the 2009 NCAA Champion- ships: THE BUCKET LIST • Yoculan: “Not being with the girls on a daily basis Borrowing the title of the popular Jack Nicholson and will be the hardest part. I love the relationships with Morgan Freeman movie, Coach Suzanne Yoculan says them. I love it when they need my opinion or they quote her “bucket list” has been completed, and that’s why it’s something that I’ve said.” time to retire. • Senior Paige Burns: “I’ve grown to respect her so Yoculan said her “bucket list” included such items much and that goes way beyond what she’s done as a as selling out Stegeman Coliseum, fully endowing the coach. She really does care about each athlete individu- gymnastics scholarships, developing a television show, ally and she doesn’t just care about what you can do writing a book, opening a new practice facility, and be- for her in the gym. She wants to make sure everything’s ing heavily involved in the marketing and promotions going on OK in your life outside of school. She’ll always aspects of the program. tell us, ‘You’re here for gymnastics and school, but I’m “From a gymnastics standpoint, there’s nothing left going to make sure you’re prepared for life after college on my ‘bucket list,’” Yoculan said. “I need challenges as well.’” because I am very competitive. I have all kinds of plans. I • Yoculan: “I won’t be coming into the gym or the am going to fill the time, for sure. Whether I’ll like it or office next year, but I’ll definitely be in the stands. I am not, I’m not sure, but I want to find out.” getting seats in four different locations. At my first meet Yoculan said she plans to do professional public in 1984, I saw people in the stands moving from event to speaking with the help of a soon-to-be-launched event to follow the meet. I want to do the same thing. suzanneyoculan.com. She also would like to be a I am looking forward to watching the team from the consultant for colleges interested in beginning a women’s stands and getting a different perspective.” gymnastics program. • Senior Tiffany Tolnay: “She’s a mentor, a mom, a Georgia fans, however, shouldn’t worry about her coach – anything you need. You always can feel free to becoming the coach of one of those new programs. talk to her about anything. It’s not necessarily about Said Yoculan, “I could never coach anywhere but the athletics. She can help you with life skills.” . There’s no way I could wear anything but red and black.” MAKING THE GRADES Fall report cards are in, and seven members of the FIGHTING BACK Georgia gymnastics team recorded grade point averages Before Georgia’s meet with Florida, senior Courtney of 3.0 or better to make the Athletic Director’s Honor Kupets gave her teammates boxing gloves and boxing Roll. They are: Lauren Johnson, Grace Taylor, Courtney shorts as a reminder and as a motivator to fight. The Kupets, Marcia Newby, Lauren Sessler, Tiffany Tolnay Gym Dogs entered Stegeman Coliseum with the theme and Amber Trani. from “Rocky” playing. “We wanted to fight for everything,” Kupets said. “In- HEAVY HEARTS IN RALEIGH side we always felt we had this potential, so it was great Georgia visited Raleigh, N.C., twice this season, going to see. If we stay on the track we’re on, I think we will there for a meet with North Carolina State on Jan. 30 do great.” and then to the NCAA Southeast Regional on April 4. “It’s not about the scores or the results; it’s about the Georgia had its regular-season meet just hours after the fight,” Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan said. “That’s one funeral for longtime Wolfpack women’s basketball coach of the most important things I hope I have taught our Kay Yow, who died after a lengthy battle with breast gymnasts – to push to the max, to fight for every bit. Life cancer. She was 66. is about the little successes coming together and culmi- “Kay Yow was a great coach and an even greater nating into one big success.” person,” Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan said. “Her The Gym Dogs responded with a 198.2-196.65 win strength and perseverance and unwavering resolve in the over the Gators. The 198.2 is the highest score in the face of adversity was inspirational. She lived every day to nation this season. the fullest, and that’s the way we all should live. Coach Ge o r g i a Gy m Do g s No t e s Yow won a lot of games at North Carolina State, but wait until at least April. her true legacy is in how she loved her student-athletes “This season will be all about the process, and that’s and the way she showed us all how to fight in a dignified the way we always approach a season,” Yoculan said. and courageous way.” “It’s not about results or about the ‘what ifs’ or about After former Georgia gymnast Talya Vexler was diag- the championships. It’s about being consistent day-by- nosed with breast cancer in 2003, the Gym Dogs provid- day, making sure that we are building a cohesive unit ed their support for Athens Regional Medical Center’s and giving our student-athletes what they need to be Breast Health Center. Yoculan spearheaded the drive successful. A close, cohesive team isn’t concerned with that raised $100,000 for the center, which was dedicated stats, but rather the intangibles that you can’t measure.” in 2005. The last several years, Georgia has had a Pink- Toward that end, the Gym Dogs have been all about Out meet to continue to support ARMC financially. This having fun, so much so that Yoculan was dubbed “the year, in addition to the Pink-Out meet, the Gym Dogs fifth senior” as an honorary member of the class made participated in the In Their Shoes 5K and the inaugural up of Paige Burns, Courtney Kupets, Abby Stack and Stiletto Race Against Breast Cancer. Tiffany Tolnay. They want to embrace the experience “There’s other things more important in life than of another title run, knowing that while another NCAA sports, and athletes need to know that and so do fans,” crown would be historic, sending their coach out on top Yoculan said. “This is our way of getting that message would be even more memorable. across.” “It’s the perfect role for her because she is the fifth se- nior,” Stack said. “She’s involved in our lives, she knows HARD TO SAY GOODBYE what we’re doing and she enjoys hanging out with us. The March 14 meet against Michigan was the final one This is Suzanne’s program and the fact that she doesn’t at Stegeman Coliseum for Coach Suzanne Yoculan, who want this last year to be all about her is incredible. She’s will be retiring at the end of the season. The emotional such a team player.” day began with family coming into town, followed by a team meeting in which the juniors unveiled a tribute GYM DOGS ADD FOUR SIGNEES FOR 2010 video for Yoculan and seniors Paige Burns, Courtney Christa Tanella, Kati Breazeal, Noel Couch and Shayla Kupets, Abby Stack and Tiffany Tolnay. Worley have signed national letters of intent to com- “It was very emotional before the meet,” Yoculan said. pete for the Georgia gymnastics team. Tanella, Breazeal, “Once the meet got going, it was all business again. I was Couch and Worley will make up the first freshman class doing my job like I usually do and taking mental notes of for Jay Clark, who will succeed Suzanne Yoculan as all the things we need to work on.” Georgia’s head coach for the 2010 season. Yoculan has been Georgia’s coach for the past 26 “We all are thrilled with this class,” Yoculan said. years, turning a fledgling program into one that has won “These young women will be a great addition to the pro- to date nine NCAA titles. gram. I can’t imagine a better class of freshmen coming “It’s like you blink your eyes and 26 years goes by,” in for Jay’s first year. This class has a little bit of every- Yoculan said. “It says a lot about our program that we thing in terms of gymnastics, but the young women also have been able to maintain a certain level of excellence have great character. They understand the tradition of for a period spanning three different decades. We have Georgia gymnastics, and they will be great stewards of it. won NCAA titles in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. But We are excited that they are going to be a part of that it’s never been about the championships. All I have ever tradition and that they will be starting their own.” wanted was for young people to reach their potential athletically and academically, and that’s what I think we NCAA HONORS MCMINN have accomplished with this program. That’s what I am Dr. Kathy McMinn, the former gymnast who was the most proud of.” first Georgia student-athlete to be named All-American four straight years, was among the six women and men YOCULAN ...THE FIFTH SENIOR selected to receive the prestigious NCAA Silver Anni- Coach Suzanne Yoculan shied away from too much versary Award recently. retirement talk in the preseason, choosing instead to The honor recognizes former student-athletes who discuss the merits of the 2009 Gym Dogs. Memories and successfully completed collegiate careers in various keepsakes and memorabilia and scrapbooks will have to sports and have excelled in their chosen professions. Ge o r g i a ’s 2009 To p Sc o r e s All-Around Hilary Mauro Kentucky/Centenary 9.850 Name Opponent Score Abby Stack N.C. State 9.825 Courtney Kupets Florida 39.850 Lauren Sessler Auburn 9.800 Tiffany Tolnay Florida 39.575 Cassidy McComb N.C. State 9.150 Hilary Mauro Kentucky/Centenary 39.300 Team High Florida 49.550 Cassidy McComb N.C. State 37.850 Team High Florida 198.200 Balance Beam Name Opponent Score Vault Courtney Kupets Alabama 10.00 Name Opponent Score Courtney McCool UCLA, SE Regional 10.00 Courtney Kupets SE Regional 10.00 Grace Taylor Michigan 10.00 Hilary Mauro UCLA 9.950 Hilary Mauro UCLA 9.925 Cassidy McComb Michigan 9.950 Tiffany Tolnay Auburn, Arkansas, Michigan 9.900 Tiffany Tolnay Michigan 9.925 Cassidy McComb SE Regional 9.875 Kathryn Ding Kentucky/Centenary 9.900 Paige Burns Florida 9.850 Marcia Newby N.C. State, Auburn, Arkansas 9.900 Kathryn Ding Auburn 9.650 Lauren Sessler Arkansas 9.900 Gina Nuccio N.C. State 9.025 Paige Burns Michigan 9.800 Team High Florida 49.550 Gina Nuccio N.C. State 9.675 Team High SE Regional 49.525 Floor Exercise Name Opponent Score Courtney Kupets Florida 10.00 Name Opponent Score Marcia Newby Florida 9.925 Courtney Kupets Alabama 10.00 Grace Taylor Florida, UCLA, Michigan 9.925 Tiffany Tolnay Michigan 9.950 Tiffany Tolnay Florida 9.925 Grace Taylor Utah, UK/Cent., Arkansas 9.925 Hilary Mauro Michigan 9.925 Gina Nuccio UCLA 9.925 Abby Stack W. Virginia, Florida, Michigan 9.900 Kathryn Ding SECs 9.925 Cassidy McComb Ark., UCLA, SECs, SE Regional 9.875 Courtney McCool Michigan 9.900 Team High Florida 49.675 Marcia Newby Alabama 9.875 Ge o r g i a ’s Se a s o n And Ca r e e r Hi gh s Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around

