On Saturday night in front of 5,134 at the SEC Championship in AllTel Arena, the Gym Dogs and Gators were tied through three events, but in the final rotation
Florida scored a 49.45 on the floor exercise while Georgia posted a 49.3 on the uneven bars for a difference of .15 and a Gator victory, 197.325 – 197.175.
The Gym Dogs team scores on vault, bars and beam were higher than any other team, but a 49.025 on the floor exercise was fourth-highest.
“We won three events but you need four events to win,” said Georgia head coach Suzanne Yoculan. “Florida was consistent all night. I didn’t think we’d have problems on floor after our beam but we did.”
The loss snapped Georgia’s streak of three straight SEC titles. It was Florida’s first conference championship since 1989.
Third-ranked Alabama finished third with a 197.0, followed by No. 4 LSU at 196.25, No. 11 Arkansas (194.55), No. 17 Auburn (194.475) and Kentucky (194.0).
Individually, Courtney Kupets earned individual titles in the all-around, vault and bars with scores of 39.6, 9.975 and 9.925, respectively. Katie Heenan tied Courtney Kupets for the all-around title. Heenan also won the 2005 SEC Championship all-around title, making her the second Georgia gymnast with two SEC all-around titles (Kim Arnold, 1997-98).
Heenan’s efforts throughout the season also earned her the SEC’s Gymnast of the Year award, the sixth in Georgia history and first since Chelsa Byrd in 2003.
“We had two athletes do what they needed to tonight, but it takes five scores. I’m sure if you asked Courtney or Katie they’d give back those individual awards for a team championship,” Yoculan said.
Georgia’s (16-2-1) beam score of 49.375 in rotation one gave the Gym Dogs an early lead over all teams. Grace Taylor and Nikki Childs had a pair of 9.875s followed by a 9.9 from Tiffany Tolnay. Courtney Kupets scored a 9.825 and Heenan anchored the lineup with a 9.9. For Childs, it was her highest beam score in three SEC Championship meets.
On the floor exercise, Georgia notched a 49.025 (its fourth-lowest of the year) with Heenan leading the way with a 9.9. The Gym Dogs lost three-tenths with three athletes tumbling out of bounds. Meanwhile, Florida scored a 49.275 on the uneven bars to take the midpoint lead with a score of 98.575. Alabama also moved ahead of Georgia after the second event with a 49.275 on floor and a 49.25 on vault for a two-event total of 98.525. Georgia’s midpoint total was 98.4.
Courtney Kupets scored a 9.975 on vault as Georgia’s 49.475 moved the team into a tie with Florida at 147.875 through three events. Heenan had a 9.95 and Tolnay added a 9.9. The team total was Georgia’s second-highest of the season.
Florida ended its night one rotation before Georgia, closing with a 49.45 on floor for a final of 197.325. The Gym Dogs responded with only a 49.3 on bars, behind a 9.925 from Courtney Kupets. Tolnay added a 9.9, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia finished at 197.175.
Georgia’s next competition will be April 14 at the NCAA Regionals. That site will be determined on Monday morning.
“We’ll come back and we’ll make some adjustments. We have to and we might have a different floor lineup,” said Yoculan.
Georgia individuals who earned All-SEC honors included Courtney Kupets, Katie Heenan and Tiffany Tolnay.
To see the final results for all events, click here.
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