The Crimson Tide finished third at last week’s NCAA Championships, giving head coach Sarah Patterson and her squad their fifth consecutive top-3 finish and an NCAA-best 22nd overall finish in the top-3

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics team celebrated the 2013 season Saturday night with its annual awards banquet hosted by The Medalist Club, the program’s booster organization.

The Crimson Tide finished third at last week’s NCAA Championships, giving head coach Sarah Patterson and her squad their fifth consecutive top-3 finish and an NCAA-best 22nd overall finish in the top-3. Alabama also won its NCAA-best 28th regional championship in addition to earning a host of individual honors.

Seniors Ashley Priess and Ashley Sledge and junior Kim Jacob were voted the Tide's permanent captains by their teammates

“Our expectations are high, and we embrace them,” Patterson said during the banquet. “My message to our ladies is throughout your lives, set your goals high. You won’t always achieve them, but you’ll get a lot more out of life than if you never strive for great things.”

The banquet was held at “The Zone” located in North End Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium with more than 250 in attendance, including UA President Dr. Judy Bonner.

“These extraordinary young ladies have achieved success at the very highest level as athletes, as scholars and in life,” Bonner said. “I am enormously proud of them.”

Junior Lindsey Fowler was honored with the Lewis Each Courage Award, which Patterson calls the most prestigious honor bestowed by the team. Fowler accepted the award from Jean and Winston Each, the parents of the honor’s namesake, the late Lewis Each.

Robin Kelley, in her 11th year as the Tide’s administrative assistant and travel coordinator, was honored with the David Dutton Memorial Award, given to those who consistently go above and beyond in the service of the Alabama Gymnastics program.

The President’s Award went to Medalist Club board member Terry Grosse. Both outgoing Medalist Club President Dolores Burroughs and incoming president Pat Huet spoke of the Tide’s season of excellence and excitement for the future.

Seniors Ashley Priess and Ashley Sledge and junior Kim Jacob were voted the Tide’s permanent captains by their teammates. Priess earned a pair of All-American honors, bumping her career total to double digits with 10. She also won the NCAA Regional all-around and uneven bars titles and was the president of the Alabama Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Sledge, a two-time All-American who also served on the SAAC executive board, won the 2013 NCAA Regional uneven bars title.

In addition to being voted team captain, Jacob earned the NCAA Elite 89 Award, given annually to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average at each of the NCAA’s 89 championships. In the four-year history of the award, Alabama is the only gymnastics program to win it.

A three-time All-American in 2013, Jacob has now earned seven honors for her career and was the 2013 NCAA Regional balance beam and uneven bars champion. A member of the 2013 SEC Community Service Team and winner of the Tide’s David DeSantis Community Service Award, she also earned the SEC Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row.

Junior Diandra Milliner won the NCAA Vault Championship, boosting Alabama’s individual national championship total to 24, and earned a trio of All-American honors, giving her six for her career. She also took second at the NCAA Championships in the floor exercise after winning that event at the Southeastern Conference and NCAA Regional championships, earning All-SEC honors along the way.

The Tide’s four other 2013 All-Americans were also recognized. Junior Sarah DeMeo, sophomores Kayla Williams and Kaitlyn Clark as well as freshman Lauren Beers. Williams and Clark were also honored for winning the NCAA Regional vault and uneven bars titles, respectively.

LOS ANGELES - A year after taking second place, Alabama gymnast Diandra Milliner won the NCAA Vault Championship Sunday afternoon in Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus.

Milliner shared the title with LSU’s Rheagan Courville after both women scored 9.925s in front of a six-judge panel. It was Alabama’s 24th individual NCAA title and 10th over the past decade. Milliner is the second UA gymnast to win an NCAA vault title, joining Ashley Miles who won vault in 2003, 2004 and 2006.

Milliner was also second on the floor exercise with a 9.925, just .0125 out of first. Her floor finish marked the third year in a row that an Alabama gymnast has finished first or second on the floor.

In individual finals there are six judges on each event. On the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise the score is determined by taking out the high and low scores and averaging the remaining four. On the vault all six scores are averaged.

Sophomore Kayla Williams was fifth on the balance beam with a 9.85 while junior Kim Jacob was 10th on the floor exercise with a 9.8. Sophomore Kaitlyn Clark and freshman Lauren Beers both scored 9.875s on the vault to take 11th place out of 24 vaulters.