Paige Burns 9.800 9.850 Career 9.875 9.700 9.850

Kat Ding 9.900 9.925 9.650 Career 9.900 9.925 9.650

Courtney Kupets 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 39.850 Career 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 39.850

Hilary Mauro 9.950 9.850 9.925 9.925 39.300 Career 9.950 9.850 9.925 9.925 39.300

Cassidy McComb 9.950 9.150 9.875 9.875 37.850 Career 9.950 9.900 9.875 9.925 39.550

Courtney McCool 9.900 10.00 Career 9.925 10.00 10.00

Marcia Newby 9.900 9.875 9.925 Career 9.950 9.900 9.925

Gina Nuccio 9.675 9.925 9.025 Career 9.675 9.925 9.025

Lauren Sessler 9.900 9.800 Career 9.900 9.800

Abby Stack 9.825 9.900 Career 9.850 9.900

Grace Taylor 9.925 10.00 9.925 Career 10.00 10.00 9.950

Tiffany Tolnay 9.925 9.950 9.900 9.925 39.575 Career 9.975 9.950 9.950 9.950 39.675 Ge o r g i a ’s 2009 Li n e u p s W. Va. LSU Utah Alabama NCSU Auburn UK/Cent. Ark. Florida UCLA Mich. SECs Regional

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Pa i g e Bu r n s Ka t h r y n Di n g Se n i o r Fr e s h m a n St. Cl o u d , Fl a . Sp a r k s , Ne v .

2009 (Senior Season): 2009 (Freshman Season): • Posted a season-high 9.8 on vault on Senior Night against • Named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Michigan. Team. • Scored a career-best 9.85 on beam in Georgia’s win over • Improved her career high on bars to 9.925 in the Florida. Southeastern Conference Championship. • Capped Georgia’s win at Arkansas by closing the meet on • Won the vault title in the meet against Kentucky and beam after the Gym Dogs had a fall in the second spot. Centenary with a career-best 9.9. • Led off on beam in the first five meets of the season, • Led off on bars against Florida with a then-career-best including a then-career-best-matching 9.75 against LSU as 9.875, setting the tone as the Gym Dogs recorded a season- Georgia ended on beam. best 49.55. • Made her only other appearance on vault this season by • Pressed into action on beam against Auburn when fellow leading off against North Carolina State. freshman Gina Nuccio injured her knee during warm-ups.

Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa WVU -- -- 9.050 -- -- WVU -- 9.375 ------LSU -- -- 9.750 -- -- LSU ------Utah -- -- 9.150 -- -- Utah ------Alabama -- -- 9.725 -- -- Alabama -- 9.800 ------NC State 9.725 -- 9.275 -- -- NC State -- 9.725 ------Auburn ------Auburn 9.725 9.850 9.650 -- -- UK/Cent. ------UK/Cent. 9.900 9.850 9.150 -- -- Arkansas -- -- 9.650 -- -- Arkansas 9.750 9.775 ------Florida -- -- 9.850 -- -- Florida 9.850 9.875 ------UCLA -- -- 9.725 -- -- UCLA 9.850 9.850 ------Michigan 9.8 -- 9.550 -- -- Michigan -- 9.850 ------SECs ------SECs 9.850 9.925 ------Regional ------Regional -- 9.850 ------Po i n t s 19.525 -- 857.25 -- -- Po i n t s 58.925 107.725 18.80 -- -- Av e r a g e 9.763 -- 9.525 -- -- Av e r a g e 9.821 9.793 9.400 -- -- RQS -- -- 9.680 -- -- RQS -- 9.855 ------Up d a t e d Bi o g r a p h i e s

Co u r t n e y Ku p e t s Hi l a r y Ma u r o Se n i o r So p h o m o r e At h e n s , Ga. Bo s t o n , Ma s s .

2009 (Senior Season): 2009 (Sophomore Season): • Leads the nation in the all-around, bars and beam, and is • Established her career high of 9.925 on floor against second on floor and vault. Michigan. • Chosen as the NCAA Southeast Regional Gymnast of the • Set career highs of 9.95 and 9.925 on vault and beam, Year. respectively, against UCLA. • At the Southeast Regional, won the all-around, vault and • Won the vault title against the Bruins. bars titles. • Competed as an all-arounder for the first time in her • Recorded a 10.0 on vault, giving her both the single- career against Kentucky and Centenary, debuting on bars as a season and career grand slams of perfection, joining Heather collegian and scoring a 39.3 in the all-around. Stepp (1993) and Karin Lichey (1996) in Gym Dog annals. Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa • Named the SEC Gymnast of the Year and picked for the WVU 9.800 -- 9.850 9.200 -- All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches. LSU 9.800 -- 9.850 9.050 -- • At the SEC Championship, won the all-around, vault, Utah 9.775 -- 9.825 9.875 -- Alabama 9.775 -- 9.825 9.675 -- bars, beam and floor titles. NC State -- -- 9.775 9.850 -- • Set an SEC Championship record of 9.975 on bars. Auburn -- -- 9.825 9.875 -– • Has 39 scores of 9.9 or better this year, which ranks UK/Cent. 9.775 9.850 9.850 9.825 39.300 Arkansas -- -- 9.875 9.875 -- third in school history. Florida 9.900 -- 9.900 9.875 -- • Had an all-around score of 39.85 – a career-best and the UCLA 9.950 -- 9.925 9.875 -- fourth-highest figure in school history – against Florida. Michigan 9.850 -- 9.825 9.925 -- SECs -- -- 9.300 9.900 -- • Posted a 10.0 on floor against Florida. Regional 9.850 -- 9.875 9.800 -- • Had an all-around score of 39.825 against Alabama, which Po i n t s 88.475 9.85 127.5 126.6 39.300 is the fifth-best score in school history. Av e r a g e 9.831 9.85 9.808 9.738 39.300 • Recorded two 10.0s (bars and beam) against Alabama, RQS 9.825 -- 9.865 9.880 -- becoming the ninth Gym Dog to accomplish that feat. • Chosen as the SEC Athlete of the Week four times. • Won the all-around titles in 12 of the 13 meets this year. • Has won outright or shared 50 of the possible 65 individual titles this year. • Enters the NCAAs with 1,925.74 career points, which ranks fourth on Georgia’s all-time list. • Named to the Fall Semester Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. • Nominated by the University of Georgia for the SEC’s H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship.

Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa WVU 9.675 9.925 9.850 9.950 39.450 LSU 9.950 9.975 9.900 9.875 39.650 Utah 9.950 9.975 9.775 9.900 39.600 Alabama 9.875 10.00 10.00 9.950 39.825 NC State 9.950 9.925 9.975 9.500 39.350 Auburn 9.875 9.850 9.975 9.925 39.625 UK/Cent. 9.825 9.950 9.900 9.900 39.575 Arkansas 9.650 9.950 9.975 9.425 39.000 Florida 9.925 9.975 9.950 10.00 39.850 UCLA 9.925 9.950 9.800 9.975 39.650 Michigan 9.900 9.925 9.925 9.950 39.700 SECs 9.950 9.975 9.900 9.950 39.775 Regional 10.00 9.925 9.850 9.900 39.675 Po i n t s 128.45 129.3 128.775 128.2 514.725 Av e r a g e 9.881 9.946 9.906 9.862 39.594 RQS 9.940 9.965 9.955 9.945 39.720 Up d a t e d Bi o g r a p h i e s

Ca s s i d y McCo m b Co u r t n e y McCo o l So p h o m o r e Ju n i o r He n d e r s o n , Ne v . Le e s Su m m i t , Mo.

2009 (Sophomore Season): 2009 (Junior Season): • Set her career high on beam with a 9.875 in the NCAA • Has two 10.0s in five beam performances this season. Southeast Regional. • Recorded her first-ever 10.0 on beam and claimed the • Moved her season high to 9.875 on floor against Arkansas individual title in the victory over UCLA. and matched that against UCLA and in the Southeast Regional. • Added the second 10.0 in winning the beam title in the • Matched her career high of 9.95 on vault against Michigan. NCAA Southeast Regional. • Made her all-around debut this season by adding bars in • Posted a season-best 9.9 on bars against Michigan. the win over North Carolina State. • Made her 2009 debut against Florida after missing the • Missed the Florida meet with a sprained knee suffered the first eight meets with a stress fracture in the navicular bone of day before the competition. her left foot. • Shared the beam title with a 9.95 against the Gators. Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa WVU 9.875 -- 9.450 9.850 -- • Competed on bars against the Gators, posting a 9.775. LSU 9.800 -- 9.825 9.825 -- • Performed exhibition events on bars and beam at Utah 9.800 -- 9.775 9.850 -- Alabama 9.800 -- 9.825 9.275 -- Arkansas. NC State 9.800 9.150 9.250 9.650 37.850 Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa Auburn 9.825 -- 9.825 9.825 -- WVU ------UK/Cent. 9.775 -- 9.800 9.800 -- LSU ------Arkansas 9.875 -- 9.050 9.875 -- Utah ------Florida ------Alabama ------UCLA 9.875 -- 9.850 9.875 -- NC State ------Michigan 9.950 -- -- 9.125 -- Auburn ------SECs 9.825 -- 9.075 9.875 -- UK/Cent. ------Regional 9.900 -- 9.875 9.875 -- Arkansas ------Po i n t s 118.1 9.150 105.6 116.7 37.850 Florida -- 9.775 9.950 -- -- Av e r a g e 9.842 9.150 9.600 9.725 37.850 UCLA -- -- 10.00 -- -- RQS 9.855 -- 9.810 9.855 -- Michigan -- 9.900 9.275 -- -- SECs -- -- 9.750 -- -- Regional -- 9.875 10.00 -- -- Po i n t s -- 295.5 48.975 -- -- Av e r a g e -- 9.850 9.795 -- -- RQS ------Up d a t e d Bi o g r a p h i e s

Ma r c i a Ne w b y Gi n a Nu cc i o Ju n i o r Fr e s h m a n Virginia Be a c h , Va. Na p e r v i l l e , Il l .

2009 (Junior Season): 2009 (Freshman Season): • Named to the Southeastern Conference Community • Enters the NCAA Championship nationally ranked 17th Service Team. on bars. • Chosen for a Peach of an Athlete Award by the Atlanta • Established her career high with a 9.925 on bars in the win Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. over UCLA. • Celebrated her 21st birthday by doing three events and • Had an effort of 9.9 against Florida as the Gym Dogs helping Georgia defeat UCLA. posted a season-best figure of 49.55 on bars. • Has competed on vault in all but one meet this season, • Made her Georgia debut against West Virginia on bars, reaching a high of 9.9 three times. going third after a slip and a fall and helping the Gym Dogs • Registered a season-best 9.875 on bars against Alabama. right the ship. • Set her career high of 9.925 on floor against Florida. • Competed on three events (vault, bars and beam) for the • Named to the Fall Semester Athletic Director’s Honor first time in her career against North Carolina State. Roll. • Missed the Kentucky/Centenary meet with a severe bone bruise and a sprained ligament in her right knee. Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa WVU 9.825 9.825 -- 9.600 -- Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa LSU 9.850 9.775 ------WVU -- 9.775 ------Utah 9.850 9.825 ------LSU -- 9.825 ------Alabama 9.775 9.875 ------Utah -- 9.825 ------NC State 9.900 -- -- 9.675 -- Alabama -- 9.875 ------Auburn 9.900 9.850 ------NC State 9.675 9.850 9.025 -- -- UK/Cent 9.825 9.825 ------Auburn ------Arkansas 9.900 9.775 ------UK/Cent. ------Florida 9.850 -- -- 9.925 -- Arkansas -- 9.850 ------UCLA 9.825 9.800 -- 9.825 -- Florida -- 9.900 ------Michigan -- 9.800 ------UCLA -- 9.925 ------SECs 9.850 9.825 -- 9.850 -- Michigan -- 9.900 ------Regional 9.875 ------SECs -- 9.875 ------Po i n t s 118.225 98.175 -- 48.875 -- Regional -- 9.850 ------Av e r a g e 9.852 9.818 -- 9.775 -- Po i n t s 9.675 108.45 9.025 -- -- RQS 9.870 9.825 ------Av e r a g e 9.675 9.859 9.025 -- -- RQS -- 9.880 ------Up d a t e d Bi o g r a p h i e s

La u r e n Se s s l e r Abb y St a ck Ju n i o r Se n i o r Sn e l lv i l l e , Ga. Ma t t h e w s , N.C.

2009 (Junior Season): 2009 (Senior Season): • Set her career high with a 9.9 on vault against Arkansas. • Made her final appearance at Stegeman Coliseum against • Scored a 9.8 in the first bars routine of her career against Michigan, competing on floor and doing an exhibition on bars. Auburn as an injury replacement for Gina Nuccio. • Posted a career-high-matching 9.9, then the third-best • Held down the lead-off position six times and the No. 2 score in the nation, on floor in the season opener against spot in five meets on vault. West Virginia. • Added 9.9s on floor in the meets with Florida and Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa WVU 9.800 ------Michigan. LSU 9.800 ------• With the teams tied heading into the last rotation, led off Utah 9.800 ------with a 9.875 on floor to help propel Georgia past Utah. Alabama 9.750 ------NC State 9.750 ------• Has a Speed Racer-themed floor routine, complete with Auburn 9.750 9.800 ------checkered flags for the fans to wave. UK/Cent. ------Arkansas 9.900 ------Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa Florida 9.850 ------WVU -- 9.250 -- 9.900 -- UCLA 9.825 ------LSU -- 9.775 -- 9.775 -- Michigan 9.850 ------Utah -- 9.750 -- 9.875 -- SECs 9.800 ------Alabama ------9.800 -- Regional 9.800 ------NC State -- 9.825 -- 9.325 -- Po i n t s 117.675 9.800 ------Auburn ------9.825 -- Av e r a g e 9.806 9.800 ------UK/Cent. ------9.775 -- RQS 9.825 ------Arkansas ------9.825 -- Florida ------9.900 -- UCLA -- 9.775 -- 9.825 -- Michigan ------9.900 -- SECs ------9.850 -- Regional ------9.850 -- Po i n t s -- 48.375 -- 127.425 -- Av e r a g e -- 9.675 -- 9.802 -- RQS ------9.860 -- Up d a t e d Bi o g r a p h i e s

