Gymnastics Faces UCLA on Senior Night
3/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The No. 4 Alabama Gymnastics team closes out its regular season home schedule Friday night against a red hot UCLA squad.
The Crimson Tide will face the No. 5 ranked team in the nation just a week after the Bruins upset No. 2 Georgia out in Los Angeles.
"They are one of the nation's elite programs," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "There are only four teams that have won NCAA Championships in gymnastics and this Friday fans will get to see two of them in Coleman Coliseum."
Alabama is on a hot streak of its own, coming off a 197.250 last weekend to beat No. 6 LSU, marking the Tide's third 197 or better score of the season. Friday night will also be senior night for Alabama as they will honor lone senior Erin Rightley.
"I'm very proud of Erin and what she has accomplished during her career," Patterson said. "She has really grown and matured both as a gymnast and a person. I don't think there is any clearer statement of what the coaching staff feels she has accomplished than the fact that we awarded her an athletic scholarship after she started her career as a walk-on."
Rightley, a native of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., is a mainstay of the Tide's floor exercise and balance beam lineups. She scored a season best 9.875 on the floor exercise last week against LSU.
In addition to a high profile opponent and the celebration of senior night, fans attending Friday's meet will also have a chance to win a 2007 Toyota Camry courtesy of Tuscaloosa Toyota. Six fans will be drawn during the meet and will join the 30 that qualified for the Tuscaloosa Toyota Super Six Challenge during the first five meets of the season. At the end of the night, one of the 36 finalists will win the Camry. For complete rules and details go to RollTide.com or www.tuscaloosatoyota.com.
Tickets for Friday's meet are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, or online at RollTide.com.
