A Quarter-Century Of Memorable Bulldog Moments

As the primary 25 years of the century come to a detailed, let’s have a look again at a number of the most memorable moments, performs, seasons and achievements in Georgia athletics from 2000 by way of this yr. There are excess of 25 worthy of remembering and relishing — a listing of 100 definitely would have been potential — however beneath are 25 unfold throughout the entire Bulldogs’ sports activities.

These aren’t ranked, simply listed randomly, and fairly just a few humdingers, from Sony Michel’s game-winning landing run to win the Rose Bowl to a mess of Olympic moments of glory by former Bulldogs, had been left off to whittle the checklist right down to 25. And on the price that present and former Georgia student-athletes and groups are attaining nice issues, the checklist for 2050 goes to be spectacular.

25 Moments From The Past 25 Years

Football: Ringo Seals 2021 National Championship With INT

Let’s begin with the one which most likely involves thoughts first for a lot of Georgia followers. On Jan. 22, 2022, the Georgia soccer staff captured its first nationwide championship since 1980 with a 33-18 win over Alabama in Indianapolis. It was cornerback Kelee Ringo’s 79-yard interception return for a landing late within the recreation that sealed the victory — Georgia trailed 18-13 with 10:14 left within the recreation — and secured the Bulldogs’ long-awaited nationwide title.

Equestrian: Program Makes Its Debut In 2002, Many Championships Follow

Georgia’s equestrian staff did not have to attend lengthy for its first nationwide championship. The program was based in June of 2001 and started competing in 2002 below the one head coach it has ever had, Meghan Boenig. The Bulldogs gained the nationwide title of their first two seasons and have added six extra, together with in 2025.

Baseball: 2008 Bulldogs Win All Major SEC Awards, Reach CWS Final

The 2008 season was a particular one for Georgia baseball, with Gordon Beckham being named each the SEC Player of the Year and SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Joshua Fields named SEC Pitcher of the Year, and David Perno named the SEC Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs superior all the way in which to the College World Series finals that season for the second-best end in program historical past, and Beckham and Fields had been later chosen within the first spherical of the 2008 MLB Draft.

Softball: Puailoa Walk-Off Blast Beats No. 1 Florida, Sends Bulldogs to 2016 WCWS

On the opposite diamond, Georgia’s softball staff superior to the Women’s College World Series in dramatic vogue in 2016. Facing No. 1 Florida in Gainesville within the Super Regional, Kaylee Puailoa despatched the Sixteenth-seeded Bulldogs to Oklahoma City with a pinch-hit walk-off residence run. Georgia gained the primary recreation within the sequence and was down 2-1 and right down to its last strike in opposition to the two-time defending nationwide champs when Puailoa hit a two-run blast over the wall in middle discipline.

Men’s Tennis: Boeker Captures Triple Crown in 2001

One of the best gamers in Georgia tennis historical past, Matias Boeker not solely led the Bulldogs to the 2001 NCAA staff title, he additionally gained the NCAA singles and doubles (with companion Travis Parrott) championships, In the trendy period of NCAA males’s tennis, since 1977 when the staff match was added, solely two gamers earlier than Boeker had ever achieved the triple crown — and no person has carried out it since. Boeker gained the NCAA singles title once more in 2002, and he was inducted into the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017.

Track and Field: Women and Men Win NCAA Titles in 2018

It’s honest to say that 2018 was the perfect yr ever within the lengthy historical past of Georgia’s males’s and ladies’s observe and discipline packages. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in March, the ladies’s staff captured this system’s first nationwide championship. In June, the lads’s staff gained its first nationwide title on the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the Indoors, Georgia went 1-2-3 within the lengthy soar, with Kate Hall profitable the title, Keturah Orji inserting second and Tara Davis third, and Orji gained her third straight triple soar title, to assist propel the Bulldogs to the championship. At the Outdoors, Denzel Comenentia gained the hammer throw and the shot put to assist put Georgia on prime. The ladies’s staff added to its trophy case in 2025 by profitable this system’s first NCAA Outdoor title in dominating vogue.