Gr a c e Ta y l o r Ti ff a n y To l n a y Ju n i o r Se n i o r Ai k e n , S.C. Gr a p e v i n e , Te x a s

2009 (Junior Season): 2009 (Senior Season): • Chosen as the Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete • Enters the NCAA Championship nationally ranked 10th of the Year by the league’s coaches. on bars and 20th on vault. • Named to the All-SEC Second Team. • Established season highs of 9.925 on vault and 9.95 on • Enters the NCAA Championship nationally ranked No. 2 bars and matched her season high of 9.9 on beam against on beam, No. 5 on bars and No. 6 on floor. Michigan. • Posted a 10.0 on beam in the meet with Michigan. • Set season highs of 9.925 on floor and 39.575 in the all- • Recorded a season-high 9.925 on floor against Florida and around against Florida. matched that against UCLA and Michigan. • Competed as an all-arounder in nine of Georgia’s meets. • Selected to the Fall Semester Athletic Director’s Honor • Has an avulsion fracture in her right foot that likely will Roll. require surgery once the season is over. • Missed the North Carolina State meet to rest the ailing Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa foot. WVU -- -- 9.825 9.325 -- LSU -- 9.800 9.875 9.800 -- • Sat out the UCLA meet due to illness. Utah -- 9.925 9.900 9.850 -- • Enters the NCAAs with 1,885.07 career points, which Alabama -- 9.875 9.975 9.875 -- ranks sixth on Georgia’s all-time list. NC State -- 9.900 9.925 9.775 -- Auburn -- 9.800 9.950 9.875 -- • Named to the Fall Semester Athletic Director’s Honor UK/Cent. -- 9.825 9.800 9.850 -- Roll. Arkansas -- 9.925 9.950 9.900 -- Florida -- 9.900 9.900 9.925 -- Me e t Va u l t Ba r s Be a m Fl o o r aa UCLA -- 9.900 9.825 9.925 -- WVU 9.875 9.900 9.800 -- -- Michigan -- -- 10.00 9.925 -- LSU 9.900 9.850 9.850 9.800 39.400 SECs -- 9.825 9.875 9.925 -- Utah 9.900 9.900 9.750 9.875 39.450 Regional -- 9.900 9.900 9.850 -- Alabama 9.675 9.900 9.850 9.900 39.325 Po i n t s -- 108.575 128.7 127.8 -- NC State ------Av e r a g e -- 9.870 9.900 9.831 -- Auburn 9.900 9.275 9.900 9.875 38.950 RQS -- 9.910 9.935 9.910 -- UK/Cent. 9.850 9.900 9.825 9.675 39.250 Arkansas 9.900 9.850 9.900 9.250 38.900 Florida 9.900 9.900 9.850 9.925 39.575 UCLA ------Michigan 9.925 9.950 9.900 9.500 39.275 SECs 9.850 9.900 9.775 -- -- Regional 9.900 9.775 9.900 9.725 39.300 Po i n t s 108.575 108.1 108.3 87.525 353.425 Av e r a g e 9.870 9.827 9.846 9.725 39.269 RQS 9.890 9.890 9.865 9.700 39.260 Kupets still learning to relax ESPN - 04/01/09 By: Sean Quinn It’s in there somewhere. It has to be. A couple of weeks following her every day, working on her upper-body Behind a smile that’s on par with injury, after she stood idly by and strength. She stayed away this time. Carrie Underwood’s, behind that glar- witnessed her team drop a meet at Other than cheering for her team as ing Georgia logo stamped on her left Michigan, Kupets crashed. Emotion- it won a national title with her on the cheek and behind the blaring techno ally. Physically. Drained. sideline, she never stepped foot in a beats of her floor routine, Courtney She arrived back at her Athens gym. Kupets has a dark side. Maybe even a apartment late one night and struggled Not for three months. bit of a vulnerable side. to jiggle the keys out of her pocket. “Three months!” cried her coach, You wouldn’t notice it, of course. “These damn crutches,” she thought. Suzanne Yoculan. “She’s doing every- Hardly anyone does. Kupets tucks it “Why wouldn’t they just go away and thing and anything but gymnastics.” away, and all you get to see are her never come back?” Kupets had spent more than 40 11 all-around titles in 12 tries this She eventually opened the door, hours a week training during her Elite season, as the SEC Gymnast of the maybe the only thing she was able to career, about 20 the past few years at Year makes a play to become the most do correctly all day. She hadn’t fin- Georgia. When classes let out this past decorated collegiate gymnast of all ished her homework and failed to get May, she would wake up to a quiet time. a paper to print at the library. She saw campus. Maybe she’d go outside and Kupets is cut from the Kelly McCool, her roommate and fellow ‘04 pop a squat nowhere in particular. And Kapowski cloth, defined as a bit of Olympian, sitting on a bar stool at the -- gasp! -- just relax. a goody-goody. And as some of her counter. “It was God’s way of telling her teammates say, the senior All-Ameri- And there it was. No competitors she needed to rest,” McCool said. can can do no wrong. from Alabama, Florida or Utah wit- “She was being hit with a lot.” “She’s definitely the most positive nessed it, but McCool saw it coming a In the summer she rested, read and person ever. It’s hard to believe, but mile away. hit the road with her friends to Mc- she is human,” said her teammate and Kupets had a moment of vulner- Cool’s house outside Kansas City, Mo. best friend, junior Courtney McCool. ability. One drop from her eye, then By that time, her crutches were off “She has weaknesses, dark days.” another, and soon a stream of tears and that smile was plastered back on, Away from the absurd crowds that ran more fluidly than one of her permanently. In all her years of com- of more than 10,000 at Stegeman tumbling passes. Pretty soon she peting, Kupets can’t remember ever Coliseum, which fills faster for the collapsed into a chair, then onto the having enough time for an extended top-ranked Gym Dogs than for the kitchen floor. family vacation or living without a Bulldogs men’s basketball team, and McCool joined her, encouraging structured schedule. Without the pres- aside from the four perfect 10s she has her to let it all out. And Kupets did, sure of a daily itinerary strapping her recorded in her college career, Kupets for a few hours. Eventually, laughter down, she persuaded everyone to hit occasionally gives up that grin. broke through before they both fell the road at the sensible hour of 3 a.m. It vanished about this time last asleep right there. “I just let go,” she said. year, shortly after she tore her right “All I do is go, go, go,” Kupets For that summer, she was, maybe Achilles tendon in a March meet said. “And sometimes it’s too over- for the first time, acting like a real col- against Arkansas, ending her season. whelming. I can’t do anything right. lege kid. Back on her feet, she danced She had felt that pain once before, five I’m OK, I just want to cry and get away those summer nights on the dock years earlier when she tore her left emotional. That’s maybe just a day.” of a lake house. She transformed from Achilles, but still battled back to make Or maybe not. an all-around champion to an all- the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. Kupets had more than a few of around normal college student. But this was different. It wasn’t those days, understandably, while re- “I needed to spread my wings, be a only about her. She had teammates habbing her injury. It wasn’t like back little crazy,” Kupets said. “It definitely this time. They counted on her. in ‘04 when she was still in the gym was weird.” Tolnay energized for final three weeks as a Gym Dog Athens Banner Herald - 04/04/09 By: Jennifer Iannone Doug McAvinn watched closely as Tiffany Tolnay fited our team a lot. We need her gymnastics. It would sprinted down the runway to the vaulting table. be easier for her to call it quits. So many athletes do The moment the senior gymnast landed on the mat when it gets to this point. The fact that she’s pushing after twisting through the air, he beamed and then bel- through for us is really appreciated by all of us.” lowed words of encouragement. There was a time when Tolnay did abandon gym- Georgia’s assistant coach understood that what nastics. Tolnay did Wednesday during an extra practice session She was in eighth grade and couldn’t bear another was more than just a vault. challenging day in the gym. It was a Yurchenko 1 1/2. The skills were becoming increasingly difficult, the An enormous feat. hours in the gym were longer than ever and the sport A satisfying milestone. became too mentally taxing. Finally, she had enough. It’s also the vault McAvinn believes could send She hung up her leotard in exchange for track Tolnay out with an individual national title. shoes. For eight months, she sprinted, pole vaulted, Although the 5-foot-1 gymnast has done hundreds triple jumped and long jumped, but nothing compared of vaults just like it before, she hasn’t done it in com- to tumbling. petition in some time. “It got to the point where I missed it,” she said. “I Tolnay has struggled with an avulsion fracture had a great time with track, but I realized that God in her right foot all season, which has restricted her gave me the talent, and I need to use it.” repetitions in practice. And two years ago, she took a Tolnay had a similar realization after the Southeast- nasty spill on the runway that reignited a childhood ern Conference meet a few weeks ago. She was held fear she once had of the event. out of the floor exercise lineup after a warmup where But Tolnay is tired of playing it safe. She’s ready to she had reservations about her skills. fight through all her obstacles in her final three weeks In the weeks since Georgia’s second-place finish as a Gym Dog. at the SEC Championship, Tolnay has reassessed her “She’s really like a new person,” said Georgia goals and gained confidence in her abilities. She is ex- coach Suzanne Yoculan. “We talked a lot about it. pected to compete in the all-around competition today. Sometimes it’s just getting that out - expressing your- “Sometimes, I think that I question my talent self and being able to say, ‘I have these expectations, because I haven’t had the numbers (on events) like ev- the season is almost over and I haven’t been able to do erybody else. Doubt was in me,” she said. “These past what I want.’ She had to redefine what she wanted to two weeks, I’ve completely focused on doing what accomplish.” I know how to do. I feel really confident for the first Instead of displaying a serious and determined look time in a long time.” throughout practice, Tolnay has cracked a few more smiles than usual in the past week. “I’m taking it one day at a time and just putting it all out there,” Tolnay said. “For the first time this year, I’m excited.” Top-ranked Georgia will compete at 6 p.m. today at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Raleigh, N.C. A year ago, Tolnay had a career night at regionals. Today, she will attempt to block out her injury, which requires surgery after the season, to have a repeat performance. “She’s really had to physically deal with so much pain,” Grace Taylor said. “Pushing through has bene- Yoculan knows final home meet will be emotional: Time for tears Athens Banner Herald - 03/14/09 By: Jennifer Iannone

