Alabama Gymnastics Finishes Third at the Super Six Challenge
1/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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GAINESVILLE, FL - Alabama gymnastics head coach Sarah Patterson said through the preseason that her team would start out a bit slower than last season. Tonight at the Super Six Challenge it became obvious that the Crimson Tide wouldn't be the only team in that position.
"I told the ladies before the meet that we needed a starting point," Patterson said. "Now that we have it, we're going to work hard to improve. It will be much different for us than it was last year, when we came out of the gate on top and had to maintain that level."
"Sometimes the fun is in getting better, and we intend to do just that."
The Tide scored a 193.875, led by junior Ashley Miles who won her first collegiate all-around with a 39.35. Miles won her third consecutive Super Six Challenge vault and floor exercise titles. Miles won the vault with a 9.9 and shared top honors on the floor exercise with teammate Alexis Brion, a senior and Georgia freshman Katie Heenan after scoring a 9.9. Miles was second on the uneven bars with a 9.850 while Brion was second on vault with a 9.875. Senior Shannon Hrozek was second on the balance beam with a 9.825.
"I can't say enough about the job Ashley Miles did tonight, not only in competition but in the job she and Shannon did in leading this team," Patterson said. "I hope our fans will have faith in these ladies and come watch us next week, because this team will be much better come next week."
Alabama finished third on the night behind Georgia's 194.850 and Florida's 194.45. Arizona took fourth with a 193.425, Penn State was fifth with a 193 while Iowa finished sixth with a 190.725. The Dogs score would have finished fifth at last year's Super Six Challenge.
"We started on the uneven bars and had several mistakes," Patterson said. "In a meet of this magnitude, with this kind of pressure, you can't afford to give away points like we did and stay with the leaders. It was evident tonight that this is very early in the season. No one had a lot of time after the holiday break. All of these teams, especially Alabama will get better over the next several weeks."
For the Tide, sophomore Erin Rightley made her competitive debut tonight, after performing several exhibition routines as a rookie. She competed vault, balance beam and floor exercise here in Gainesville.
On the vault, led by Miles and Brion, the Tide scored a 48.675. Alabama posted the night's highest floor exercise score, going 49.100 behind Miles and Brion's 9.9s while junior Mari Bayer chipped in a 9.825. The Tide's floor total was the highest for any team on any event all night.
On the balance beam, Hrzozek posted a 9.825, leading Alabama to a 48.525. Sophomore Erin Rightley scored a 9.700 in her official Crimson Tide debut. Miles also posted a 9.7.
Alabama was led on the uneven bars by its captains, with Hrozek scoring a 9.75 to lead things off and Miles posting a team best 9.85 from the fifth spot. As a team, the Tide posted a 47.575 after suffering three falls in its first event.
"I was very encouraged with how we regrouped after uneven bars and came back on the balance beam with six straight routines," Patterson said. "Not only did we hit six in a row, but three of those came from gymnasts who had never been in our balance beam lineup before."
Alabama returns to action Friday, Jan. 14 against Iowa State. It will be the Tide's home opener and children eighth grade and younger will receive a free general admission ticket. Those tickets can be picked up at the Alabama Ticket Office in advance of the meet Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Friday from 9 a.m. through the start of the meet. For more information, or to buy tickets call 205.348.BAMA. You can also buy tickets online at www.rolltide.com.
Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Mari Bayer -- 8.450 9.625 9.825 --
Alexis Brion 9.875 9.000 -- 9.900 --
Rachael Delahoussaye -- -- 9.675 -- --
Dana Filetti 9.000 9.725 9.700 9.750 38.175
Shannon Hrozek 9.775 9.750 9.825 -- --
Ashley Miles 9.900 9.850 9.700 9.900 39.350
Dana Pierce 9.525 -- -- 9.725 --
Erin Rightley 9.600 -- 9.700 9.700 --
Kaitlin White -- 9.250 -- -- --
48.675 47.575 48.525 49.100 193.875
Team Vault Bars Beam Floor Total
Georgia 48.600 48.575 48.875 48.800 194.850
Florida 48.950 48.700 48.750 48.050 194.450
Alabama 48.675 47.575 48.525 49.200 193.875
Arizona 48.500 48.350 47.975 48.600 193.425
Penn State 48.625 48.275 47.775 48.325 193.000
Iowa 47.125 48.550 47.300 47.750 190.725