Gymnastics: GymDogs Send Yoculan Leebern Out With Fifth Straight Title

The most completed program in Georgia historical past is gymnastics, which has gained 10 NCAA staff championships. On April 17, 2009, legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan Leebern ended her profession with a fifth straight nationwide title. From 1984-2009, Yoculan Leebern constructed Georgia into the gold customary of success, with 10 NCAA titles and 16 SEC crowns. The 2009 staff featured 5 All-Americans, a file of 32-1, and a trio of particular person NCAA titles for Courtney Kupets Carter (extra on her later).

Swimming and Diving: Shealy, Kowal Lead Bulldogs to Second Straight NCAA Title

In 1999, Kristy Kowal gained a pair of NCAA breaststroke titles to assist lead the Georgia ladies’s program to its first nationwide championship. The following yr, the Bulldogs made it two in a row, with Kowal profitable two extra breaststroke titles and the 200-meter particular person medley, in addition to teaming as much as win the medley relay. Courtney Shealy joined her on that profitable relay squad and likewise gained particular person titles in two freestyle occasions and the 100 backstroke. The Georgia ladies made it three straight in 2001 and have added 4 extra NCAA staff titles since.

Women’s Tennis: Bulldogs Win Two National Titles in 2025

Georgia’s ladies’s tennis program has been a nationwide powerhouse for the previous three a long time, however the 2025 season was the most effective at school historical past. The Bulldogs captured the ITA National Indoor title in February, dropping simply two matches en path to the championship, and adopted that by profitable the SEC match after which storming by way of the NCAA match. In six NCAA matches, Georgia gained 5 of them 4-0, together with the ultimate in opposition to rival Texas A&M, which had knocked off the Bulldogs within the 2024 NCAA last.

Soccer: Bulldogs Win Program’s First SEC Tournament in 2023

It did not take lengthy for Keidane McAlpine to steer the Georgia soccer staff to its first convention championship. Hired in December 2021, McAlpine started a swift turnaround in 2022 that included a return to the NCAA match for the primary time since 2014. In 2023, the Bulldogs had their greatest season in program historical past, profitable their first SEC East Division title after which profitable the SEC match. Georgia rallied from deficits in opposition to Kentucky and Texas A&M to succeed in the title recreation, after which performed stellar protection in opposition to Arkansas within the last to win 1-0. The Bulldogs went on to succeed in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA match for under the second time in program historical past.

Women’s Golf: Bulldogs Surge Past Duke For 2001 NCAA title

At the 2001 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships, Georgia trailed Duke by 4 strokes heading into the ultimate spherical earlier than mounting a giant rally to win this system’s first nationwide title. The Bulldogs bought off to a scorching begin and had moved forward by three strokes by the sixth gap, and Duke by no means bought nearer than two strokes the remainder of the way in which. Four golfers completed among the many prime 20 on the person leaderboard, with Reilley Rankin tying for tenth, Laura Henderson and Angela Jerman tying for thirteenth and Summer Sirmons tying for 18th.

Men’s Basketball: Bulldogs Win Wild 2008 SEC Tournament

The 2008 SEC males’s basketball match was not like another. The occasion was disrupted by dangerous storms within the Atlanta space, forcing the video games to maneuver from the Georgia Dome to Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Georgia gained 4 video games in three days to win the title, beating Ole Miss in additional time within the opening spherical. Before the Bulldogs tipped off in opposition to Kentucky, a twister hit the Georgia Dome, delaying the sport a day and forcing the transfer to Tech’s enviornment. Georgia beat Kentucky and Mississippi State on the identical day, after which knocked off Arkansas within the last.