Her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears. more than win to have a following,” she said. “You The past few weeks, Suzanne Yoculan hasn’t been can’t just win championships. You have to do promo- able to talk about her final time coaching in Stegeman tions. Promoting is a job of a head coach these days.” Coliseum without getting choked up. When marketing her team, Yoculan made herself “I woke up and was sick to my stomach,” Yoculan accessible to the public. She was able to develop said Wednesday. strong relationships with fans, who now decorate the The overpowering emotions have been building all team’s locker room, volunteer at meets, send cards and week. letters to the Gym Dogs and travel long distances to When top-ranked Georgia hosts No. 14 Michigan at watch the team perform. 7:30 p.m. today, Yoculan will say goodbye to Stege- “When I look at what she has meant from a stand- man Coliseum and a sellout crowd of 10,224 fans in point of the public and the fan base, to me, that’s the Athens. She is retiring at the end of this season after thing that I’m most anxious about,” said Jay Clark, what she hopes will be Georgia’s 10th NCAA Cham- who will take over for Yoculan next season. “If there’s pionship win. any apprehension, it’s about filling those shoes. “I’m sure that just a gamut of emotions are going to “How do you fill that larger-than-life personality go through her because she’s stepping away at the pin- that has driven things to the level they are? That’s the nacle of her career,” said team manager and Yoculan’s biggest challenge. It’s a real gift of hers.” best friend, Jenny Vanden Berg. Yoculan’s three sisters, parents and children will be One thing is for sure. It won’t be easy. in attendance for today’s meet. Her family will accom- Stegeman Coliseum has been Yoculan’s home for pany her on the floor as she says goodbye, along with the past 26 years. It’s the place where she made her seniors Abby Stack, Courtney Kupets, Tiffany Tolnay dreams become reality. and Paige Burns. In Yoculan’s first meet as Georgia’s head coach in “We might need a tissue box for ourselves, but Su- December of 1983, she was shocked to see so many zanne is going to need a truckload,” Stack said. “What vacant seats in Stegeman Coliseum. we’re trying to give her is to go out on the right foot. “I was so disappointed because there were so few We want her to be able to leave this place with good people here,” she said. “It was a big, old empty arena. memories. ... We want to make sure that she leaves I couldn’t believe it because Penn State had 6,000 smiling, with her head up, thinking, ‘Wow that was a people at the time.” good run.’ “ As Yoculan watched the 200 fans follow the team Before each home meet, Yoculan gets to her office around from event to event in her first meet, she three hours before she meets with the team. She pre- vowed to increase attendance. fers to be alone to prepare her speech to the team. “I wanted to fill the place. That was my mission,” Then she walks through an empty Stegeman Coli- Yoculan said. “It wasn’t even about winning champi- seum and collects her thoughts. onships. I never really focused on that. That was just Her last walkthrough will be the toughest. inevitable. We were here to win.” “I’m going to miss the fans a ton,” she said. “I’m She did anything and everything she could to ex- going to miss my relationship with the girls a lot. It’s pose the community to the program. From 1985-1998, going to be so hard.” the Gym Dogs performed exhibitions at local schools every Wednesday. They handed out fliers and did com- munity service. “If you’re not a traditional sport, you have to do Little Miss Big Stuff: Hilary Mauro proves size isn’t everthing The Red and Black - 02/06/09 By: Tyler Estep

Short Stack, Lil’ Bit, and, yes, even Mighty Mouse - they’re just perfect.” Hilary Mauro has heard ‘em all. Yoculan calls Mauro “the most even-keeled athlete” on The Gym Dogs’ pint-sized powerhouse stands at just Georgia’s squad, and praises her work ethic and dedication 4-foot-8, but her gymnastics, and her heart, are much, much despite her knowing that she’s only in the vault lineup until bigger. “we get bigger, further, better vaults [there].” “She’s got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever Mauro’s diminutive size is a disadvantage on vault, an coached,” coach Suzanne Yoculan said. “She’s got a big ev- apparatus that rewards strong, powerful athletes. But is an erything. A big heart, lots of confidence, great self-esteem. advantage on other She’s just small in stature.” events? Mauro is now a sophomore on the four-time defending “Being short can be an advantage, but only to a certain champion Gym Dogs squad, and, despite not getting any extent,” Mauro said. “I think being a little bit taller could taller, is growing into her role as a team player. help me out in the prettiness of my gymnastics, I guess you A native of Boston, Mass., Mauro earned Second-Team could say … But it is also an advantage, being able to run All-America honors last year, and now provides the Gym as far as you want on floor and stay in Dogs with solid performances on vault, beam and floor bounds and swinging in between the bars, stuff like that.” week in and week out. Said senior Courtney Kupets: “She’s just a petite little She’s grown more confident and comfortable in playing girl, but she has as big of gymnastics as any of us.” her part and providing solid scores (she averages between So, while small in stature, Hilary Mauro is big in heart, 9.8 and 9.85 on each event) for her team. But, when it large in competitive drive, and huge in dedication. Both on comes to her size, things weren’t always so easy. the floor and off, “Sometimes it’s challenging,” Mauro said. “They need Mauro has grown, if not in size, as a gymnast and a to alter all of my clothes, which gets annoying. But I guess person. I’ve grown to be more confident with it … In high school I “We’ve got all kinds of little nicknames for her, and remember I hated it. I always thought people were staring she’s like, ‘I don’t like that, I don’t like that, I don’t like at me when they were walking by.” that,’” Yoculan said. “But she is who she is, and I want her Mauro’s journey to Athens was a long one, filled with to be proud of it. Because she has tons to be proud of. That doubt - her mother, a club gymnastics coach, actually didn’t is one awesome kid right there.” want her to compete, and a lack of confidence or personal belief almost stopped her from coming to Athens. “My mom was a coach, but she actually did not want me to do gymnastics,” Mauro said. “Both my brother and my sister had tried and weren’t very successful. But I would go to the gym with her while she would teach and just sit there and watch. And then I would kind of start doing stuff on my own to the point where she had to put me in the gym.” Once her gymnastics career was firmly underway, Mauro and her family moved to Cincinnati in order to al- low her to train under Mary Lee Tracy, a former Olympic coach who also mentored Georgia greats Kelsey Erickson and Karin and Kristi Lichey, among others. It was Tracy who convinced her miniscule mentee to give Athens and Georgia gymnastics a try. “Actually, Georgia wasn’t one of my top choices … I didn’t think I was good enough,” Mauro said. “So [Tracy] had to just keep convincing me, you’re good enough to go there, just go check it out, see what it’s like. So I listened to her … and ended up loving the coaches and just knew that everything was right for me. The team, the atmosphere, Gym Dogs’ McComb pushes herself to do harder vault, floor routines The Red and Black - 02/11/09 By: Tyler Estep

