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

Top 25 UA Athletes

Top+25+UA+Athletes

#6 Kelsi Dunne, softball, senior pitcher

  • Honors: Became the second pitcher in Alabama history to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year (Stephanie VanBrakle, 2006); named to the All-SEC first-team for the third straight season; last season, was named the SEC tournament MVP
  • Key stats: Career-high 39.675 all-around score; career-highs of 9.95 on vault and balance beam
  • Great moment: Led the SEC during league play last year in wins (13), strikeouts (144) and opponent batting average (.174); struck out at least 10 batters in seven conference games this season; struck out 10 or more on 16 different occasions in all games played; entered NCAA postseason winning her last 16 consecutive starts
  • Great moment: Became the first pitcher in Alabama history to start all three games at the SEC tournament and earn three wins. She opened the tournament by allowing just two hits in five innings, while striking out eight against host Arkansas (May 13), Dunne then struck out 13 and went the distance to beat Tennessee in the semifinals (May 14). In the SEC Championship game she struck out nine and allowed five hits in a complete game win against LSU (May 15)
  • Quote from the coach: “Kelsi, last year, had her best strikeout year, she was very consistent. She pitched us to the SEC Championship and to the SEC tournament championship game. We won all three games. It was the first time in our history that we had one kid pitch all three games, and she won all three games. She has a chance to be a four time All-American.” – Head coach Patrick Murphy

#7 Kayla Hoffman, gymnastics

  • Honors: Two-time All-American; 2011 SEC Gymnast of the Year
  • Key stats: Career-high 39.675 all-around score; career-highs of 9.95 on vault and balance beam
  • Great moment: Scored a 9.95 on vault at the 2011 SEC Championships, winning the vault title and securing the Tide’s seventh SEC Championship in school history
  • Quote from the coach: “[Hoffman] has some of the most beautiful lines of anyone on our team that we’ve ever coached and she has the explosive dynamics when you talk about power on vaulting and tumbling.” – Head coach Sarah Patterson

#8 Geralen Stack-Eaton, gymnastics

  • Honors: Three-time first team All-American and one second team All-American honor; 2010 NCAA Regional all-around, vault and uneven bars champion
  • Key stats: has a career-high 39.675 all-around score; posted three scores of 9.9 or higher at the 2011 Southeastern Conference Championship
  • Great moment: won the balance beam and floor exercise titles at the 2011 SEC Championship, helping her team to the school’s seventh SEC Championship
  • Quote from the coach: “Geralen has the complete package. She has the lines, the dynamic explosiveness, she has the skill level and the competitive spirit.” – Head coach Sarah Patterson
    • #9 Taylor Dugas, baseball, center fielder

      • Honors: Named 2010 First-team All-American by Baseball America; 2010 All-SEC; 2009 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and Rivals.com
      • Key stats: Batted .395 in 2010; team leader with .525 on-base percentage in 2010; reached base in 47 consecutive games from March 14 – May 29, 2010
      • Great moment: Batted .429 in the Clemson Super Regional including a 4-for-5 day in the series opener.
      • Quote: “Taylor has been the mainstay for the last three years. I think as good of a player he is, he is such an energy guy for us on the fi eld and in the dugout. He has great leadership qualities, and is just a guy who has a lot of respect from all of his teammates and his coaches.” – Head coach Mitch Gaspard

      #10 Ashley Priess, gymnastics

      • Honors: Three-time, first-team All-American; Two-time, second-team All American; 2010 SEC All-Around and Balance Beam Champion
      • Key stats: Won 18 event titles during the 2010 season; posted highest balance bean score on both nights of the 2010 NCAA Championships (9.925 in semi-finals and 9.95 in Super Six)
      • Great moment: Won the 2010 SEC All-Around title to lead her team to a second place finish
      • Quote: “Ashley Priess is more of an artistic performer – a natural bars worker and balance beam performer.” – Head coach Sarah Patterson

      #11 Camilla Lennarth, women’s golf

      • Honors: Two-time first-team All-SEC selection, second-team All-American by Golfweek and NGCA in 2009-2010
      • Key stats: 73.67 career scoring average is the best in school history, career-low round of 68 in the 2007 Wildcat Fall Invitational, shot a bogey-free 65 in the second round at SEC Fall Preview
      • Great moment: Played for Spain, and her team won the championship at European Ladies Team Championship in Cartagena, Spain
      • Quote: “When Camilla chose to attend the University of Alabama, she changed the face of women’s golf here forever.” – Head coach Mic Potter

