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UGA Gym Dogs End Regular Season With Perfect Scores And A Few Wobbles

by Ashley Tate
03/30/2008

With an entire season filled with ups and downs, the last meet of the 2008 regular season for the Gym Dogs was no different.

The top-ranked Gym Dogs defeated the Iowa State Cyclones Friday evening in Stegemen Coliseum for their 10th win of the season. But the 196.750-194.950 win didn’t come without a few surprises.

For the third time in four meets, a Georgia gymnast scored a perfect 10.0, only this time it was done twice – by Grace Taylor on bars and Katie Heenan on floor. It was the first time Georgia had two perfect scores in a meet since the 2004 Southeastern Conference Championships which had perfect scores from Cory Fritzinger on beam and Marline Stephens on floor.

These rare perfect scores were accompanied by personal bests, as well as falls and wobbles. It was not exactly the kind of overall meet the Gym Dogs were expecting going into the SEC Championships this weekend.

“It was a weird night with the 10s and the falls,” Georgia Coach Suzanne Yoculan said. “It was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows... and the full moon tonight explains it.”

Lows came with Tiffany Tolnay’s uncharacteristic falls on both vault and floor, broken up by her career high of 9.95 on bars; Courtney McCool’s hand slipping off the high bar; Nikki Child’s dive over the bars; and consistent wobbles throughout the beam lineup.

Freshman Cassidy McCombs remained a solid contributor with her performances on vault, bars and floor, including tying her career-high 9.925 on floor.

Emotions peaked, though, with senior Katie Heenan’s perfect 10.0 on floor exercise in the final spot of the meet.

“[Heenean’s 10] was the most right thing in the universe,” Grace Taylor said.

It came just three weeks after her perfect score on vault against Arkansas on March 1. It also contributed to her career-high 39.775 in her third time competing in and claiming the all-around title this season.

“She really is a leader. She took it up a notch tonight and she just showed the nation that it’s not over,” Nikki Childs said.

Emotions surrounding Heenan’s perfect score were most likely the result of Senior Night. The meet honored the most decorated class in Gym Dog history, including Nikki Childs, Megan Dowlen and Audrey Bowers, as well as Heenan.

“It was definitely a bizarre meet,” Yoculan said, “but still a great way for these seniors to go out. They have meant so much to our program for the last four years. They have truly set the bar, and they’re not even finished yet.”

The Gym Dogs begin post-season competition at the SEC Championships this Saturday in Duluth, Ga. The meet will be hosted at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. This continues Georgia’s quest for its fourth consecutive national title.

“We have a lot to work on to be more consistent,” Yoculan said, “but we’ll be ready.”

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