Alabama Gymnastics Wins at Penn State
1/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Alabama Gymnastics Wins at Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA ?? Alabama Gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson predicted that her team would make rapid improvement after last week's season opener and the Crimson Tide proved her right here tonight.
"Things didn't go perfectly for us tonight," Patterson said. "But I think what we learned from tonight will be invaluable for us down the road and will serve to make us a better team. We had great team work, we had enthusiasm and we saw great leadership from a few of our veterans. We also saw the determination and enthusiasm from our freshmen that are going to help us contend in the future."
Alabama scored a 196.15, nearly two points better than last week's Super 6 Challenge score, beating Penn State, 194.875 and Arizona, 194.35. Patterson and company go to 7-0 on the season heading into next week's home opener.
"After opening the season with two straight road meets, our ladies are ready to get home and compete in front of the nation's best fans," Patterson said. "And we're especially excited to open the season with "Drive 4 the Cure" against No. 1 ranked Florida. I hope everyone is ready to ??think pink and wear pink'."
Freshmen Cassie Martin and Brittany Magee won the first events of their young careers. Martin took top honors on the balance beam with a 9.900 while Magee won the floor exercise with the same mark. Senior Ashley Miles won the vault scoring a 9.925 while sophomore Terin Humphrey won the uneven bars with a 9.900, giving Alabama a sweep of the apparatus.
"I am extremely excited for Cassie and Brittany and I thought Kaitlin White had the best performance of her entire career here tonight," Patterson said. "Ashley O'Neal went from one event in the first meet to three events tonight and although I know she was nervous, she handled that nervousness and competed like a champion. I hope this evening continues to inspire her and the rest of our freshmen."
Alabama again leaned on its freshmen with 14 of 24 routines coming from the rookies. Magee, Martin and Ashley O'Neal all went three routines while classmate Melanie Banville went in the all-around.
Alabama started the night with a 49.125 on the floor exercise. Rookie Ashley O'Neal made her floor debut, leading the Tide off with a 9.9775, followed by a matching score from Martin. Magee followed a fall by Humphrey with a meet-best 9.900. Freshman Melanie Banville added a 9.825 from the fifth spot followed by a 9.85 from Miles in the anchor.
On the vault, Miles led the way for the Tide scoring a 9.925, pacing Alabama to a 49.200. O'Neal scored a 9.85 while Magee scored a 9.825. Banville and sophomore Kaitlin White both chipped in 9.8s. Penn State and Arizona scored matching 48.975s on the vault.
The uneven bars saw Alabama scoring a 49.175, led by Humphrey's 9.9. White led Alabama off with a career high 9.85, a score matched by Banville. Freshman Courtney Priess scored a 9.8 while senior Dana Filetti scored a 9.775. Arizona scored a 49.300 on the bars while Penn State put together a 48.700.
Alabama closed the meet out on the balance beam, scoring a 48.65 led by Martin's 9.9. Magee scored a 9.775 while O'Neal posted a 9.75. Penn State scored a 48.225 on the beam while Arizona tallied a 47.350.
Alabama takes on Florida in its home opener next Friday (Jan. 20). The meet is also the Tide's "Drive 4 the Cure" meet when both teams put aside their school colors and wear pink leotards to raise awareness and money for the fight against breast cancer. For more on the Tide's "Power of Pink" initiative, go to www.rolltide.com/pink/ on the web. Fans in the Tuscaloosa area can get their "Drive 4 the Cure" t-shirts and breast cancer awareness bracelets right now at the Tuscaloosa Toyota dealership making it easier than ever to "Think Pink, Wear Pink" in preparation for Jan. 20.
Tickets are available at the Alabama Ticket Office located in Coleman Coliseum (205.348.2262) and online at www.rolltide.com.