      #12 Mark Barron, football, safety

      • Honors: Two-time first-team All-SEC (2009, 2010), 2009 third-team All-American, 2010 second-team All-American
      • Key Stats: 169 total tackles in three years, including leading the team in tackles in 2010 with 75; 10 interceptions in three years, including seven interceptions in 2009, tied for eighth in the nation and first in the SEC
      • Great Moment: Caused havoc against Mississippi State in 2009, recording two interceptions, two pass breakups and five tackles en route to holding the Bulldogs to 99 passing yards and 213 total yards
      • Quote: “Mark has been a great player for us and productive as any player on our team, and that’s including the guys who are going out for the draft. Not only in terms of the tackles that he made, the interceptions that he’s made, but the leadership that he provided and being selected captain by his teammates as a junior I think really goes a long way.” – Head coach Nick Saban

      #13 Catalin Cosma, swimmer

      • Honors: All-American in the 1650 freestyle (2008); Honorable mention All-American in the 500 freestyle twice (2008-09)
      • Keys Stats: Three top 15 finishes at NCAA Championships over career; member of school record-setting 800 freestyle relay; ranked second all-time in the 500 freestyle at the University; ranked sixth all-time in the 1000 freestyle at the University
      • Great Moment: Posted a 4:17.64 time in the 500 freestyle at the 2008 NCAA Championships as a freshman, the second-best time in school history
      • Quote: “He’s top four in the country, which is pretty special. He’s been a consistent performer over the four years.” – Head coach Eric McIlquham

      #14 Marcell Dareus, football, defensive line

      • Honors: First-team All-SEC performer in 2011; Defensive MVP of 2010 BCS National Championship Game.
      • Keys Stats: Recorded 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2010, both second on the team.
      • Great Moment: Intercepted pass and returned it for a touchdown in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.
      • Quote: “My first reaction was grab the ball, and then after that I blanked out, and all I was thinking about is Mark Ingram and Javier (Arenas) and just doing moves I didn’t think I could do.” – Marcell Dareus on his touchdown in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game

      #15 Jamychal Green,, men’s basketball, forward

      • Honors: 3rd UA player to have 1,000+ career points; 2011 first-team All-SEC; finished ninth in the SEC in rebounding in 2010, unanimous 2009 Freshman All-SEC selection; also named a 2009 collegeinsider.com Freshman All-American
      • Key Stats: Averaged 16 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in 2011 SEC games, recorded seven double-doubles this season and has had an SEC-leading 20 on his career.
      • Great Moment: When Auburn visited Tuscaloosa in this year, the game was tied with three seconds left when Green tipped in a layup to get the win over Auburn, 51-49.
      • Quote: “I’ve been really pleased with his work ethic and what he’s done up to this point. I think he’s got a chance to be special. I think he can be as good as he wants to be.” – Head Coach Anthony Grant

      #16 Tierney Jenkins,, women’s basketball, forward

      • Honors: First-team All-SEC (2011); All-SEC Freshman team in 2007; Preseason All-SEC second team in 2010; first UA player to earn SEC Player of the Week honors in eight years.
      • Key Stats: 22nd member of 1,000 point club; leads SEC and third in NCAA with 19 double-doubles this season.
      • Great Moment: Broke a 30-year-old school record in rebounding with 27 in one game (at Belmont in 2009).
      • Quote: “Tierney Jenkins is a leader on this basketball team, plain and simple. She’s been the most consistent [player] we’ve had on this team, and we’ve completely changed our tempo this year.” – Head Coach Wendell Hudson

      #17 – Mary Anne Macfarlane, women’s tennis

      • Honors: Ranked 8th in the nation by the USTA. Won three state singles championships at the No. 1 singles position. Named the high school All-American for three years.
      • Key stats: Posted a 3-1 record at the Duke Fab Four Invitational. Went 3-2 in the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships.
      • Great moment: After falling to No. 12 ranked Denise Muresan of Michigan in the National Indoor Championships, Macfarlane came back to win the consolation draw against No. 19 Allison Ramos of USC.
      • Quote: “In everything she does, she has that championship mentality, in the line with what she wants to achive. I think her potential is unlimited. She’s the kind of player who doesn’t just have the athleticism or the talent. She has the desire, the work ethic, that X factor.” -Head coach Jenny Mainz

      #18 – Tony Mitchell, men’s basketball, forward

      • Honors: Named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team in 2010, named the team’s Most Outstanding Freshman in 2010
      • Key stats: In the 2011 season, has had nine games with 20-plus points; surpassed his career high in three different games in 2011; current career-high of 27 points
      • Great moment: When the Tide was struggling against Arkansas late in the SEC season, Mitchell stepped up and scored 27 points to seal a victory over the Razorbacks and clinch the SEC West title.
      • Quote: “The thing we’ve always said about Tony is that he has the ability to make plays. I think that’s what he’s doing, taking advantage of the opportunities that are there, getting out in transition, and I think with every game, he’s getting more and more comfortable with what he can do.” -Head coach Anthony Grant

