Alabama Gymnastics Ready For Day One of NCAA Championships
5/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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The last day before a national championship is a clear division in the season. For the Alabama Gymnastics Team today, and every day before it since that August day that the Crimson Tide 16 walked back onto campus is safely tucked into the category of ‘what we did to get to this point’. Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday fall into the category of ‘why we worked as hard as we did’.
Today, Alabama had its last practice, out on the floor of Coleman Coliseum, the site of this year’s NCAA Gymnastics Championships. Along with the other 11 teams out for the national crown, the Tide went through each of the four events one more time and then declared itself ready to compete.
Thursday, Alabama starts its final push for NCAA Championship No 4. Sarah Patterson and her squad comes into the championship with the highest regional score of the 12 teams here this week and a newly minted NCAA balance beam record. To win, the Tide has to be sharp two nights in a row. On Thursday they will have to finish in the top three out of the six teams that will compete in the 7 p.m. preliminary session. Then the top-three teams from each of the Thursday sessions will strive for the NCAA title on Friday night starting at 7 p.m.
Alabama has only finished outside the final six in the nation once since its first trip in 1983, and that was during the injury riddled year of 1997. The Crimson Tide has hosted the national championship twice, 1991 and 1996 and won both times. The home crowd has played a major factor both times, and it is a factor that Patterson hopes will come into play again this year.
“Our fans our absolutely wonderful,” Patterson said. “They help lift us to new heights and push us to be our very best.”
The Tide will be led by three-time Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year Andree’ Pickens. Pickens missed last year’s NCAA Championship because a torn tendon in her left ankle. The injury occurred just days before the Tide left for the Athens, Ga. based nationals. This year, Pickens is back to full strength and ready to finish her career on the floor, not the stands.
“To be on the floor with my team is much better than being in the stands like I was last year,” Pickens said with a wide grin. “I’m excited, I’m happy to be at home to finish up my senior season.”
So the hard work, the long hours and all that went into preparing for this moment is all past. Now there are just two nights...one that qualifies a team to be on the floor for the last night and the second, which provides a shot at the national championship.
“That’s our goal every year,” Patterson said, “to be on the floor of the national championships with a chance to win. How we get there each year might be different, but the goal is the same. And if you can get to that point, then anything can happen.”
And in Coleman Coliseum, what has happened twice before is that Alabama keeps the golden trophy at home. Thursday night they will take the next to last step of pushing that streak to three.
