UCLA – Bruins Lose Balance Against Georgia, 197.725-196.125
“This team is on a mission,†Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan said. “They say they are unstoppable, and I am starting to believe them.
All hail.
Their mission is to win their 10th National Championships as a team under Head Coach Suzanne Yoculan who retires after this year.
… The balance beam was UCLA’s nemesis, as the sixth-ranked Bruins had to count two falls on the event in a dual meet loss to No. 1 Georgia. The Gym Dogs scored 197.725, while UCLA totaled 196.125. …
Georgia’s Courtney Kupets won the all-around title for the ninth time this season. She also claimed the bars and floor titles. Courtney McCool scored 10 on beam, the first of her career.
GeorgiaDogs – No. 1 Gym Dogs Stay Undefeated With Win Over No. 6 UCLA
College Gymnastics Board – commentary on the meet – I gotta give props to Georgia
5 comments ↓
It was a good meet. Overall, I’d say Georgia definitely looked great on bars — even without Tiffany Tolnay. If they add McCool and Tolnay back to their bars lineup, it will be fantastic.
Georgia’s vaults were just ok in my opinion. Vanessa Zamarripa from UCLA was definitely the best vaulter out there. I can see why she’s scoring 10′s. Well deserved. In fact, she’s a beautiful all-around gymnast. She’s fun to watch on every event.
My favorite routine of the night was Aisha Gerber’s beam routine. It’s full of variety, originality and well executed skills. Apart from a fall on her side somi — she definitely had the best beam routine. McCool’s 10 on beam was beautiful in execution, but I find her routine a little ho hum in terms of the combination of skills. UCLA gymnasts definitely take more risks overall than Georgia; however, they also fell 3 times on beam, and were not rewarded for the risk, so hmmmm? I’m hoping UCLA will hit those skills when it counts, so that the risk will be rewarded and just more fun to watch.
On floor, UCLA’s routines were also a lot more fun to watch. There is obviously a lot of thought and attention that goes into getting the most out of the dance elements in their routines. Coach Valorie does great work here.
Georgia’s Kupets has matured a lot since her 2004 olympic days, and seems much more confident in her dance ability and actually performs her routine nicely. Taylor and McComb are also full of spark and energy and elegance, but the rest of the Georgia floor routines are tumble, jump, pose without any real dance value. Hilary Mauro has a routine that looks like it was choreographed for a 10-year old. It would be cute for a 10-year old, but for a college gymnast, it’s kinda sad.
How can you tell since the diffuculty is so watered down that it is a stick and popularity contest?
TCO/Apoly, i don’t disagree with you, but overall, i’m a fan of the sport. i wish it was more of an olympic training ground like collegiate MAG. The coaches argue that too many athletes are injured when the difficulty level is high. When you watch it in person though, even when everyone is performing the same skill, you can see the difference between athletes who master a skill and perform it with amplitude and style over someone who just sticks it.
Agreed. And you express it better than I. And I don’t buy the injury issue. The ones who are at danger can just not try. Others can.
It’s nice to see McCool back in the lineup. I always enjoy her gymnastics, it’s so clean.
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