Previewing the 2019 Alabama Gymnastics Season: #EarnIt
1/1/2019 7:40:00 AM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide gets the 2019 season started at home on Friday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Given the opportunity to come up with the focus for this year's team, Alabama gymnastics seniors Abby Armbrecht, Angelina Giancroce and Ariana Guerra didn't hesitate.
#EarnIt
"It's really fun to watch the three seniors," head coach Dana Duckworth said. "As coaches, to see the maturity we have witnessed from their freshman year to senior season is extraordinary and I am proud of the example they set in and out of the gym. The team has done everything we've asked them to do, from changes we've made in our conditioning, our pre-workout warm-up, our post-shaping and cardio routine... everything we're doing is to build the engine to battle week after week and into post-season.
"Unity, camaraderie and togetherness are some of the most important things you have on a successful team and when you have connection in all facets … we are confident great things happen."
Alabama is coming off a 2018 season that saw the Tide finish second at the SEC Championships before earning its NCAA-best 32nd regional title, its 36th-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships and its 34th top-eight national finish.
Earning it will have a new look this year. For the first time since 1999, there have been significant changes to the way teams advance to the NCAA Championships. The number of teams that advance to regionals, 36, remains the same, but starting this season, the regional competition goes from six regional sites featuring a single six-team session, with the top-two teams advancing to the NCAA Championships, to a four-regional, three-day affair that includes four sessions.
The first day includes the two lowest-seeded teams in a dual meet format competing for the final spot in the next day's semifinal round. On day two, there are two four-team sessions, with the top-two teams from each advancing to the regional finals. On the final day of regional competition, the top-two squads from the four-team final advance to the NCAA Championships Semifinals, which will be held in Fort Worth, Texas, this year.
The regional round is not the only one to see a major overhaul. For the first time since 1987, there will not be six-team sessions at the national championships and for the first time since 1992, there will be no Super Six Team Final. Alabama closed out the 27-year Super Six era with an NCAA-best 24 appearances. The NCAA Championships will now include two four-team semifinal sessions followed by four teams on the floor the final night of the season competing for the national title.
All those changes led Duckworth to schedule a version of the championship format for the Crimson Tide's first two home meets, hosting Southeast Missouri State, Northern Illinois and Temple on Jan. 4 and Michigan, Denver and Bowling Green the following week.
"Our home schedule is outstanding," Duckworth said. "I think our fans are going to have the time of their lives. If fans can't get to the championship at the end of the season, they can see what that format looks like."
The Tide will be replacing Nickie Guerrero and Kiana Winston from its 2018 postseason lineup but replacing the routines will start with the three seniors, Duckworth said.
"Ari performed on three events last year," she said. "Abby had a breakout year last year, but what's amazing is she has continued to improve every single week (in preseason workouts). If it goes well, she'll have new skills on three of four events, so it's like you've added another person. And Angelina is working a new bar routine that is outstanding. She's training four events right now as a senior."
In addition to the seniors, there are a number of routines coming from the Tide's sophomore and junior classes. The Tide's juniors include Wynter Childers, Maddie Desch and Shea Mahoney, while the sophomore class includes Kylie Dickson, Lexi Graber, Bailie Key and Alonza Klopfer along with Ball State transfer Tia Kiaku.
Childers and Desch have earned All-SEC honors already during their Alabama careers while Mahoney posted a career-best 9.975 on the uneven bars last season. All four have the potential to be in the all-around this season. Graber led the Tide's sophomores last season, winning the vault at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional and she was the only freshman in the country to win a regional all-around title in 2018. All of the Tide's returning sophomores competed in the lineup in at least one event last season and are looking for more this season.
In addition to Kiaku, the Tide has six additional newcomers – Asia DeWalt, Emily Gaskins, Jensie Givens, Griffin James, Sania Mitchell and Shallon Olsen. A Canadian Olympian, Olsen got her Tide career off to a strong start after earning a silver medal and finishing runner-up to Simone Biles on the vault at the 2018 World Championships in the fall.
"From last year, we graduated seven routines from Nickie and Kiana but we've gained at least 12-14 heading into the season from our freshman and returners," Duckworth said. "We're going to have a great deal of options. We have a lot of firepower on this team. We just have to channel it the right way."
With so many options, Duckworth said she has been pleased with the team's work in preseason practice and feels she has depth for every event.
"If everyone does what they're capable of … there may not be a weak link in our lineup."
New era, new championship format, but the same familiar goal.
"The goal is to be competing on the podium the final night of the national championships with the opportunity to win it all," Duckworth said.
