Georgia Gym Dogs out to prove they are No. 1

Ranked no. 1 in the nation, the Georgia Bulldogs are readying themselves for their fourth meet this season. They started the 2002 season with a team score of 196.35, winning against Nebraska. The following week they won twice against UCLA, the poll's favorite to win this year. The Bulldogs' momentum has been building, from winning the Super Six to scoring 197.9 at home against UCLA. It's a sure bet Alabama plans to put on a great show Friday in order to stop them.

In only 2 weeks of competition, Georgia is looking like a team well into the season and very comfortable with their situation. Prior to their season opener Coach Suzanne Yoculan indicated she would be coaching "out of character", and taking things slower due to a team that has been hampered with injuries in the pre season. However, Coach Yoculan couldn't coach out of character if she tried… her gymnasts simply won't let her.

The catalyst for the fire in this team has been Sophomore Cory Fritzinger. Better known to many Bama fans as that Georgia gal who used "Sweet Home Alabama", in her routine last season. Fritzinger looks ready to erase that memory in the minds of Bama fans and replace it with her gymnastics prowess. She has not only been consistent, but continually improving over the last three meets, culminating with a 10.0 on vault last Sunday, and an all-around score of 39.8. This along with her efforts at the Super Six earned her the title of SEC gymnast of the week. She has a great ability to balance power and grace, and the stamina to follow through to the end.

Redshirt freshman Kinsey Rowe also looks ready to leave an impression on Bama fans. She too has competed all-around in the last three meets with scores ranging from 39.425 to 39.675, another consistent performer for Georgia. Freshman Michelle Emmons has been entertaining crowds with her sky-high tumbling on the floor exercise. She competes like a veteran. In her debut on floor she scored 9.975. She will also be a real asset to the team on vault.

Expect to see sophomore Marline Stephens in at least three events, floor, vault, and beam. She competed all-around once this season, having her all-around score of 39.575 hampered by a "weak" bar routine, relatively speaking, that scored 9.725. Stephens was not initially slated to compete on bars, but filled in for sophomore Chelsa Byrd. Byrd was pulled out of the meet after a crash into the vault. She sustained an injury to her finger. Reports indicate she may be out of competition for 2-3 weeks. Sophomore Sierra Sapunar showed she was ready to compete on floor and balance beam Sunday, despite a disappointing floor routine at the Super Six. Hopefully her routine will be as entertaining as her "genie" routine last year.

Georgia's sweetheart on the balance beam Senior Talya Vexler continues to be as consistent as ever. She is a fluid and very pretty beam worker and throws some rather unique moves.

The Gym Dogs are making it known they have drawn the line in the sand and Alabama is readying themselves to cross it. Don't miss out on the beginning to one Really Big Show!