      #19 – Barrett Jones, football, guard

      • Honors: First-team freshman All-American selection and first-team Freshman All-Southeastern Conference Selection in 2009; second-team All-SEC (2010)
      • Key Stats: Has started 25 games for the Crimson Tide, including 24 in a row
      • Great Moment: Starting all 14 games on the way to winning the 2010 BCS National Championship
      • Quote: “Barrett Jones is one of the finest people I’ve ever had the opportunity to be around… He’s an outstanding football player, smart, and helps the other players play better with his leadership.” – Head coach Nick Saban

      #20 – Bobby Wyatt, golf

      • Honors: named to the watch list for the Ben Hogan Award (best college golfer in country) as a freshman in 2008
      • Key Stats: currently ranked fifth nationally by Golfweek; ranked second nationally among freshmen; has three top five finishes in five events
      • Great moment: finished second in the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, only his third collegiate match
      • “Bobby hasn’t been here a long time, but he’s already proven that he’s not just a great junior golfer. [He] really is one of the best college golfers.” – Head coach Jay Seawell

      #21 – Jackie Traina, softball, pitcher/utility

      • Honors: Won two straight SEC Freshman of the Week honors in February
      • Key Stats: Hit 10 home runs in her first 21 career games; leads the SEC in home runs; leads the Tide in RBI with 32; second on team with .472 average; currently 8-0 with 0.94 ERA
      • Great Moment: Broke the Alabama single-game home record by belting three over the wall against Western Michigan on Feb. 26.
      • “She hates to lose. It’s her will to win and her competitive fire that makes her successful. She has a lot of raw strength, but once she gets used to the routine of building up her strength more with weights, she’ll be even better.” – Head coach Patrick Murphy

      #22 – Robert Lester, football, safety

      • Honors: Second-team All-Southeastern Conference (2010)
      • Key stats: Led the SEC in 2010 with eight interceptions; led the Tide in pass breakups (10) and passes defended (12) in 2010 and recorded 52 tackles (29 solo)
      • Great moment: In Arkansas for the Tide’s first SEC road game in 2010, Lester came up with a big fourth-quarter interception of Ryan Mallet to set up Alabama’s winning touchdown in a 24-20 victory.
      • “I’m happy to see that he’s doing good. I told him, though, that he can’t just take my prime. I’m not going to let it be that easy.” – Teammate Mark Barron after the 2010 Arkansas game.

      #23 – Courtney Upshaw, football, linebacker

      • Honors: Won the Capital One Bowl MVP Award; Won SEC Defensive Player of the Week against Florida (2010)
      • Key Stats: 52 tackles in 2010; led the team in tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (7) and forced fumbles (4)
      • Great Moment: Recovered a fumble inside the 5-yard line in the 2009 BCS National Championship game that sealed the victory for the Tide
      • “Courtney has become a much smarter player. He’s a guy that didn’t play standing up in high school and has become a better pass defender, makes a lot less mental errors and he’s an effective pass rusher for us. He’s going to be one of the leaders of our team next year in terms of what we can do defensively.” – Nick Saban

      #24 – Justine Bernier, soccer, goalkeeper

      • Honors: First-team NSCAA/Performance Subaru All-South Region; SEC first-team; SEC Defensive player of Week
      • Key stats: First Alabama All-Region selection since 1998; three straight conference honors; played for Team Canada at the U-20 World Cup in Chile and won the CONCACAF Championship.
      • Great moment: Broke Alabama all-time shutout and saves record and holds Alabama single-season record for saves.
      • “Justine has earned the respect of her peers and opposing coaches during her entire career at Alabama. We are fortunate to have her another year. While she is truly a difference maker in our program, it is her humble approach and strong work ethic that will ensure she will continue to develop even further while she is at Alabama.” – head coach Todd

      #25 – Dont’a Hightower, football, linebacker

      • Honors: 2008 FWAA Freshman All-American; 2010 second-team All-SEC selection
      • Key Stats: 149 total tackles in just more than two years of playing time
      • Great Moment: Recorded a career-high 11 tackles against LSU in 2008, more than any player on either team
      • “He’s really made a lot of progress throughout the course of [2010]. His confidence, his mobility—all those things probably improved as the season went on. He was one of our most productive players.” – Nick Saban
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