All the individual event finalists earned first team All-American honors in the events they competed on. Overall, seven UA gymnasts earned 12 All-American honors in 2013, giving the Tide 64 athletes with 289 honors all-time.

Jacob and Milliner led the way with three All-American honors apiece. It bumped Jacob’s career total to seven and Milliner’s to six. Jacob was first-team on the floor exercise and second team in the all-around and on balance beam while Milliner was first team on the vault and floor and second team on the balance beam.

Williams earned first team honors on the balance beam and is now a two-time All-American for her career. Clark and Beers both earned first-team honors on the vault for the first honors of their careers.

Fifth-year senior Ashley Priess earned second team honors in the all-around and on the uneven bars, giving her 10 All-American accolades for her career. Junior Sarah DeMeo earned second team honors on the beam to make her a three-time All-American.

LOS ANGELES - For the third year in a row, the NCAA Gymnastics Championships came down to the last rotation with Alabama locked in a tight battle for the title. After winning the NCAA Championship in 2011 and 2012, the Crimson Tide came up just short in its bid to three-peat Saturday night in Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus, scoring a 197.350 to take third behind the Gators (197.575) and the Sooners (197.375).

“I give credit to the Florida Gators,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “I have had them at the top since the preseason poll and they’ve been the best all season. We gave them a run for their money at the SEC Championships, coming up just short and we gave them a run again tonight, coming up shot on the balance beam.”

UCLA finished fourth with a 197.100, while LSU (197.050) and Georgia (196.675) rounded out the Super Six.

“Our goal every year is to be on the floor of the national championships on the last night, with a chance to win,” Patterson said. “Tonight we had that, and even when we had some adversity, our ladies never stopped fighting and I’m very proud of that.”

In its 31 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, Alabama has finished in the top four 29 times, including six national titles, seven runner-up finishes and now nine third place finishes.

“I wouldn’t trade this group for anything,” Patterson said. “They have worked so hard all season long to be at this point and I told them that no matter if they’re first, second, third, because of their work ethic and spirit, they are champions.”

After starting strong with a pair of 9.875s from junior Diandra Milliner and sophomore Kaitlyn Clark on the balance beam, the Tide’s next two gymnasts stumbled, effectively taking the Tide out of the hunt. Despite that fact, Alabama finished the rotation strong with junior Kim Jacob and fifth-year senior Ashley Priess posting back-to-back 9.925s. Alabama’s 49.225 tied for the second highest balance beam total of the night.

Alabama started the night strong with a 49.5 on the floor exercise led by Jacob’s 9.95 and Milliner’s 9.925 as well as a trio of 9.875s from sophomore Lora Leigh Frost, freshman Lauren Beers and juniorSarah DeMeo.

On the vault, senior Ashley Sledge’s 9.9 and Beers’ 9.875 paced the Tide to a 49.250, the second highest team total of the night. On the uneven bars, Jacob, Clark and DeMeo all put up 9.9s to lead Alabama to a 49.375, which tied the Tide for the second highest team mark of the night.

“It was two nights of pressure packed competition,” Patterson said. “It was like going through the Super Six two nights in a row.”

Alabama will have several gymnasts competing in Sunday’s individual event finals, starting at 1 p.m. PDT in the New Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus. Milliner, Clark and Beers will compete on the vault, sophomore Kayla Williams will compete on the balance beam and Milliner and Jacob will compete on the floor exercise.

Alabama scored a 197.350 to win the session and advanced to the finals for the 19th time since the Super Six format was instituted in 1993, the most in gymnastics history

Complete Results |  Photo Gallery 

LOS ANGELES – The Alabama gymnastics team won the second session of the NCAA Championship Semifinals in Pauley Pavilion Friday, advancing to the Super Six Team Finals, giving the Crimson Tide a chance to win its third national title in a row and seventh overall.

Alabama Complete Results Photo Gallery scored a 49.275 on the balance beam in the NCAA Championships Semifinals

“Tonight was almost like being in the Super Six,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “It’s gotten so competitive just to move on.”

Alabama scored a 197.350 to win the session and advance to the finals for the 19th time since the Super Six format was instituted in 1993, more than any other team in collegiate gymnastics history.

“For the University of Alabama the goal is always to be on the floor the last night of the season with an opportunity to win the national championship,” Patterson said. “So for us to be moving forward … we are ecstatic.”