Sophomore Gym Dog Cassidy McComb was the vault, beam and floor each week. SEC’s Freshman of the Year in 2008, and though she’s Yoculan excited meet falls on Friday the 13th in- struggled at times this season, coach Suzanne Yoculan stead of Valentine’s Day said there are no thoughts of a sophomore slump. The Gym Dogs’ next meet, a tri-meet with Ken- “Because of the fact that she had to spend all fall tucky and Centenary in Lexington, falls on Friday the getting back into gymnastics condition, it’s just gotten 13th, but Yoculan said she’s not superstitious - she’s her a little bit behind,” Yoculan said. “But she’s not as just looking forward to the day after. far behind as she thinks she is.” “I’m not at all,” she said. “The only thing I know After scoring three 9.9s in last year’s Super Six about this weekend is that it’s not on Valentine’s Day to help the Gym Dogs capture their fourth-straight and the girls, me included, are excited that we’re not national championship, McComb has yet to chart a 9.9 competing on Valentine’s Day and we actually have a this season. But it’s more from trying to go for bigger date night when we get back.” scores than for lack of effort, Yoculan said. “We’ve been trying really hard to get her confi- dence up, to get her in consistent routines, but she wanted to do harder skills, she wants to push herself to do more difficulty,” she said. In fact, McComb actually has added more difficulty to both her vault and her tumbling on floor since the N.C. State meet two weeks ago. She has the skills, but after not working out all summer, McComb had to spend the majority of her time in the fall getting back into shape. “She had to spend the fall doing the basics,” Yocu- lan said. “She had to spend the fall running, condition- ing, getting her strength back, getting her speed back, getting her explosiveness back.” McComb, a native of Henderson, Nev., has been consistently charting scores around 9.85, but, as she grows more used to more difficult skills, she will look to get her championship form back. “I actually made most of my hard stuff and fell on stupid mistakes,” McComb said. “So it was actually more positive, the stuff that I did hit.” Senior, sophomore Gym Dogs prepare to compete in all-around this week Senior Tiffany Tolnay, who has been week-to-week this season, will compete in the all-around again this week, Yoculan said. Tolnay also will be joined by a newcomer to the all-around lineup - sophomore Hilary Mauro. Mauro has never competed on bars or the all- around as a Gym Dog, but typically competes on really get back into the gear. The whole fall was shown Ding delivers in debut basically making no progress. I was down and out.” Athens Banner Herald- 02/13/09 Her improvement didn’t start to surface until recently. By: Jennifer Iannone She’s made great strides in just a month, where she’s had to go endure being removed from Georgia’s bar lineup after As her impending debut neared, the once-poised Kat suffering a mistake and an eventual low score in her colle- Ding looked panic-stricken. giate debut. Yoculan also removed Ding from the exhibition Her legs shook and the expression on her face turned to lineup on vault and beam after consistency issues. fear as she waited and watched her teammates hit their bal- “At the start of the season, I felt like I wasn’t ready and ance beam routines. I had no idea where the time went because it was here and A last-minute lineup change due to an injury forced I was not,” Ding said. “I feel like now we’re in a lot bet- Ding to make her first appearance on beam this past Satur- ter shape. I’m ready to go. For where we are, I think I am day - much sooner than she anticipated. where I am supposed to be. I’m not supposed to be perfect Sensing Ding’s nerves, Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan right now.” approached the frightened freshman, placed her arm around This past Saturday, Ding, who has made her way back her and gave some welcomed reassurance. into the bars lineup, debuted on vault and beam. She tied “She just told me that I needed to relax and take my for the uneven bars event title for the first time in her career time and be in my world,” Ding said. “It’s not a matter with a 9.850. of what everyone else is expecting of you, it’s a matter of “I did not know until my name was being announced that what you expect of yourself. She just told me, ‘Do what I (had won) the event title,” Ding said. “Usually I just see you know how to do because we all believe in you.’ “ (Courtney) Kupets and Grace (Taylor) in the lineup and I It was exactly what Ding needed to hear, especially after just say, ‘Good job.’ But then, they called my name.” a warmup session that included several wobbles and falls. Ding’s performance last week is motivation enough to “My warmups were very sketchy,” Ding said. “That’s hear her name called again, no matter what obstacles she not really how I do my stuff in the gym. In warmups, I tend may face in the future. to feel a little more rushed and I tend to forget the basics.” “She takes punches and goes back for more. She’s that After Ding mounted the beam, she scored a 9.650. kind of a fighter,” Yoculan said. “She’s a big-time fighter.” “You could tell she was a little shaky,” teammate Gina Nuccio said of Ding, her replacement on beam after she sustained an injury just before the meet. “Her warmups didn’t go very well, but she pulled it together.” “She may have buckled on her flight a little bit, but she didn’t let that cause a fall. She pulled it together really well and stayed focused.” Although it was the lowest score for Georgia and was dropped from the team score, it was just the confidence boost Ding has been looking for. Once unproven on the event, Ding now believes in her ability to make her routine under pressure. “She’s finally starting to put it together,” senior Tiffany Tolnay said. “It takes time. She’s learning and she’s stick- ing with it. That’s important. She could have given up the first couple times she fell on beam, but she’s definitely sticking with it. She’s a fighter.” When third-ranked Georgia competes against Kentucky and Centenary at 7 p.m. today, Ding is expected to compete on bars, vault and beam. About six months ago, Ding didn’t think she’d be able to make the lineup on any event. She arrived at Georgia unfit and intimidated by the success of the veteran gymnasts. “I didn’t work out the whole summer before I came here,” Ding said. “I was definitely overweight and in the worst shape of the whole team. I had to kick my butt and McCool finally returning to competition Athens Banner Herald - 02/28/09 By: Jennifer Iannone

