Gym Dogs vs. Stanford: Clutch

I had almost forgotten how much I adore covering Georgia gymnastics. The first meet of the season was an exciting one as the normally dominating No. 1 Gym Dogs allowed the No. 7 Stanford Cardinals to pose a threat until the final routine. Stanford cut Georgia's lead during the final rotation with solid beam performances meanwhile Georgia was forced to count a 9.150 on floor. It all came down to floor anchor Courtney McCool. By the numbers really all she had to do was not utterly screw up, but what she did was blow up with the highest score of the entire meet, a 9.925. That is the kind of stuff former Olympian McCool does on a regular basis. She is a clutch performer.
The yearbook photographer next to me had never shot a gymnastics meet. He kept pointing out how close the score was getting or that the Gym Dogs might lose. He doubted. I never did. I just told him "they'll win" in a matter of fact tone. I've only ever seen them lose once in two seasons and that was in the 2009 SEC Championship which they answered with a win in the NCAA National Championship. I'm sure those Gym Dogs deal with a lot of pressure for that reason. People who follow them just assume they will win. The new head coach Jay Clark, who is filling the shoes of the legendary Suzanne Yoculan that won an NCAA record of 10 National Championships during her 26 years as coach, will have to battle those expectations all season long. As for now though, meet one is won.


Georgia freshmen, Kati Breazeal, left, and Christa Tanella prepare themselves for their first meet as Gym Dogs Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Former Georgia gymnast Courtney Kupets, center, holds up the 2009 National Championship trophy as she and others are honored before the Gym Dogs' meet against Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia coach Jay Clark gets some encouragement from senior gymnast Grace Taylor after his first "Ask Jay" segment as the new head coach before the Gym Dogs' meet


Georgia freshman Noel Couch made her debut with a 9.850 on vault. Couch also delievered a 9.800 on floor.


Georgia freshman Noel Couch is greeted by teammates after her debut as a Gym Dog on vault during their 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. Couch scored a 9.850 and also delivered a 9.800 on floor.


Georgia assistant couch Doug McAvinn reacts to Noel Couch's vault during the first rotation.


Georgia's Mariel Box scored a 9.750 on vault.


Georgia's Kat Ding salutes after sticking her landing on vault during the Gym Dogs' win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. Ding scored a 9.775 on the event.


Georgia's Marcia Newby scored a 9.725 on bars and a meet high of 9.900 on vault.


Georgia's Shayla Worley made her debut as a Gym Dog with a 9.450 on bars.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb reacts after sticking her landing on bars during the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. McComb scored a 9.750.


Georgia coach Jay Clark hugs gymnast Cassiby McComb after her bars performance during the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. McComb scored a 9.750.


Georgia's Hilary Mauro scored a 9.775 on beam.


Georgia's Grace Taylor scored a meet high on beam with a 9.90.


Georgia's Courtney McCool scored a 9.675 on beam, but it was her 9.925 on floor that clinched the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Courtney McCool scored a 9.675 on beam, but it was her 9.925 on floor that clinched the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Former Georgia gymnast and current volunteer coach Courtney Kupets, right, and Junior gymnast Hilary Mauro get pumped up for floor.


Georgia's Grace Taylor scored a 9.150 on floor.


Georgia's Grace Taylor competes on floor during the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia freshman Shayla Worley scored a 9.100 after falling during her floor routine.


Stanford's Shelley Alexander competes on beam.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb chalks up before competing on floor.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb scored a 9.600 on floor.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb scored a 9.600 on floor


Georgia's Courtney McCool clinched the Gym Dogs' win over Stanford with a 9.925 on floor as the anchor on the last rotation Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. McCool was the 2008 NCAA Floor Champion.


Georgia gymnast Courtney McCool gets a hug from assistant coach Julie Clark after her floor performance receives the highest score of the meet with a 9.925 on the last rotation of the Gym Dogs' win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Legendary former Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan, who retired at the end of last season, hugs Courtney McCool after the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.