Alabama Gymnastics Celebrates 2017 Season with Annual Medalist Club Awards Banquet
4/23/2017 8:37:00 PM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics team celebrated a 2017 season that saw the Crimson Tide finish sixth in the nation and earn its NCAA-best 23rd appearance in the Super Six Team Finals.
The event, hosted by the program's booster organization, The Medalist Club, was held on the floor of Coleman Coliseum Sunday night with more than 300 in attendance. During the festivities, the Medalist Club presented a check for over $35,000 to create the Medalist Club Endowed Gymnastics Scholarship in Honor of Lucy Smith. Smith is one of the founders of the Medalist Club and served as the organization's inaugural president.
The 2017 season saw the Tide earned its 35th national championship berth and make its NCAA-best 10th consecutive Super Six appearance. Seniors Mackenzie Valentin and Aja Sims along with junior Nickie Guerrero were named the Tide's 2017 team captains.
Junior Kiana Winston was honored with the Lewis Each Courage Award, which is recognized as the most prestigious honor bestowed by the program. Winston accepted the award from Jean and Winston Each, parents of the honor's namesake, the late Lewis Each.
Other awards handed out Sunday included:
- David DeSantis Community Service Award: Nickie Guerrero
- Dana Dobransky Commitment to Excellence Award: Mackenzie Valentin
- David Dutton Memorial Award: Amanda Jetter
- David Patterson Work Ethic Award: Aja Sims and Blake Sellers
- Fern Hampton Academic Award: Keely McNeer
The Tide's 2017 NCAA uneven bars champion, Katie Bailey, was also honored during the banquet, along with fellow 2017 All-Americans Winston, Sims and McNeer.
The Medalist Club Pat Huet President's Award went to incoming president Joe Boetler. Boetler and outdoing president Jim Davis spoke of the Medalist Club's commitment to supporting and furthering the gymnastics program's legacy of champion and tradition of excellence.
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