Penney Hauschild Buxton Honored as SEC Great
3/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
The first Southeastern Conference gymnast to win an NCAA title, Alabama's Penney Hauschild Buxton won four before her career was over, including two national All-Around championships (1985 and 1986). Buxton, who still owns more individual NCAA titles than any Alabama athlete, male or female, was recently honored as an "SEC Great" at the league's women's basketball championship in Fayetteville, Ark.
A two-time Broderick Award winner as the best collegiate gymnast in the country, she also represented the United States twice in the World University Games. A 10-time All-American, she was the NCAA champion on both the Uneven Bars (1985) and the Floor Exercise (1986). She was also named SEC Athlete of the Year in 1985.
In addition to Buxton, the 2006 SEC Great class included: Bettye Fiscus Dickey (Basketball), Arkansas; Carolyn Jones (Basketball), Auburn; Paula Welch (Basketball), Florida; Teresa Edwards (Basketball), Georgia; Patty Jo Hedges Ward (Basketball), Kentucky; Sue Gunter (Basketball), LSU; Jennifer Gillom (Basketball), Ole Miss; Polly Branch Pund (Basketball), Mississippi State; Kristy McPherson (Golf), South Carolina; Kara Lawson (Basketball), Tennessee; Jackie Cowan Ransom (Basketball), Vanderbilt.
Each Great was introduced during half-time of their teams first game of the tournament, all 12 individuals were also introduced as a group between games of the second session on Friday, March 3. The Greats then participated in an autograph session at the Dr Pepper SEC Fan Fare.
