The Georgia women’s gymnastics lineup will not feature notable starters of years past.

Despite the loss of six seniors — who were all honored with All-American selections at least once in their collegiate careers — the team still features a core group of starters from the 2004 squad.

Included in that group are sophomore All-Americans Ashley Kupets and Kelsey Ericksen.

The young team is full of talent, though, and the key word for the season will be potential.

“We’re really excited about our potential,” said head coach Suzanne Yoculan. “It’s great that the team is so young because the enthusiasm level is so high.”

This year’s crop of freshmen is expected to contribute often, but the returners from last year’s squad will be the core of the team.

Even the returning starters will benefit from the talent of the freshmen as they compete for starting spots and help them become accustomed to the rigors of college gymnastics.

Nowhere is that pressure more evident than on the balance beam.

“This is our best event,” Yoculan said. “Already the returners are better because of the push they are getting from the freshmen.”

The beam lineup will be bolstered by Michelle Emmons, the lone senior on the squad, who has been a regular lead-off performer on the apparatus.

Emmons, who also competed on floor and vault throughout the first three years of her career, will be counted on for high scores on all three events.

The Houston native has benefited from the off-season as she dropped 10 to 15 pounds and has added difficulty to her routines.

“We’re proud of what Michelle is doing right now,” Yoculan said.”It’s nice to see a senior adding difficulty.”

Also returning is junior and Houston native Brittany Smith. Smith’s 2004 season earned her All-SEC honors as she scored two perfect 10s on the season, one on beam against Iowa State and another on floor against LSU.

In Shaw’s only event this season, she hit a 9.7 on the beam in the Super Six Challenge on Jan. 7.

Two of the most crucial members of the team this year will be experienced sophomores Kupets and Cincinnati native Ericksen, 2004 SEC freshman of the year.

Kupets, who hails from Gaithersburg, Md., will be expected to shine on vault.

“(Kupets’) power and explosiveness is unbelievable,” Yoculan said. “We expect her scores to reflect her improvement.”

The Gym Dogs will make their season debut Friday night at Stegeman Coliseum against Auburn at 7:30 p.m.