Alabama
Auburn
No. 7 Alabama Gymnastics Scores Second 198 in a Row to Win Elevate the Stage
3/6/2022 4:41:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide downed Auburn, Arkansas and Georgia to remain undefeated in Elevate the Stage competitions
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The No. 7-ranked Alabama gymnastics team rocked its second-consecutive 198 score to remain undefeated in Elevate the Stage meets, scoring a 198.000 to beat Auburn (197.750), Arkansas (196.800) and Georgia (196.200) Sunday afternoon at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The Crimson Tide has now won six-consecutive Elevate the Stage meets, dating back to the inaugural competition in 2015.
Luisa Blanco won the vault (9.950) while Lexi Graber and Lilly Hudson (9.950) tied for top honors on the floor exercise. Hudson was second in the all-around with a 39.500, while Mati Waligora and Cameron Machado (9.950) were second on the uneven bars.
The Tide started strong with a 49.625 on the uneven bars, which included Waligora and Machado going 9.950, Blanco scoring a 9.925 and matching 9.900s from Makarri Doggette and Emily Gaskins.
A 9.900 from Ella Burgess in the leadoff spot paced Alabama to a 49.325 on the balance beam, while a pair of 9.950s from Graber and Hudson and a 9.925 from Machado drove the Tide to a 49.550 on the floor exercise.
Blanco threw down a career-best tying 9.950 while Shallon Olsen and Waligora both scored 9.900s to push Alabama to a 49.500 on the vault and clinch both the win and the 198.000.
Head Coach Dana Duckworth Said
"I'm really proud of the consistency our team showed this weekend. To score a 198 on Friday and then come back and do it again this afternoon, less than 48 hours later, will help our ladies feel confident and prepared as we head into the championship season. We adjusted quickly to the podium surface and showed a lot of resilience and tenacity today. We had some changes to the lineup as we went along and they didn't waver. I'm really proud of the way they handled the adversity and came out with a strong showing and a great win. We are certainly thankful to Knight/Eady and the Huntsville Sports Commission for creating such an awesome environment for all the teams to compete in today."
Inside the Score Sheet
- With a 198.075 on Friday and a 198.000 on Sunday, the Crimson Tide scored a pair of 198s in the same season for the first time since 1996
- This weekend's scores also marks the first time in program history that Alabama has scored a pair of 198s during the regular season
- The Tide scored a 49.625 at Elevate the Stage and a 49.650 on Friday against Arkansas on the uneven bars, giving this year's squad two of the top-six marks in program history
- Luisa Blanco scored a season-best 9.950 to win the vault
- Ella Burgess matched her career best of 9.900 for the fourth meet in a row to lead off Alabama's balance beam lineup
- Emily Gaskins tied her season-best score of 9.900 on the uneven bars
- Lilly Hudson tied her career-best score of 9.950 to share the floor exercise title with Lexi Graber
- Cameron Machado scored a career-best 9.950 on the uneven bars and tied her career-best of 9.925 on the floor exercise
- Mati Waligoara scored a career-best 9.950 on the uneven bars and tied her career best of 9.900 on the vault
Up Next
- With the regular season in the books, Alabama has next weekend off from competition before heading to Birmingham, Ala., for the Southeastern Conference Championships, Saturday, March 19
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
