Sophomore Ashley Priess Named SEC Gymnast of the Week
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 24, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Sophomore Ashley Priess has been named the Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week, the league office announced recently, marking the fifth time this season a UA gymnast has earned the award.
Priess led Alabama to its highest team score of the season, a 197.575, in the Crimson Tide's regular-season finale win over Michigan last Friday. She scored a 39.500 in the all-around and tied her career-best marks on the balance beam (9.95) and uneven bars (9.925) on the way to winning both events. Her 9.95 on the balance beam helped push the Tide to a season-high 49.425 on that event.
The Wheaton, Ill., native earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors a league-best five times last season. She was also a four-time All-American as well as a second team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC honoree as a rookie.
Priess is the fifth Alabama gymnast to earn conference honors this season, joining seniors Morgan Dennis (who earned the honor twice) and Ricki Lebegern as well as classmate Geralen Stack-Eaton in being named SEC Gymnast of the Week while Ashley Sledge earned SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Week to open the year, giving Alabama an SEC accolade in six of the season's 11 weeks.
With the regular season behind them, the Crimson Tide will open the postseason with the Southeastern Conference Championships this Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. The meet gets underway at 4 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on ESPN2.
Players Mentioned
