Alabama Gymnastics Ranked Seventh in WCGA Preseason Coaches Poll
12/9/2022 7:12:00 AM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide’s regular season slate includes eight teams in the nation’s top 15
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics team is No. 7 in the 2023 Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Preseason Poll, which was released Friday.
Alabama returns 18 of its 24 routines from last year's NCAA championship, where the Crimson Tide finished seventh.
Throughout the regular season, The Tide will face eight teams ranked in the top 15, including home matchups with No. 12 Michigan State (Jan. 6), No. 2 Florida (Jan. 20), No. 5 Auburn (Feb. 3), No. 6 LSU (Feb. 24) and No. 26 Boise State (March 10). Alabama will travel to face off against No. 15 Arkansas (Jan. 13), No. 11 Kentucky (Jan. 27), No. 20 Georgia (Feb. 17) and No. 9 Missouri (March 3). UA will also meet No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 15 Arkansas and No. 17 Stanford at the Metroplex Challenge on Feb. 11.
The 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide
- There are 18 gymnasts on the 2023 Crimson Tide roster, including six freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors, four seniors and two super-seniors
- Ashley Johnston, who competed for the Crimson Tide from 2009-2013, is in her first season as head coach
- The Crimson Tide's lineup returns four All-Americans – Luisa Blanco, Shallon Olsen, Makarri Doggette and Lilly Hudson
- Blanco returns for her fourth season as a 12-time All-American, earning six championship honors and six regular season accolades
- Blanco is the 2021 SEC Gymnast of the Year and the 2021 NCAA Balance Beam champion
- There are three individual SEC champions on this year's team: Blanco (all-around, vault, uneven bars, balance beam), Doggette (uneven bars) and Shania Adams (uneven bars)
- Justin Spring is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Tide, coming to Tuscaloosa after 12 years as the head coach of the University of Illinois men's gymnastics team, while Gina Quinlan returns for her second season as an assistant coach
Season tickets are now on sale through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262), located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, and through RollTide.com
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
