Alabama Gymnastics Signs Four in Early Signing Period
11/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Saturday, November 26, 2005
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Sarah Patterson and the Alabama Gymnastics program inked four student-athletes to national letters of intent during the early signing period.
Morgan Dennis, Kayla Hoffman, Ricki Lebegern and Casey Overton have all signed to compete for the Tide starting with the 2007 season.
"These ladies had the opportunity to attend any school in the country and we are honored to have them join our program,” Patterson said. “For each of them, the chance to compete for championships, be supported by thousands of fans and most important of all, receive first rate educational opportunities and support were paramount in their decisions to become a part of the Crimson Tide."
Overton, also a member of the U.S. National Team, hails from Virginia Beach, Va. A member of the U.S. National Training Squad since 2000, she competed for the U.S. at the 2004 USA/Japan Meet and the 2002 International Massilia Cup in France. The daughter of George and JoAnn Overton, she is coached by Jim and Dena Walker at Excalibur Gymnastics club, the same gym that produced former Tide All-American Alexis Brion and senior All-American Dana Filetti. An honor student, she is set to graduate from Alpha Omega Academy this spring.
“Casey verbally committed to us early in the recruiting process,” Patterson said. “That helped set the stage for one of the most heralded recruiting classes in recent years.”
Lebegern, a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic National Team, comes from Annandale, Va. She finished fourth in the all-around and third on the vault at the 2005 Level 10 National Championships. Competing at nationals since 2002, she finished in the top-10 in the all-around in 2002, 2003 and 2005. The daughter of William and Jamie Lebegern, she trains at Capital Gymnastics National Training Center where she is coached by Tatiana Perskaia, Victor Vectrov and Marina Gerom. A member of the National Honor Society, she attends Falls Church High School.
Hoffman, a member of the United States National Team, is a native of Union, N.J. She took eighth in the all-around and sixth on the uneven bars at the 2005 U.S. Championships. She also won the all-around at the 2003 U.S. Challenge. The daughter of Richard and Helen Hoffman, she trains at Rebound Gymnastics under coach Diane Farrell. Home schooled, she has maintained an “A” average through out her high school career.
Dennis, the vault champion at the 2004 Podium Meet, is from Westhampton, NJ. She was ninth in the all-around at the 2004 U.S. Classic and a 2004 U.S. Championship qualifier. The daughter of Al and Carla Dennis, she is coached by Magda During, Jill Cookingham, Valdi Kolasa and Wes Marutani at Arena Gymnastics. A four year honor student, she attends Holy Cross High School.
“All four ladies have national or international experience that will serve them well in SEC competition,” Patterson said. “As scholar-athletes, the newly renovated Paul Bryant Academic Center, coupled with Alabama’s remarkable support system available to our student-athletes, was a tremendous drawing card to these ladies.”
While the Tide’s signees will have to wait until January of 2007 to don the crimson and white, the current Alabama squad opens the 2006 season Friday, January 6th with the Super Six Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. and opens at home Friday, Jan. 20 against Florida. For ticket information, contact the Alabama Ticket Office at 205.348.2262.
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Morgan Dennis |
Kayla Hoffman |
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Ricki Lebegern |
Casey Overton |