To the visible eye, there was nothing but darkness. was rehabilitating her foot was hard to digest. But even in the uninhabited shadows, Courtney By the fourth week of being limited, McCool felt McCool envisioned bright lights and a packed house. the most frustration. She stood in the center of the floor in an empty “The gym is my safe place; it’s my happy place,” Stegeman Coliseum, took a deep breath and extended she said. “I was there for eight hours a day every day her arms, soaking up the anticipated atmosphere. and still did not feel what I had felt four weeks be- In her mind, she was surrounded by 10,000 people, fore that. It was driving me crazy. I was pretty over- though she was the only one there. whelmed and was crying a lot.” She could hear the cheering fans, her teammates But that’s a side that McCool rarely allowed her shouting words of encouragement and her floor music team to see. Instead, they saw a gymnast who was playing in the background. determined to return to the competition floor in a quest She was motionless, yet she felt overwhelmed by a for the program’s 10th national title. McCool’s physi- rush of adrenaline. cal restrictions didn’t keep her from increasing her Oh, how she missed this. mental training. Four days before the gymnast returned to top- “She probably spent about 30 minutes a day in ranked Georgia’s lineup, she was drawn to the compe- front of the mirror just doing her arm movements for tition floor, imagining what it would be like. her floor routine so that she could visualize doing a Today, McCool is back. routine,” said Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan. “She “You better believe that I’m going to enjoy every was not only focused on putting herself in a position second,” she said of her 2009 debut on the balance to come back as quick as she could, but also just to beam and uneven bars at 4 p.m. today against seventh- support everyone else along the way as much as pos- ranked Florida. sible.” The 2008 NCAA floor exercise champion and 2004 When McCool was finally able to shed what she U.S. Olympian has been waiting for this day for 14 calls the ‘Mercedes of crutches’ a few weeks ago, she weeks. A stress fracture to the navicular bone of her instantly added a spark to the beam lineup in practice. left foot kept her sidelined during training and the first “It was like she rejuvenated the entire team on half of her junior season. beam,” Yoculan said. “We had the best beam workouts She was forced to hobble around on crutches for ever this week with her back in the lineup.” more than 10 weeks and wear a boot for another two Last week at Arkansas, McCool performed a near- weeks. flawless exhibition beam routine without a dismount. “It was a very long journey of not walking on my Today, she is expected to compete on beam and foot,” McCool said. uneven bars, and could add floor by the end of the Those who know her well could sense her most season. discouraging immobile moments. “We waited a long time,” Taylor said. “As much as “There was definitely some times where she was we missed her, I don’t think we realized how much we like, ‘I hate this,’ “ said teammate Grace Taylor. missed her until now that we have her back. “Courtney McCool is not one to be kept on crutches. “Her talent is unquantifiable. You can’t put a num- They are just polar opposites. It’s the most unnatural ber or a limit on it. She’s a different breed,” Taylor thing in the world to not have her dancing every day said. for hours upon end. It was very, very hard for her.” “Everything that she does is beautiful. She could McCool kept her passion alive by swinging on the walk across the beam and it would be art. She was cre- uneven bars, but could not land her dismount for much ated with the intention of gymnastics. It was like she of the time she was injured. She wasn’t thrilled with was specially designed to be a beautiful gymnast.” having to depend on others to help her carry belong- ings. And watching her teammates compete while she Newby reaching tall goals Athens Banner Herald - 2/7/09 By: Jennifer Iannone On a team full of pint-sized athletes, Marcia New- vaulting. She is a two-time All-American on the event by stands out. and scored a career-high 9.95 at last year’s NCAA At 5-foot-7, the junior gymnast towers above most Prelims. of her teammates. With long legs and a muscular “Her vaults have just been absolutely incredible,” build, she’s been given the nickname “bodyguard.” Tiffany Tolnay said. “She looks so tall and intimidating,” said room- However, Newby’s biggest improvement has come mate and teammate Courtney McCool, who is 7 inches on the uneven bars. shorter than Newby. “But I know I could take her.” After one of the first summers she can remember While Newby may be menacing in size, her smile without having to recover from a surgery or injury, proves otherwise. A quick joke, a loud laugh and an Newby’s goal was to make the bars lineup. infectious grin has a calming effect over the gym. “She was bound and determined that she didn’t “When it comes time to relax, she’s just the social want to spend another year as the alternate on bars butterfly and one of the biggest cut-ups on the team,” at No. 7,” Yoculan said. “She wanted to get into the said Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan. “I didn’t really permanent lineup so she worked all summer on getting realize that until her second year when she became a new dismount.” more comfortable.” Newby switched to a double layout after her form What Yoculan saw out of Newby during her fresh- and landing gave her trouble last year with a Double man year was a disciplined gymnast who was intense- Arabian dismount. ly focused. “That’s a difficult dismount for someone that has “When it comes down to gymnastics and school, legs that just go on forever,” Yoculan said. “She has to she’s very business-like,” Yoculan said. get her legs around twice. It’s a lot easier dismount for Newby, of Virginia Beach, Va., enjoyed success someone that’s a lot shorter.” at the elite level before coming to Georgia. She was Newby has hit all four of her routines this season. a three-year member of the U.S. National team and The 20-year-old has scored a season-high 9.875 on participated in the 2004 Olympic Trials camp. bars and is close to reaching her career-high 9.900. But Newby is not only driven in gymnastics. For as She has also stepped in and helped on floor two long as she can remember, she has wanted to pursue times this season - in the season-opening meet against a career in the medical field. The applied biotechnol- West Virginia and third-ranked Georgia’s last meet ogy major will be following in her family footsteps. against N.C. State. Newby’s father, James, is a family practice doctor, and After McCool, the 2008 national floor champion, her mother, Olivia, is a nurse practitioner. She wants to learned she had a stress fracture in the fall that would become a doctor in the sports medicine field. sideline her for the first half of the season, Newby was “She must have been born knowing she was going asked to start training a floor routine. to be a gymnast and go to med school,” Yoculan said. “They pulled me out at the last minute,” Newby “She’s just very goal-oriented.” said. “I had to go at turbo speed and get my skills Juggling a challenging major with a full-time ath- back.” letic schedule hasn’t been effortless for Newby. She’s Newby hadn’t competed on floor since her fresh- just learned to manage her time better than before. man year due to a shin injury (a fracture) that has “I had two tests (Wednesday) that were pretty dif- plagued her since her junior year of high school. She ficult, but I start studying at least a week in advance,” has a rod in her left shin that limits her from doing she said. multiple repetitions on her tumbling passes. But a lack It’s the preparation leading up to exams and gym- of depth on the event forced her into a new role. nastics meets that gives Newby more confidence in her “I had to rely more on what I knew I could do. I abilities. just had to trust myself because I knew I had done On the competition floor, Newby has excelled at these skills for a long time,” she said. Freshman gymnast overcomes physical obstacles Athens Banner Herald - 01/07/09 By: Jennifer Iannone

