Alabama Gymnastics Hosts Florida Friday Night in Coleman Coliseum

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 11 Alabama gymnastics team will host the No. 2 Florida Gators at 6:30 p.m. CT Friday night in Coleman Coliseum. The meet features the two most recent SEC Champions, with both teams owning undefeated records this season.

Alabama defeated Michigan State and Arkansas to start the season, while Florida defeated Auburn and took first in a quad meet featuring West Virginia, Lindenwood and Ball State.

The meet is Alabama's Be the Change Meet, which is inspired by the statement 'Be the Change You Want to See in the World.' Friday's meet is also student appreciation night. Pizza will be handed out to the first 200 students, with the first 100 students also receiving a 'Be the Change' t-shirt.

The meet will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Head Coach Ashley Johnston Said

"I'm really excited for this week. I think there is a fire within this team, and they are ready to go after it. I think we gave too many things away at Arkansas. We gave away some sticks and gave away some of those little details that they typically have in the gym. I think they're ready to unleash and go out there and show the world what they're capable of."

Friday's Meet

The Crimson Tide and the Gators are the two most recent SEC Champions, with Alabama winning the title in 2021 and Florida taking home the win in 2022
The two teams last competed against each other at the 2022 SEC Championship, where Florida won with a 198.200 and Alabama finished second at 197.825
Alabama and Florida are two of only seven programs in NCAA gymnastics history to win an NCAA title
All three of this week's SEC Weekly Award winners will be in Coleman Coliseum on Friday: Florida's Leanne Wong (SEC Gymnast of the Week) and Kayla Dicello (SEC Specialist of the Week, along with UA's Gabby Gladieux (SEC Freshman of the Week)

Last Time Out

Alabama opened its conference slate with a 196.525-195.525 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks
The meet was Alabama's first road matchup of the season
The Crimson Tide led the contest wire-to-wire, opening up a lead after the uneven bars and maintaining it throughout
Luisa Blanco won a share of the uneven bars title with a 9.900, giving her an event title on three out of the four events through two meets on the season
Freshman Lillian Lewis made her collegiate debut on balance beam, scoring a 9.775
Alabama began the meet on the uneven bars with all five counting scores a 9.825-or-higher, led by a 9.900 from Blanco
Blanco and Jordyn Paradise posted matching totals of 9.825 to lead the Tide's vault lineup to a 49.000, followed by another 49.000 total on floor exercise
Alabama closed out the win with a 49.225 on balance beam, led by a pair of 9.875s from Gabby Gladieux and Lilly Hudson
Alabama improved on its meet one rotation total on both the uneven bars (49.300) and balance beam (49.225)

Up Next

After Friday's meet against the Gators, Alabama heads back out on the road to Lexington, Ky., to compete against the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. CT
The meet will be broadcast live on SEC Network
Following the meet against the Wildcats, the Tide will return home to compete against the Auburn Tigers in Coleman Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m. CT

For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

– UA –