Alabama Gymnastics vs. Auburn Tonight; Think Pink, Wear Pink
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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LIVE MEET COVERAGE | ||
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The Alabama Gymnastics team faces off against Auburn tonight in Coleman Coliseum in one of the most anticipated meets of the Crimson Tide's young season.
The meet gets underway at 7:30 p.m. and plenty of tickets are still available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.BAMA).
There will be a lot going on in conjunction with the meet, not the least of which will be the Tide's "Target the Cure" initiative which is designed to raise awareness for breast cancer. Everyone coming to the meet is encouraged to "Think Pink" and "Wear Pink" for the meet. Both teams will be wearing pink leotards for the meet, though in different shades, in support of the cause.
This is also the Tide's Alumni Weekend, with over 50 former gymnasts making their way back to the Capstone for a weekend of watching the latest edition of the Tide and catching up with their fellow alumni.
And beyond the pink, there is the meet itself. Alabama-Auburn in any capacity is always a big deal, and this year should be the best match-up ever. Last year, the Tide won by the smallest margin in over 25 years. Alabama is riding a 25-plus years win streak against the Tigers, one that Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson wants to extend for another year.
"You don't want to be the first team in 25 years to not beat the Auburn Tigers," Patterson said. "This is the best their program has ever been, so obviously, the gap has narrowed significantly."
Alabama comes with a lot of firepower, including three-time NCAA Champion Ashley Miles and two-time Olympic Silver Medalist Terin Humphrey, as well as All-Americans Shannon Hrozek, Alexis Brion and Mari Bayer. Miles is ranked No. 1 in the nation on the floor exercise and vault and No. 4 in the all-around. Humphrey is ranked first on the balance beam.
For Auburn, freshman Julie Dwyer has started off hot, winning four consecutive all-around competitions. Another rookie Aimee Goheen leads the Tigers on the uneven bars while senior Courtney Puckett and sophomore Rachel Tarantino are tops on the floor exercise.
