And there were seniors everywhere! Kentucky said goodbye to Jessie Lemp, Nicole Allen, Katie Toups and Jennifer Simmons. In a nice tribute, Coach Leah Little also recognized Alabama's five seniors for their contributions by providing each with a flower bouquet. The Tide then commenced to put on their best performance of the season, going 24 for 24 routines enroute to a 197.425 victory over the GymKats (195.100).

Uneven Bars

Since this was Kentucky's home meet, Alabama began the competition on the uneven bars, where they continue to rank second nationally. Freshman Shannon Hrozek (9.75) had technically a very fine routine but we noticed that she rotated slower this week on the bars, perhaps because she added a new full turn at the beginning of her routine and was focusing extra hard on completing it successfully. She reached all of her handstand positions but took a small hop backwards on her dismount of a double tuck. Jeana Rice (9.85) threw one of her best routines of the year, nailing her full in dismount. A pleasant surprise entry into the line-up was junior Kristin Sterner, who performed both major release moves (full twisting Tkatchev and a Tkatchev) and landed her double front dismount straight up for a 9.825. Wonderful performances followed from senior Raegan Tomasek (9.90), Natalie Barrington (9.90) and Andree Pickens (9.90). Natalie was particularly thrilled because she struggled throughout her long warm-ups on bars and yet performed like a champion when crunch time arrived. Senior Alexa Martinez exhibited this week on bars and experienced her first fall (during the Tkatchev release). Senior Whitney Morgan exhibited as well and completed her pike Jaeger and nailed her double layout dismount chest high (9.825). Bama received a team total score of 49.375.

Kentucky had solid vaults from junior Julia Gore (9.80), sophomore Aronda Primault (9.80) and junior Melanie Zaharias (9.85). Team score on vault for the GymKats was 48.925.

Vault

The Tide really seemed to like the Kentucky vaulting horse as they garnered their highest team total on this event in two years (49.450). Sophomore Erin Holdefer started off with a super front pike (9.825) that was deducted for the tiniest foot shift upon landing, while sophomore Stephanie Kite boomed her front pike with a 1/2 twist like never before (9.80), checking her landing with one foot back. Shannon Hrozek matched this with a stuck front pike (9.85) that was only deducted for a slight split leg on the entry and limited distance from the horse on her landing. Jeana Rice proved she is ready for championship season by nailing her Yurchenko 1/1 (9.95) and freshman Alexis Brion was likewise inspired to control her orbit-seeking pike with a 1/2 twist to the tune of a 9.875. Andree Pickens responded in kind with her own version of the Yurchenko 1/1 that was marred only by a tiny shuffle to the left upon landing (9.95).

Meanwhile, on the uneven bars, the Kentucky GymKats showcased some nice pirouetting and booming release moves via Julie Gore (9.90), and Julie Joy (9.90). Team score on bars was a 49.125.

Floor Exercise

Bama retained their top ranking nationally on the floor exercise by punching in another high score (49.475). Jeana Rice again started for the Tide with a strong opening pass of a double pike, followed by a whip through to a 2 1/2 twist, and finishing with a whip through to a double twist for a 9.800. Her dance and presentation were more elated this week. Alexa Martinez changed a few of her passes and the experiment was a success (9.875). She opened with a front handspring, front layout to a full twist, followed by a second pass of front handspring to a 1 1/2 twist. Freshman Michelle Reeser was back in the line-up and cashed in a 9.90 (double pike; front handspring, front layout to a front tuck; front handspring, front layout, layout with a half twist, to a layout step-out). Stephanie Kite was as steady as usual (9.85) and Raegan Tomasek threw her double front Arabian and added a super high and tight double tuck on her second pass (9.90). Alexis Brion mastered both of her double tucks this week for a 9.95 and threw in some jazzy new dance moves for extra effect.

Meanwhile, Kentucky was having problems on the balance beam and had to count a low score of 9.575 from Melanie Zaharias. Julie Joy garnered the team's highest score (9.75) on this event.

Balance Beam

Raegan Tomasek (9.75) had some balance checks in her routine this week (small step on the punch front mount and she had to repeat the wolf jump to 1/4 dive handstand combination). Shannon Hrozek (9.85) threw her most confident routine of the year and now appears to have solidified her position in the beam line-up. She was likely deducted for a little loose form on her double twist dismount. Alexa Martinez (9.75) had a balance check on her flight series (bhs, layout) and landed her rudi dismount with a slight bend at the waist but she did not take a step. Natalie Barrington (9.80) was again experiencing problems during her long and short warm-ups on beam but still once again competed a great routine under pressure, which was marred only by a slight balance check on her flight series and a little less amplitude on her three leap series than we are accustomed to seeing from her. Jeana Rice showcased another beautiful flight series of two layouts, a standing back gainer, and a double twist dismount (9.85). Andree Pickens matched Jeana's confidence with a superb set, highlighted by a bhs, bhs, layout flight series, a punch front and a double tuck dismount for a 9.875. Bama's total on beam was a 49.125.

The GymKats struggled on the floor despite some electrifying routines with rocking music. Senior Nicole Allen fell (9.125), as did freshman Michelle Gales (9.350) but Aronda Primault (9.85) and Melanie Zaharias (9.85) turned in solid performances to send their seniors off in style.

Jeana Rice (39.450) walked away with the all-around title over Kentucky's Julie Joy (39.200) and Aronda Primault (39.150).