A Conference-Best Six Alabama Gymnasts Earn All-SEC Honors
3/28/2019 11:45:00 AM | Gymnastics
More than half of Alabama’s conference championship lineup earned All-Southeastern Conference honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics team continues to reap the rewards of a strong showing at the recent Southeastern Conference Championships, with six Crimson Tide gymnasts earning All-SEC honors the league office announced Thursday.
"I'm proud of the way our ladies performed, worked together and fought," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "They made a statement at the SEC Championships and can continue to build off that momentum moving forward. To have more than half our lineup earn All-SEC honors says volumes about the focus, determination and poise our ladies showed on the biggest stage of the season to this point."
The Tide tallied the most All-SEC honors in the conference this season with a contingent that includes seniors Ariana Guerra and Abby Armbrecht, juniors Shea Mahoney and Maddie Desch, sophomore Lexi Graber and freshman Shallon Olsen.
It was the second All-SEC honor for Guerra and Desch. Graber, who won the balance beam and was second overall in the all-around with career-best scores of 9.950 and 39.650, respectively, earned a place on the SEC All-Freshman team last season.
In addition to earning All-SEC accolades, Olsen was also named to the SEC All-Freshman team, after finishing as the top rookie and second overall on the balance beam in the championships' first session, posting a 9.925.
"The performances that led to these honors increases confidence and trust as we travel to regionals next week," Duckworth said. "I think they have proven to themselves when they focus on actions, not results, success becomes a by-product of doing the right thing in the moment."
A total of 10 UA gymnasts competed at the SEC Championships, meaning 60 percent of the Tide's lineup earned All-SEC recognition this year. It was the Crimson Tide's highest total of All-SEC performers since the two-session format came into being in 2013 and the most overall since 2011.
Alabama used its best total of the season, a 197.350, to lead the first-session scoring by nearly a point, taking third place overall. The Tide's team placing extended its streak of top-three finishes to 21-consecutive years and maintained its status as the only school in SEC history to never finish outside the top four at the conference championships.
The Crimson Tide continues postseason competition April 5-6 at the Ann Arbor Regional in the first rounds of the NCAA Championships.
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.
Players Mentioned
