Alabama Gymnastics Opens 2020 Season Friday at Auburn

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics team opens the 2020 season and its Southeastern Conference slate at Auburn Friday night in Auburn Arena. The meet will air live on the SEC Network and will get underway at 8 p.m. CT.

While Alabama is getting its season underway, it will be the Tigers' second meet of the season after opening with a third-place finish in their session of the Collegiate Challenge with a score of 194.375.

Dana Duckworth is in the midst of her sixth season as Alabama's head coach and 25^th year with the program overall, a total that includes four years as a gymnast, nine as a volunteer coach, six as an assistant coach and now six as head coach. Auburn is led by Jeff Graba, now in his 10^th season as the Tigers' mentor.

Head Coach Dana Duckworth Says

"Everyone is ready to start competing. That is the best and only real way to test our preparation and know where we stand at this point in our team development. Competition is the opportunity for our ladies to showcase all the hard work and dedication they have put in since the summer. This is a dynamic team that our fans will love to watch, support and witness their talent."

The 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide

There are 17 gymnasts on the 2020 roster – three seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen
Alabama returns 18 of its 24 routines from its 2019 NCAA Regional Championships final
There is one individual SEC champion on this year's team – junior Lexi Graber – and one NCAA Regional champion, also Graber
The Crimson Tide also returns five gymnasts who have earned All-SEC honors during their careers - Graber, seniors Wynter Childers, Maddie Desch and Shea Mahoney as well as sophomore Shallon Olsen

Friday's Meet

The Alabama gymnastics team opens its 46th season Friday, Jan. 7 at Auburn starting at 8 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena
The meet will be broadcast live on the SEC Network and streamed via WatchESPN.com and the ESPN App with Sam Peszek, former U.S. Olympian and NCAA Champion, and Alex Perlman calling the action
Alabama last opened its season at Auburn on Jan. 8, 2010, with the Tide coming away with a 195.650-195.200 win

The Series

The Crimson Tide is 127-1 against Auburn since 1980 and 127-10 all-time against the Tigers
Alabama met Auburn three times during the 2019 season, coming out on top each time
During the 2019 regular season Alabama beat Auburn in Tuscaloosa (196.700-196.400) on March 1 and then the next week in Birmingham at Elevate the Stage (197.100-196.775) on March 9
Alabama and Auburn finished third (197.350) and sixth (196.375), respectively, at the 2019 SEC Championships

Season Openers

The Crimson Tide is 63-11-1 in season openers since 1979, a tally that takes several multi-team meets into account, including an eight-year run (2000-07) of starting things off with the Super 6 Challenge, as well as a quad meet to open the 2019 season
Friday's meet marks the fourth time in the last five years that Alabama has opened the season on the road and the fourth time during Dana Duckworth's tenure as head coach
Alabama last opened its season with an SEC opponent on Jan. 10, 2014 against Missouri in Tuscaloosa, with Alabama posting a 197.150-193.425 win
The Tide last opened its season with an SEC road contest on Jan. 11, 2013 at Missouri, with Alabama posting a 196.450-192.025 victory

Up Next

For the Crimson Tide's second meet of the season, the defending NCAA Champion Oklahoma Sooners will make their way to Tuscaloosa for UA's home opener on Friday, Jan. 17 for a 7:45 p.m. CT start
Season and individual meet tickets are on sale through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262), located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, and 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.