Women’s Basketball: Nolan and Miller Twins Selected In First Round of 2001 WNBA Draft

On April 20, 2001, Georgia’s Kelly and Coco Miller and Deanna Nolan had been chosen within the first spherical of the WNBA Draft. Nolan went on to win three WNBA titles with Detroit and was the Finals MVP in 2006, whereas Kelly Miller gained a title with Houston in 2007. In the finals of the 2001 SEC match, Kelly Miller hit a jumper with .8 seconds left to beat Vanderbilt, 62-60, and elevate the Lady Bulldogs to their first convention tourney title since 1986.

Volleyball: Record Crowd of 8,719 Packs The Steg

Playing in entrance of a file crowd of 8,719 followers at Stegeman Coliseum on Oct. 17, 2025, the Georgia volleyball staff earned a 3-2 win over Alabama. The big turnout set a brand new program and NCAA volleyball state attendance file, topping final season’s file excessive of 8,376. As senior Estelle Haugen stated after the match, five-setters take their toll bodily and mentally. “We felt the crowd push us to that five-set” victory, she stated.

Men’s Golf: Bulldogs Capture Program’s Second NCAA Title in 2005

In 2005, males’s golf gained this system’s second NCAA title, and head coach Chris Haack was named the National Coach of the Year. That staff featured quite a few future PGA Tour winners in Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner and Brendon Todd. Those three, plus teammates Richard Scott and David Denham, had been all named All-Americans.

Football: “Hobnail Boot” Play Beats No. 6 Tennessee in 2001

Any checklist of former Georgia radio legend Larry Munson’s best calls throughout his extraordinary profession goes to incorporate his basic play-by-play of Georgia’s 26-24 win at Tennessee on Oct. 6, 2001. After quarterback David Greene hit working again Verron Haynes ultimately zone for a game-winning 6-yard landing with 5 seconds left, Munson produced one of many best strains ever: “We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose — we just crushed their face!”

Men’s Tennis: Isner Leads Bulldogs To Undefeated Season In 2007

In 2006, the Georgia males’s tennis staff was undefeated heading into the NCAA finals in opposition to Pepperdine. The Bulldogs got here up quick that day in opposition to the Waves, and star junior John Isner did not need to finish his nice Georgia profession that method. Isner got here again for his senior season moderately than turning professional, and led the Bulldogs all the way in which to an undefeated season and the ITA National Indoor and NCAA staff titles. Georgia was dominant all through the 2007 season, going 32-0 regardless of taking part in 18 groups ranked within the prime 25. Isner went on to an extended professional profession that included 16 match titles, reaching the finals of Wimbledon in 2018. and a career-high ATP Tour rating of No. 8. Isner and legendary Georgia coach Manuel Diaz can be inducted into the ITA Hall of Fame in May 2026, when the NCAAs return to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

Swimming and Diving: Bulldogs Take Gold, Silver In 400 IM at 2021 Olympics

Former Georgia swimming and diving head coach Jack Bauerle had numerous particular moments in his lengthy profession, however few rival what occurred on the Tokyo Olympics. On July 24, 2021, former Bulldogs Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland completed first and second within the males’s 400-meter particular person medley. Kalisz, the silver-medalist within the occasion in 2016 and the NCAA champion in 2013 and ’16, was the heavy favourite within the occasion and gained in 4:09.42. Litherland rallied within the last leg to position second with a time of 4:10.28. Another former Bulldog, Hali Flickinger, gained bronze within the ladies’s 400 IM that very same day.

Baseball: Condon Has Season For the Ages In 2024

In 2024, Charlie Condon had the most effective seasons ever, profitable the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award, the highest awards in school baseball, and incomes consensus National Player of the Year honors. He was the third participant in NCAA Division I historical past to steer the nation in batting (.433) and residential runs (a school-record 37), and he led the nation in slugging proportion (1.009). And on July 14, he turned the very best draft decide in program historical past when he was chosen third total by the Colorado Rockies.

