Perfect 10: Kupets? 10?s Help Georgia to 10th NCAA Title

Lincoln- Georgia made it five in a row and a pair of 10’s from Courtney Kupets gave the GymDogs their 10th NCAA title with a 197.825 at the Super Six Team Finals Friday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

After two rotations Georgia stood tied with Utah at 98.625, but big scores on floor and vault propelled the GymDogs to the crown in front of more than 3,000 fans. Kupets, who captured the NCAA individual all-around title on Thursday with a 39.80, produced perfect 10’s on both bars and vault to finish the night with a near-perfect 39.90 on the four events. During the Super Six Finals, individual all-around scores are not tabulated.

While Kupets was nearly perfect on the last two events, scoring a 9.95 on floor and a 10 on vault to conclude the night, her GymDog teammates were almost as good. In fact, on floor exercise every Georgia competitor scored at least a 9.90 including Kupets’ 9.95 and Tiffany Tolnay’s 9.925.

The GymDogs finished the event with a 49.575 team score to solidify their lead. Georgia was even better on vault. In addition to Kupets’ 10, Tolnay capped the event with a 9.95 and Kathryn Ding added a 9.95 of her own as the GymDogs unleashed a 49.625 to secure the crown.

With the victory, Georgia sent Head Coach Suzanne Yoculan out in style with a record of 831-117-7 in her 26th year at the helm of the UGA program.

In the race for second, Alabama and Utah were in a tight race from the beginning. The Crimson Tide led the Utes after the first two rotations 98.75-98.625. Utah pulled ahead of Alabama 148.15-148.075 as the Utes moved to floor in the third rotation led by a 9.925 by Annie DiLuzio.

With Alabama heading to floor in the final rotation and the Utes moving to bars, the Tide saw strong performances from Morgan Dennis (9.95), Geralen Stack-Eaton and Ashley Priess, each with a 9.90. With the event total of 49.50, Alabama notched a 197.575 to move past Utah’s 197.425 and give them the runner-up finish.

This was the Crimson Tide’s best NCAA Championships appearance since a second-place showing in 2005. The Tide’s final-rotation floor total of 49.50 was a season high, besting their 49.475 at the SEC Championships. Utah concluded its 28th-straight NCAA Championships appearance with a third-place finish.

With a squad of only seven competing gymnasts including several walk-ons the Florida Gators provided an impressive showing with their 196.725 fourth-place finish. Arkansas took fifth (196.475) in its first Super Six Finals appearances, and LSU took sixth with a mark of 196.375.

The NCAA Championships conclude with the Individual Event Finals slated for Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Devaney Center. Gymnasts will compete on all four events in search of individual crowns.

Super Six Team Finals Results

1. Georgia (197.825)

2. Alabama (197.575)

3. Utah (197.425)

4. Florida (196.725)

5. Arkansas (196.475)

6. LSU (196.375)