Gina Nuccio knew something was wrong immedi- “They burned the nerve tissue around my heart ately. where it was causing the fast motion,” she said. “It Her heart suddenly raced and she felt lightheaded. was interesting because they couldn’t put you to sleep The unexplainable and unexpected events wor- because it slows down your heart and they needed to ried the 18-year-old, who was just a few months away make mine faster. My mom came down for it, which from her arrival in Athens to compete for the Georgia was nice. It made it a little easier.” gymnastics team. Even after the procedure, Nuccio felt the heart flut- Nuccio’s concern led her to visit a doctor in her ters. hometown of Naperville, Ill., who said her increase in “The first couple months after having it, I still felt heart rate could be due to anxiety or a heart condition. the symptoms,” she said. “When we called the doctor, A cardiologist was unable to diagnose her. When he said it’s normal and just a side effect.” she was hooked up to monitors to record her increased In the past few months, Nuccio has finally begun to heart rate, nothing occurred. feel like herself again. She hasn’t had any heart flutters “If I wasn’t in gymnastics and doing constant in the past month. stuff, I’m pretty sure I would have been fine because I “She’s a freshman and she’s trying to balance be- haven’t gotten it outside the gym before,” Nuccio said. ing in the gym and school,” said Ballard Clark. “That “There was another thought. ‘You only have four more would increase your anxiety anyway and then she’s years of gymnastics. Is it something that you can deal dealing with a heart condition that she’s unfamiliar with?’ “ with. Having to go to Atlanta and the doctors became Nuccio was able to put it out of her mind until a distraction.” it began to flare up again in her first few months at Nuccio’s heart condition has not been the only Georgia. setback she’s had to endure in just her first semester at “Every time she was ready for practice, she would Georgia. She sprained her ankle in the fall and had to have a heart flutter and have to stop practicing,” Geor- sit out of practice for three weeks. Recently, she’s been gia coach Suzanne Yoculan said. experiencing back pain. The freshman found that her heart rate would in- Once she began practicing on the harder surfaces crease most often when she was tumbling on the floor in November, Nuccio began to feel discomfort in her exercise. back. Two years ago, she had back surgery to repair a “If I took a hard landing straight up and down, it herniated disc. would jolt my heart,” Nuccio said. “I could just feel “It was all together a three- to six-month recovery. it race. I got really lightheaded and I needed to sit It wasn’t anything too serious,” she said. “I competed down.” the following year fine. I kept an eye on it - if it was Nuccio tried different methods to slow down her flaring up I made sure I got the treatment I needed. It’s heartrate. When she didn’t feel like anything was flaring up a little bit again now, but I’m not so much working, she was again monitored. During practice, concerned because this is what happened last year.” she wore a device on her chest. In Georgia’s Sneak Peek a month ago, everything “It was really frustrating for her because when began to click for Nuccio. they put the monitors on her to track it, it wouldn’t “You could just see her at the Sneak Peek. The happen,” said Georgia volunteer coach Julie Ballard light switch went on,” Yoculan said. “She really takes Clark. advantage of an environment. She’s a spectator type Finally, it was recorded. Nuccio was diagnosed of athlete. When people are watching, she steps up with tachycardia - the same condition Ballard Clark huge.” had as a Gym Dog in 1996. In October, Nuccio had a procedure done to fix her condition. Gym Class Clown: Stack is Gym Dogs ‘goofy, positive’ leader The Red and Black - 01/09/09 By: Tyler Estep Gymnastics is supposed to be a sport of finely- again?’ She said, ‘No, he pulled me over, and I said tuned performances, perfected execution and refined what’s the problem? Is it because I’ve got two guns elegance. and a six pack?’ And she pulls up her shirt and shows It’s supposed to be a very serious sport. us her stomach.” Abby Stack didn’t get the memo. All silliness aside, Stack is a leader on this Gym If anything, Stack, one of Georgia gymnastics’ Dogs squad. four seniors, is a serious goofball, the consummate The polar opposite of the now-departed Katie practitioner of anything ridiculous, random or wholly Heenan, a quiet, disciplined leader, Stack competes on inappropriate. all events besides beam. “She’s almost cartoonish,” said freshman Gym Dog But she does her best balancing act to keep her Amber Trani. “She’s very out there. She’s not afraid to penchant for goofiness and her team’s need for leader- do anything whether she looks like an idiot or not. She ship in check. loves to have fun and make people smile.” “She’s always upbeat, she’s always positive, al- Things can no doubt get a little stressful for a ways positive,” Yoculan said. “She’s so secure, she has record-setting gymnastics program, but as the Gym such a great self-esteem and she’s so confident. She’s Dogs prepare for a run at a fifth straight national title, a huge team player. She has been so huge this fall in Stack is there as the poster child for comic relief. terms of her leadership for our team.” “She’s the jokester. She has so many jokes and she “There’s a balance but it’s not hard on this team remembers them and she tells them perfect and we’re because there’s so many people that are pushed and like, ‘Really Abby? You’re really going to tell that are hard on themselves so they need somebody that’s joke right now?’ senior Courtney Kupets said. “And just goofy,” Stack said. “And I’d say the majority of sometimes you really need that, you need that kind of the time I can provide that for them.” humor every once in a while. Even if you have to tell Unlike a lot of her teammates, Stack has no indi- her, ‘That’s not appropriate, Abby.’” vidual NCAA titles to her name. “She’ll do these skateboard moves when we’re on She’s never been an All-American, and she’s never vault like across the tumble track,” junior Courtney been to the Olympics. McCool said. “And she can do any sport ever. She But it’s her determination and perseverance that can ski, she can skateboard, she can play ball. She just make her a Georgia-caliber gymnast and an irreplace- adds so much character and it helps us relax … She able asset to her team. just brings a lot of happiness to the team. “We all might say, ‘Oh, conditioning,’ like it’s a When Stack came out as “The Creature,” a bright bad thing,” Kupets said. “But she’ll just pop in there green alien-like being created by putting her arms and make sure that everyone just has a positive at- and legs through the same holes of a sweatshirt, at the titude and keeps on going. And it’s great, because it’s Gym Dogs’ Sneak-A-Peek last month, her teammates contagious. It’s needed.” weren’t surprised - she had done the same at practice “She’s kind of like the Energizer Bunny,” said earlier in the fall. teammate and roommate Paige Burns. “She got a It was simply more of the same old Abby. kitten for Christmas from her fiancée and it just runs “She walks into practice the other day and she’s around and bounces off the walls. It’s just like her.” just dead serious, she’s dead serious and she goes, ‘I Determination is a trait Stack said she’s had since cannot believe it, a cop pulled me over on the way she was a small child growing up in Matthews. N.C. here, I cannot believe it,’” coach Suzanne Yoculan “I had a nickname when I was really little and it said. was Buster,” she said. “I would just throw any trick “I’m like, ‘Abby, what are you doing, speeding and I would fall, and I would get right back up.” AMAZING GRACE: Gym Dog Taylor is ‘perfect little ambassador’ The Red and Black - 02/27/09 By: Tyler Estep

Georgia may have its answer for Tim Tebow. his friends and he made a difference in their lives. He’s Grace Taylor, the Gym Dogs’ three-event dynamo one of the people that I’ve seen in my life that is the and all-around good person, is the consummate Chris- most fulfilled with what he does. I feel like the Lord has tian and the epitome of both parts of the word “student- just kind of prepared me for it my whole life.” athlete.” A health promotion major and aspiring mis- While she’s yet to be out of the country on an of- sionary, last year’s NCAA beam champ is so much ficial mission trip, struggling to find “a time when I’m more. allowed to not train for more than like two weeks,” “She’s our perfect little ambassador,” coach Suzanne Taylor finds ways to serve in Athens. She leads Sunday Yoculan said. “She represents us in every aspect of her school classes and church groups, and helps teach chil- life and how she conducts her life.” dren gymnastics and dancing. Taylor was homeschooled during her childhood in And, of course, she’s always there for her team- Aiken, S.C., and raised in a tight-knit, Christian family mates. with her two sisters and brother. College has turned her “Being here for the girls, whenever they need some- into an Academic All-American with a 3.97 GPA, but thing from me, this is my mission,” Taylor said. “Going it was her experiences at home and in Aiken that have out and living my life for the goodwill of the people.” made her who she is, and what she wants to be. Every Wednesday night, Taylor goes to Cornerstone Taylor said she still calls her mom “four or five Church of God to participate in the SHINE program, times a day,” and both of her sisters have been plagued playing, dancing and worshipping with kids betweens with illness throughout their lives. Her sister Hannah, the ages of five and 12. She teaches them gymnastics 18, was not expected to survive birth, and still lives too. with Turner syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that “It’s all based on encouraging them, and helping manifests itself in physical and mental deficiencies. Her people,” she said. “There’s no skill level required. It’s other sister, Phoebe, 15, was diagnosed with diabetes at about having them achieve and encourage each other age six. and positivity, and using their talents to glorify God. I “I remember when I woke up and [Phoebe] wasn’t love them so much. And it’s just reaffirming too that there, because she had gone into a coma, she was vom- this is what I want to do.” iting and almost died,” Taylor said. “So to see my mom Said senior Gym Dog Courtney Kupets, Taylor’s provide that care, I was always interested in medicine, roommate: “She loves little kids, she loves playing how the body worked and science.” around with them, so for her to be able to go to differ- It was Hannah that lead her to her church family in ent countries and help those that are less fortunate than Aiken. her is something that she would totally fit right into. I “When we moved to Aiken from Baltimore, we were feel like she’s done it her whole life with her siblings.” looking for a church that would bury an infant, because Taylor is also an outstanding student. She said she’ll my sister was probably not going to survive birth,” she have over 120 hours after this semester, and is still pur- said. suing her degree in health promotion. The Taylor family stopped at a small church, and “Gracie loves gymnastics, but as far as I can tell she found a man tending to the yard, pulling weeds and rak- actually prioritizes school and the professional goals ing. That man was Steve Taylor, the pastor of, appro- she expects to reach by majoring in health promotion,” priately enough, Grace Brethren Church of Aiken. His said Dr. Katie Darby Hein, Taylor’s professor and advi- brother, Mike Taylor, is a missionary to Africa. sor in the College of Public Health. “In other words, “He’s just a [physician’s assistant], but he goes over gymnastics is how she gets to go to school - not the there and delivers babies and saves lives,” Grace Taylor other way around with school being how she gets to do said. “He got to be more than just a physical person, he her sport.” was there for these people, and knew them. They were