Softball: In 2014, Georgia Won First SEC Softball Tournament Title

Entering the 2014 SEC softball match in Columbia, S.C., because the No. 5 seed, Georgia needed to undergo fifth-ranked Florida and sixth-ranked Alabama to advance to the title recreation. The Bulldogs blanked Florida 2-0 and knocked off the Crimson Tide 5-3, after which bought a gem from pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson within the last in opposition to Kentucky. She struck out 9 batters within the Bulldogs’ 5-2 win, whereas Geri Ann Glasco went 3-for-4 on the plate with a house run and two RBIs to assist elevate the Bulldogs to their first SEC tourney title.

Track and Field: Orji Caps Legendary Career With Bowerman Award

On Dec. 20, 2018, Keturah Orji capped one of many best careers in Georgia athletics historical past by changing into this system’s first winner of The Bowerman award, which is the highest honor in observe and discipline. She was additionally named the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year, and he or she helped the Bulldogs win this system’s first NCAA staff title by profitable the triple soar and inserting second within the lengthy soar. The most completed ladies’s discipline occasion student-athlete ever, she gained seven NCAA triple soar titles (three indoor, 4 outside) and the outside lengthy soar in 2018. Orji positioned fourth within the triple soar within the 2016 Olympics in Rio, seventh on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and ninth in Paris in 2024.

Gymnastics: Kupets Carter Has Greatest Career In History

Courtney Kupets Carter is among the best gymnasts in NCAA historical past. She gained the Honda Award in 2007 and 2009, in addition to the Honda Broderick Cup in 2009. A 2004 Olympian earlier than she arrived at Georgia, Kupets Carter gained NCAA all-around titles in 2006, ’07 and ’09, in addition to the 2007 vault title, the 2009 flooring title, and the bars and beam titles in 2006 and ’09. By the time Kupets Carter’s GymDogs profession was over, she’d gained three NCAA all-around titles (she missed one NCAAs with an damage), two bars titles, two beam titles, and one title every on bars and beam. She was additionally a part of 4 straight nationwide championship groups from 2006-09.

Swimming and Diving: Bauerle Leads US Women’s Team in Beijing Olympics

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, Georgia’s Jack Bauerle was the pinnacle coach of the U.S. ladies’s staff — a staff that noticed former Bulldog Kara Lynn Joyce earn two silver medals and Allison Schmitt earn a bronze. The American ladies gained 14 medals in Beijing, essentially the most of any nation. Eight different Bulldogs additionally swam within the Games. Bauerle additionally served as an assistant coach on U.S. squads on the 2000, 2016 and 2020 Games, and was a private coach in 2004 and 2012. In 2022, Bauerle retired after 43 years, having led the Georgia ladies’s staff to seven NCAA staff titles (1999, 2000, ’01, ’05, ’13, ’14, ’16).

Women’s Tennis: Vidmanova Completes Career Triple Crown

Dasha Vidmanova did all of it throughout her extraordinary Georgia ladies’s tennis profession. In 2025, she wrapped up her time with the Bulldogs by main the staff to the ITA National Indoor and NCAA championships. In 2024, Vidmanova gained a pair of NCAA titles, first capturing this system’s first doubles title with companion Aysegul Mert in May after which profitable Georgia’s fourth NCAA singles crown in November. At the 2025 NCAA Championships, Vidmanova went undefeated in singles and doubles to earn MVP honors. She additionally gained the Honda Award for girls’s tennis for the 2024-25 season.

Football: Bulldogs Make It Two In A Row

On Jan. 9, 2023, the top-ranked Georgia soccer staff dominated No. 3 TCU 65-7 within the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., profitable the primary back-to-back nationwide titles within the CFP period and securing an undefeated season at 15-0. It was a becoming finale for quarterback Stetson Bennett, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game in all 4 CPF video games through the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Against TCU, Bennett threw for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for a pair of scores because the Bulldogs scored on their first six possessions to blow the sport large open from the outset. Defensive again Javon Bullard intercepted a pair of passes and recovered a fumble to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors.

 

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the employees author for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame. You can discover his work at: Frierson Files.