Alabama Gymnastics Advances to NCAA Championship Finals

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Ashley Miles

AUBURN, ALA - The Alabama Gymnastics team used a 197.000 to advance to tomorrow night's Super Six team finals here in Auburn, Ala.

The Tide finished third in a very strong evening session, just behind Georgia's 197.325 and UCLA's 197.025. Florida finished fourth with a 196.225, followed by Iowa State, 195.975 and BYU 194.625. Between Alabama, Georgia and UCLA, the evening session counted 14 past NCAA titles between them.

"One of our goals prior to each season is to be on the floor the last night of the NCAA Championships, competing for a national title," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "It isn't easy. It was nerve-wracking out there for us tonight with so much pressure placed on each of the teams to make it to the Super Six. We will be more relaxed tomorrow. We made some mistakes tonight that we will be working towards correcting in the Super Six. This is the deepest field I have ever been a part of for an NCAA Championship and Super Six competitions."

The Crimson Tide was led by junior Ashley Miles who finished third overall in the all-around with a 39.575. Freshman Terin Humphrey also had a standout night, taking seventh with a career best 39.500.

Alabama clinched its trip to the Super Six with a 49.150 on the balance beam, led by Humphrey's 9.900 and 9.85s from seniors Shannon Hrozek and Michelle Reeser.

"In 2002 (Alabama's last NCAA title), we ended on beam at SEC Championships, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Championships first night and at the Super Six," Patterson said. "We've ended on beam a lot, and it doesn't bother us having to do that. Half of the meets in the regular season, we have to end on beam. We were relaxed after having a great performance on bars, and it made things easier on us in beam. If you go into the balance beam in a hole, it makes it much more difficult on you."

Alabama got off to a very strong start on the floor exercise, scoring a 49.425 behind Miles' 9.95 and Humphrey's 9.9. Senior Alexis Brion added in a 9.875 while Hrozek and junior Mari Bayer both scored 9.85s.

The Tide posted a 49.050 on the vault, led again by Miles who posted a 9.9. Brion chipped in a 9.85 while freshman Kaitlin White scored a 9.8. On its third rotation, Alabama came back strong on the uneven bars, posting a meet best 49.375 behind Humphrey's 9.95 and 9.9s from Miles and junior Dana Filetti.

From the earlier session, Utah, Michigan and Nebraska advanced to tomorrow night's Super Six. LSU finished a scant .075 out of third place. Penn State and Oklahoma rounded out the night.

The NCAA Super Six gets started at 7 p.m. in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.

"We will be able to have more fans come down tomorrow," Patterson said. "The excitement and atmosphere will be great, and I know our team loves performing in front of big crowds. We like having the noise around us."

For ticket information, contact the Auburn Ticket Office at (1-800-282-1957) or online at www.auburntigers.com.

PHOTO GALLERY
(Photos by Kent Gidley)

2005 NCAA Championships Day One 01
Mari Bayer