Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White


Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Alabama gymnastics team earns 106th consecutive victory over Auburn

It’s the streak that won’t die.

For more than three decades, Alabama has owned Auburn in gymnastics and the Crimson Tide continued it’s domination of the in-state rival Tigers with a 197.65 to 196.575 victory on Friday in front of a sellout crowd in Coleman Coliseum.

The Tide posted its highest score of the season and had season-highs in three events to earn its 106th consecutive victory over the Tigers.

“I’m just so proud of the ladies because this is the meet we were looking for,” head coach Sarah Patterson said. “We weren’t perfect, but they stepped it up on all levels. We have done this in practice and tonight it showed that this team can be one of the best in the country.”

While the team’s mentality is built around not focusing on the opponent, Patterson admitted that the rivalry raised the stacks.

“It was Auburn,” Patterson said. “I think that was huge. They know all about the rivalry.”

Alabama (4-2, 4-2 SEC) exploded out of the gate with a season-best 49.475 on the vault, led by 9.925s from Marissa Gutierrez and Diandra Milliner.

Alabama posted a 49.25 on the uneven bars paced by Ashley Sledge’s leadoff 9.9, while the Tigers (2-7, 2-4 SEC) struggled on the floor with a score of 48.95.

The Tide didn’t let up on the balance beam, posting a season-high 49.425 behind 9.9s from Kayla Williams, Sarah DeMeo and Kim Jacob. It was the fourth highest beam score in the country this season.

(See also “Grant faces life-long friend when Gamecocks visit Tuscaloosa”)

Alabama finished strong with a season-best 49.5 on the floor exercise led by 9.9s from Sledge, Milliner and Jacob.

Alabama took a step toward building the momentum Patterson feels the team needs in order to compete for a national championship. It was the Tide’s best meet of the season to date which followed of a tough week of practice with multiple gymnasts limited due to sickness.

“We’ve been working this whole season to figure out how to build that momentum,” Jacob said. “We struggled in past meets, we’d get stuck and then try to build. But from the beginning, we built the momentum, and it showed all the hard work had paid off.”

Alabama – 197.65

Auburn – 196.575

Vault

Kaitlyn Clark- 9.825

Ashley Sledge- 9.9

Kayla Williams- 9.85

Lauren Beers- 9.875

Marissa Gutierrez- 9.925

Diandra Milliner- 9.925

Total- 49.475 (season high)

Auburn on Uneven Bars- 49.0

Uneven Bars

Ashley Sledge- 9.9

Becca Alexin- 9.825

Kim Jacob- 9.775

Kaitlyn Clark- 9.8

Sarah DeMeo- 9.875

Ashley Priess- 9.85

Total- 49.25

Auburn on Vault- 49.2

Balance Beam

Diandra Milliner- 9.825

Kaitlyn Clark- 9.85

Kayla Williams- 9.9

Sarah DeMeo- 9.9

Ashley Priess- 9.875

Kim Jacob- 9.9

Total- 49.425 (season high)

Auburn on Floor Exercise- 48.95

Floor Exercise

Ashley Priess- 9.875

Ashley Sledge- 9.9

Lora Leigh Frost- 9.825

Marissa Gutierrez- 9.925

Diandra Milliner- 9.9

Kim Jacob- 9.9

Total- 49.5 (season high)

Auburn on Balance Beam- 49.425

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