June 1999: Vol. 78, No. 3June 1999: Vol. 78, No. 3 |
 Two-time world champion Kristy Kowal repeated as NCAA champ in the 200 breaststroke, smashing the American record and clinching the NCAA title for UGA.
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The headline in the Athens paper read "Walking on Water" and that's what Jack Bauerle's Lady Swim Dogs did when the nation's best female swimmers and divers came to Gabrielsen Natatorium in March.
"The kids pinned their ears back," says Bauerle, who waited through 20 years of coaching to take a victory dip, then got to do it in his home pool. "But at the same time, they were relaxed—which is what you want at the NCAAs."
The Georgia women led the three-day meet from start to finish, thanks to greater depth —which put lots of UGA swimmers in final heats—and surprising speed and heroics on the final night.
Bauerle said repeatedly that other teams had more talent, and as Saturday night began the Swim Dogs' lead over defending champion Stanford was a scant 11.5 points. But senior Julie Varozza, who missed half the season with mono, blew away the field in the mile. When soph Keegan Walkley won the 200 backstroke and two-time world champ Kristy Kowal repeated as NCAA champ in the 200 breaststroke, it was pool party time.
"We sold this great complex to recruits long before we were in it," says Bauerle of the team's new digs at Gabrielsen. "Now that it's home, I don't see why we can't win more of these."
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 Harrick, 60, has taken 14 teams to The Big Dance, including 10 straight. In 1995, he won a national championship at UCLA. |
Jim Harrick got off to a rocky start. He took Georgia's basketball job on March 31, backed out on April Fool's Day, then decided to stay at UGA.
Harrick's record speaks for itself (see caption), but he'll start work at a disadvantage if Jumaine Jones turns pro.
A reason for optimism:
Harrick has signed Shon Coleman, a 6'7" forward who led his junior college team to consecutive national titles.
Battered Gym Dogs grab fifth NCAA title
In a sport decided by slight miscues or bobbles, losing a top gymnast to a season-ending injury is seemingly an insurmountable obstacle in the race to the NCAA championship.
Lose four, and don't even make the trip.
But Georgia has never been a team to settle for the norm. Their performance at this year's NCAAs in Salt Lake City was courageous, even by Bulldog standards.
 Despite a hostile crowd in Utah, the "Drive for five!" Gym Dogs went undefeated for the second year in a row, and have won five NCAAs since '87. Six is in the mix.
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"This is a very emotional team, and being here in Utah—where we were booed—only inspired the team," said Coach Suzanne Yoculan. "The girls loved it. I didn't."
Georgia's run was remarkable, considering the Bulldogs lost four gymnasts—Kathleen Shrieves, Danielle Maurone, Sam Muhleman, and Talya Vexler—to season-ending injuries.
"The drama that surrounded us this year was incredible," said Yoculan. "For us to go undefeated is overwhelming."
The last time Georgia competed in Utah was in 1994. The Dogs seemingly had that meet wrapped up, taking a huge lead into the last rotation, the beam. But Georgia collapsed with four falls and slipped to third while Utah won.
Even with a solid performance in this year's meet, the Gym Dogs didn't ice the win till the final event: floor exercise. They scored 49.25, led by a 9.95 from Karin Lichey to end the meet.
"I didn't know how close it was; I was sitting in the bathroom," said Lichey. "I was too nervous."
Winners of back-to-back NCAA titles—and five since '87—the Bulldogs haven't lost since the 1997 NCAAs. Seniors Jenni Beathard, Jenni Galloway, Lichey and Muhleman have guided Georgia to a 126-6-1 mark over the last four years and won the SEC title four years straight.