No sooner than Gym Dogs coach Suzanne Yoculan took the podium during Sunday’s homecoming celebration to celebrate the 2007 National Championship, the conversation drifted toward a possible “four-peat” in 2008.

Yoculan addressed the crowd of about 150 outside of Stegeman Coliseum, already fantasizing about next year.

“When everybody holds up the ’4′ in the whole arena, it’ll be significant next year,” she said.

“It’s not just going to be about the fourth event, it’s going to be about the fourth championship in a row, and we’re going to do it.”

If the Gym Dogs are going to win a fourth straight NCAA Team National Championship in 2008, it will be at home as Stegeman Coliseum hosts the championship for the third time.

The host Gym Dogs defended their home floor and won the title in 1989, but lost the championship at home in 1995. Yoculan is eager to avoid that feeling in 2008.

“I don’t want to start getting nervous now, but I know it’ll be a pressure-packed season,” Yoculan said.

“Nothing would mean more to me than to win at home for all our fans.”

Sophomore Courtney Kupets echoed her coach’s sentiments.

No sooner than Gym Dogs coach Suzanne Yoculan took the podium during Sunday’s homecoming celebration to celebrate the 2007 National Championship, the conversation drifted toward a possible “four-peat” in 2008.

Yoculan addressed the crowd of about 150 outside of Stegeman Coliseum, already fantasizing about next year.

“When everybody holds up the ’4′ in the whole arena, it’ll be significant next year,” she said.

“It’s not just going to be about the fourth event, it’s going to be about the fourth championship in a row, and we’re going to do it.”

If the Gym Dogs are going to win a fourth straight NCAA Team National Championship in 2008, it will be at home as Stegeman Coliseum hosts the championship for the third time.

The host Gym Dogs defended their home floor and won the title in 1989, but lost the championship at home in 1995. Yoculan is eager to avoid that feeling in 2008.

“I don’t want to start getting nervous now, but I know it’ll be a pressure-packed season,” Yoculan said.

“Nothing would mean more to me than to win at home for all our fans.”

Sophomore Courtney Kupets echoed her coach’s sentiments.

“There’s no doubt that it’s possible for us,” Kupets said.

“I think we can all feel it already, just standing outside the coliseum. We’re so excited.”

This 2008 Gym Dogs will have a squad that is both young and battle-tested, having won a championship despite losing two seniors to injury. The Gym Dogs and fifth-place Stanford were the only two teams of the 2007 Super Six to not have a senior record a single score.

Yoculan emphasized the importance of being able to win a national title with a lineup so full of underclassmen.

“It gives us a lot of confidence, no question about it,” Yoculan said.

“It inspires us. It’s not just a tribute to the depth of the team, but it’s a tribute to the heart and the grit and the determination.”

Kupets added that, despite not being able to compete, the seniors’ contributions to the program helped lead the team to a third consecutive title and bodes well for the team’s chance at a fourth.

“This builds our character as a team,” Kupets said.

“It gave us so much passion to do it for (the seniors), and we can always take that with us into next year, so they’ve given us a lot.”

With each of the program’s eight championships, the collective target on the Gym Dogs’ backs grows larger, but being on top is a position Yoculan relishes.

“The easiest thing I ever did was win that first championship, but it’s a constant challenge to stay on top,” she said.