Alabama
Florida
Alabama Gymnastics Opens SEC Competition Against Florida Sunday on ABC
1/15/2022 4:04:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide will face the Gators at 2 p.m. CT in the first regular-season gymnastics meet to air on a broadcast network
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11-ranked Alabama gymnastics team will open its Southeastern Conference slate Sunday at 2 p.m. CT in Gainesville against the Florida Gators. The meet will be the first regular-season collegiate gymnastics meet to air on a broadcast network, with ABC carrying the meet and Bart Conner, Kathy Johnson Clarke and Samantha Peszek calling the action.
The two teams both won SEC Championships last season, with Florida winning the regular-season title and the Crimson Tide winning the SEC Championship meet.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"It is a huge statement for our sport that 'Friday Night Heights' and what the SEC Network and ESPN have created has been recognized by a network like ABC. I think it keeps the sport relevant, it continues to allow our sport to grow and gain more recognition and give more women the opportunity to shine under the bright lights."
Sunday's Meet
- The No. 11 Alabama gymnastics team travels to Gainesville, Fla., for its second meet, second road meet and second Sunday meet of the season on Jan. 16 at No. 2 Florida
- The meet will be broadcast on ABC, becoming the first regular-season collegiate gymnastics meet to air on a broadcast network
- Alabama and Florida met twice last season, with the Gators winning the regular-season meeting in Tuscaloosa, while Alabama won the 2021 SEC Championship while the Gators finished third
- The Gators won the 2021 regular-season SEC title, while the Crimson Tide won the SEC Championship meet
- Both Alabama, with six, and Florida, with three, have won NCAA team titles
- The Crimson Tide's NCAA Championships came in 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011 and 2012, while the Gators won titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015
- The two programs have combined for 23 Southeastern Conference team titles, with Alabama winning in 1988, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2021 and Florida taking home titles in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019* and 2021* (* regular season titles)
Last Time Out
- Alabama opened the 2022 season with a 195.875-197.400 loss at Oklahoma
- Mati Waligora made her Crimson Tide debut in the all-around with a team-best 39.175
- Waligora also made her collegiate debut in the floor exercise, going 9.825
- With Waligora's all-around appearance, Alabama now has six of 16 gymnasts who have gone in the all-around at least once in their Alabama careers, including Shania Adams and Emily Gaskins who also went in the all-around against the Sooners
- Waligora posted a 9.925 on the balance beam, tying her career high
- Ella Burgess returned to the UA lineup for the first time since 2020 after sitting out 2021 following a season-ending injury prior to the 2021 campaign
- Burgess scored a 9.850 on the balance beam against the Sooners, tying her career-best mark
- Rookie Jordyn Paradise made her Crimson Tide debut at Oklahoma, scoring a 9.775 on the vault
- Makarri Doggette went in the vault lineup for just the second time in her UA career and first time since 2020 vs. the Sooners, going 9.850
- A total of nine gymnasts went in the Tide's competitive lineup at Oklahoma
Up Next
- After opening 2022 with back-to-back road meets, Alabama hosts its first meet of the season in Coleman Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 21 against the Kentucky Wildcats
- During a SEC only regular season in 2021 due to Covid-19, Kentucky was the only team Alabama met twice during the season, opening at home against the Wildcats before traveling to Lexington later in the season
- The in-conference rivalry will be broadcast live on the SEC Network
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