The Tide was led by junior Kim Jacob’s 39.425 and senior Ashley Priess’ 49.325 in the all-around.

Oklahoma and host-school UCLA tied for second in the second semifinal session with 197.2s, and will join the Tide in the Super Six along with the Southeastern Conference trio of Florida, LSU and Georgia from the first semifinal session.

The Tide scored a 49.45 on the floor exercise led by Jacob’s 9.925 and junior Diandra Milliner’s 9.95 before closing out the night with a 49.35 on the vault, led by a trio of 9.9s from sophomore Kaitlyn Clark, freshman Lauren Beers and Milliner. Milliner’s floor score was highest of either semifinal session on that event.

Alabama started the night off with a 49.275 on the uneven bars led by junior Sarah DeMeo’s 9.875 and Priess’ 9.9. The Tide followed that up with another 49.275, with junior Kayla Williams setting the pace with a 9.9 and Milliner, DeMeo and Jacob all scoring 9.85s.

The NCAA Super Six Team Finals get underway Saturday at 4 p.m. PDT in the New Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus.

The two-time defending champions will compete in the second semifinal session on Friday

Practice Day | See Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – After traveling to Los Angeles, site of the 2013 NCAA Gymnastics Championships on Tuesday, and using Wednesday as a recovery day, the Alabama Gymnastics team hit the floor of the New Pauley Pavilion Thursday for its final practice prior to Friday’s semifinals.

Junior All-American Sarah DeMeo soars on the uneven bars during Thursday's practice day

“Today was all about adjusting to the equipment and getting moving again and we did that,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “We’re ready for tomorrow and the next step in this journey.”

Alabama, the two-time defending NCAA Champions, is in the second semifinal session on Friday and will be competing against Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah, Michigan and Arkansas. The top three teams from each of Friday’s sessions will advance to Saturday’s Super Six Team Final. The Crimson Tide has advanced to the Super Six 18 times since the format came into play in 1993.

The Tide will get the semifinals started on the uneven bars after a first-rotation bye before moving to the balance beam. From there, Alabama will go to its second bye before finishing up on the floor exercise and vault.

Alabama is competing at the NCAA Championships for the 31st year in a row. Alabama and Utah are the only two teams with active streaks longer than 13 years. Alabama has collected six national championships, 13 top-two finishes and 28 in the top 6.

After traveling to Los Angeles on Tuesday, the Tide adjusted to the time change, saw some of the sites, utilized the Tide’s road training room and went through team meetings on Wednesday. After Thursday’s practice session, the Tide will attend the NCAA Championship banquet at Sony Studios.

Alabama’s semifinal session gets underway Friday at 6 p.m. PDT.

All-American Kim Jacob Earns NCAA Elite 89 Award

LOS ANGELES – The two-time defending NCAA Champion Alabama Gymnastics team extended its streak of NCAA Elite 89 Award winners to a perfect four-for-four Thursday night at the 2013 NCAA Championship Banquet held at Sony Studios in Los Angeles.

Kim Jacob receives the NCAA Elite 89 Award from NCAA Gymnastics Committee Chair Kim Green

Kim Jacob, the two-time Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was presented with the award that goes to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the final site for each of the NCAA’s 89 championships.

“Kim is the very epitome of what we look for in an Alabama gymnast,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “She works extremely hard in all aspects of the collegiate experience and as a result, she continues to reap the rewards that come from such dedication and drive.”

With Jacob’s honor, Alabama remains the only gymnastics program to win the award since its inception in 2010. The junior from Raleigh, N.C., joins Kassi Price, who earned the inaugural honor, and Rachel Terry who won the award in 2011 and 2012.

“Our ladies strive to be the very best in everything they do and I think our continued success when it comes to the Elite 89 Award speaks to that fact,” Patterson said. “To me, this is just another example of the fact that at the University of Alabama, you can truly have it all.”

A four-time All-American and two-year Scholastic All-American, Jacob carries a perfect 4.0 grade point average in exercise science for her career. She was also named to the 2013 SEC Community Service Team for her efforts in the area of community outreach. A mainstay of Alabama’s 2011 and 2012 NCAA Championship teams, Jacob has led the team in number of routines and in 9.9 or better scores this season and won the 2013 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional balance beam title earlier this month.

