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Alabama Gymnastics Takes Second at SEC Championships
3/24/2018 8:21:00 PM | Gymnastics
It marked the Crimson Tide’s 20th-consecutive top-three finish and the 29th time Alabama has finished first or second at the SEC Championships
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Seeded third coming into the day, the Alabama gymnastics team scored a 196.975 to take second in the 2018 Southeastern Conference Championships Saturday night in Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.
LSU won the title with a 197.400, followed by the Crimson Tide in second. Florida (196.825) and Kentucky (196.550) rounded out the top-four teams. It marked the Crimson Tide's 20th-consecutive top-three finish and the 29th time Alabama has finished first or second at the SEC Championships.
"I think it was great experience for us to be on podium, on this floor and now we're looking forward, if we do our job, to coming back here for nationals," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said.
For the second year in a row, the NCAA gymnastics championships will be held in Chaifetz Arena in April.
Individually, junior Ari Guerra won the floor exercise with a 9.900. Guerra and seniors Nickie Guerrero and Kiana Winston earned All-SEC honors, while Lexi Graber was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
Alabama started the night off with a season-best 49.450 on the balance beam led by twin 9.95s from Winston and Guerrero and a 9.9 by Graber.
"I was impressed with the composure that the ladies showed on the balance beam," Duckworth said. "Abby (Armbrecht) thought on her feet and after an uncharacteristic routine by Maddie Desch, Peyton Ernst came up big and then we built momentum. That kind of experience is vital in helping us build the grit that will help us as we go forward."
The Tide came away with a 49.275 on the floor exercise led by Guerra's 9.900.
"I thought floor was magical," Duckworth said. "They gave everything they had. You could tell that they were doing it for each other. I'm so happy that Ari's routine was rewarded, because it was meticulous."
Guerrero and Guerra led the way on vault, posting matching 9.9s to pace UA to a 49.300, tying its season-best mark.
"I thought that was the best vault that Abby has done, it was great to get her on podium," Duckworth said. "Ari's vault was great and Nickie closed us out like a rock."
A 48.950 on the uneven bars, led by a 9.850 from sophomore Wynter Childers, put the title out of reach for the Tide.
"It was a big step to get Wynter back out there on the uneven bars," Duckworth said. "We will go back and dissect why we performed the way we did, and find out why we competed tight and why we pulled back, because bars has been one of our strongest events this season."
Alabama returns home to host the 2018 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday, April 7 at 4 p.m. CT. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) or online at RollTide.com.
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
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