Alabama Celebrates 2026 Season with Year-End Awards
5/1/2026 12:57:00 PM | Gymnastics
The Crimson Tide handed out its annual awards during its end-of-season banquet earlier this week
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics program celebrated its season earlier this week during its end-of-season banquet.
Ryan Fuller and Paityn Walker shared the Lewis Each Courage Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an Alabama gymnast each season.
Alabama Gymnastics 2026 Team Awards
- David DeSantis/Sarah Patterson Community Service Award: Rachel Rybicki
- Given to a member of the program who has made a significant contribution to the community around them and has worked to help be the change in the world
- David Dutton Memorial Award: Brielle Liverman and Ben Smith
- Given to a member of the program who goes above and beyond for the team
- Named after David Dutton, an avid supporter of the program who went above and beyond the call of duty
- David Patterson Work Ethic Award: Jordyn Paradise
- Given to a member of the program who gives 110% to the team, always brings a positive attitude and works diligently in ways, big and small, to help the program achieve success
- Named after former program coaching legend David Patterson who, along with his wife Sarah, helped lead the team for 36 years
- Fern Hampton Academic Award: Chloe LaCoursiere, Natalia Pawlak and Rachel Rybicki
- Given to a gymnast each year who demonstrates a relentless pursuit of academic excellence
- Named after the former Assistant Director of Athletic Student Services at the University and an academic advisor for the program
- Helix Award: Azaraya Ra-Akbar
- Given to the gymnast who directly displays the program's core values in her actions with a Fierce Joy approach
- Growth | BAMA-ly | Ownership | Service
- Given to the gymnast who directly displays the program's core values in her actions with a Fierce Joy approach
- Lewis Each Courage Award: Ryan Fuller and Paityn Walker
- This award is given to the member(s) of the Alabama gymnastics program that best displays the ideals of living every moment to the fullest and doing your absolute best in the face of adversity set forth by the late Lewis Each, an Alabama sportswriter who died of complications related to cystic fibrosis in October of 1998
- His parents, Jean and Winston Each were on hand to help present the award that bears their son's name
- Gymnast of the Year: Gabby Gladieux
- This award is an annual honor presented to the top performing gymnast for the program, recognized for her outstanding performance throughout the season, high national rankings and consistent scoring
- The recipient must have competed the all-around at least once
- Specialist of the Year: Chloe LaCoursiere
- This award recognizes the top regular-season performer who competed in one, two or three events more often than not, rather than the all-around
- This award honors specialists with exceptional scores (frequently 9.900-or-higher) and high national rankings
- Freshman of the Year: Azaraya Ra-Akbar
- Given to the individual who added the most value to the team and the team's success this season
- The recipient must have competed in their first competitive collegiate season to be eligible for this award
- Most Improved Award: Love Birt
- Given to the individual who showed true ownership in their improvement this season by working on bettering themselves, and the team, to help the program achieve excellence
- Pat Huet President's Award: Mel Priess
- Given to a Medalist Club board member(s) who gave extraordinary service to the Medalist Club this season
- Named after Pat Huet, the president of the Medalist Club from 2005-06
The Crimson Tide finished the 2026 season ranked ninth nationally, making Alabama one of just two schools in NCAA gymnastics history, along with Utah, to never finish out of the top 12.
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