Jacob’s trophy is the sixth Elite 89 honor garnered by Alabama over the last four years. Jacob, Terry and Price are joined by golfer Brooke Pancake who took home the trophy in the spring of 2010 and cross country runner Nathan Corder who earned the honor in the fall of 2010.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

Senior Ashley Priess was also honored during banquet as one of six finalists for the AAI Senior Award. The 2013 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional All-Around Champion, Priess is a three-year Scholastic All-American and eight-time All-American.

Jacob, Priess and their teammates start competition at the NCAA Championships on Friday at 6 p.m. PDT in the New Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus.

With the top two teams in each of the six regionals across the country advancing to the NCAA Championships, Alabama scored a 197.400 to win its ninth consecutive regional followed by Utah in second with a 196.400

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The two-time defending national champion Alabama gymnastics team won its NCAA-best 28th NCAA Regional title to advance to the NCAA Championships for the 31st year in a row in front of a boisterous crowd of 7,758 in Coleman Coliseum Saturday night.

The Crimson Tide took the top-two spots in the all-around with fifth-year senior Ashley Priess posting a 39.6 for the top spot while junior Kim Jacob was second with a 39.475

With the top two teams in each of the six regionals across the country advancing to the NCAA Championships, Alabama scored a 197.400 to win its ninth consecutive regional followed by Utah in second with a 196.400. Iowa State was third with a 195.400, while Denver (195.275), BYU 194.475 and Kent State (193.500) rounded out the team scoring.

“To me, this meet is the hardest of the year because there’s so much on the line,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “Now I think we can go to Los Angeles and compete the way we competed at the SEC Championships – where we were fearless and went for it all. Tonight was all about advancing.”

The Crimson Tide took the top-two spots in the all-around with fifth-year senior Ashley Priess posting a 39.6 for the top spot while junior Kim Jacob was second with a 39.475.

“Ashley had an amazing night and we all knew she could do it – we knew from the beginning of the season that she could do it,” Jacob said. “But this is the time we really need her. The coaches knew exactly when she was ready and it was the perfect time for her. I’m so proud of her, but we had no doubts that she had it in her.”

It was Priess’ first appearance in the all-around since the 2012 NCAA Championship Super Six Team Finals when she clinched the Tide’s second consecutive national title and sixth overall with a 9.95 on the balance beam.

“I was really happy with my timing and the fact that I’m peaking right here at the end of the season and I owe it all to the experience our coaches have,” Priess said.

Alabama started things off with a 49.350 on the vault paced by sophomore Kayla Williams’ winning 9.925 from the leadoff spot and Priess’ 9.9. After its first bye of the evening, the Tide moved to the uneven bars where it used a trio of 9.9s from junior Kim Jacob, sophomore Kaitlyn Clark and Priess, who all tied for first place, to score a 49.375.

Jacob tied her career-best on the balance beam, scoring a 9.95 to lead Alabama to a 49.200. During the beam rotation, the Tide rebounded from a fall in the second spot and a large wobble in the third position to close with a 9.85 from junior Sarah DeMeo, Jacob’s 9.95 and a 9.9 from Priess.

The Tide closed out the night with a string of 9.9 or better routines on the floor exercise, scoring a 49.475, led by junior Diandra Milliner’s winning 9.925 and 9.9s from freshman Lauren Beers, DeMeo and Priess.

The other teams slated to advance from the other regionals across the country are Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, UCLA, Michigan, Minnesota, Stanford, Utah, Arkansas and Illinois.

The 2013 NCAA Championships will be held in Los Angeles, Calif., on UCLA’s campus. With Alabama and Utah both advancing to the NCAA Championships, the two longest active streaks in the history of collegiate gymnastics remain intact. Alabama has now qualified for the last 31 NCAA Championships in a row while Utah has qualified for all 32.

1 Florida

2 Georgia

3 Alabama

4 Oklahoma

5 LSU

6 Minnesota

7 UCLA

8 Arkansas

9 Stanford

10 Michigan

11 Utah

12 Illinois

Oregon State did not advance out of their regional that they were hosting in Corvallis. They had 3 falls on the uneven bars, their opening event, which is also their strongest this season. Georgia and Arkansas took advantage and took the top 2 slots.

Nebraska also did not advance after winning the Big 10 two weeks ago with a huge performance. They also had uncharacteristic problems at their regional in Morgantown, West Virginia. This is why Coach Patterson says every year, that the regional championship is the most important meet of the year. Michigan and Illinois advanced out of that regional.