meet 196.900 to Auburn's 194.350. Crowd attendance was 13, 299.

Roll Tide!

She is super proud of her efforts tonight and will be sending you a tape soon.

Ashley says to her parents "I love you and wish you could have been here tonight!" She went on to say that mom Sherine would no doubt have been out there dancing with the YMCA moms this week, vying with Cynthia Bayer for "top pink lady".

interviewed by the radio crew after their terrific efforts tonight. Shannon completed the Arabian dismount off the bars, standing it up perfectly tonight and was rewarded accordingly (9.90) while Ashley threw another magnificent vault (10.00) and floor routine (9.95).

Vault: Ashley Miles (10.00), Alexis and Shannon (9.925)
Bars: Shannon (9.90) and Terin (9.90), Mari (9.85)
Beam: Terin (9.90) and Julie Dwyer (9.90), Rachael Tarantino (9.85)
Floor: Ashley (9.95), Shannon (9.90) and Mari (9.90)

All Around Winners: Ashley Miles (39.500), Shannon (39.350), Julie Dwyer (39.225)

Dwyer receives a 9.90 for her beam routine, also well-deserved after the confidence she showed in executing some difficult skills (two layouts and the front punch).

and is grooving like only Ashley can groove to the music; the crowd is screaming loudly, encouraging her efforts. She finishes with a beautiful double pike and the crowd is on their feet to salute her with an ovation.

terrific job on this event, hitting her layout-layout series and the front punch. She finishes with a double twist, terrific landing but form was a little loose, so a slight deduction there.

Brion receives a 9.750, so we called that one just about right.

and Alexis Brion says "Don't worry, I'm there for ya!" She opens with a whip through to a backhandspring to an awesome double pike. Nice whip 1/2-front full to front tuck, super height on the third element. Let's finish strong! We need another big score. She almost loses it on the final pass (too much adrenaline) with the front-front layout-front tuck (under-rotated just a bit and has to step back twice), so this will be deducted anywhere from .15 to .2 tenths for execution errors.

Filetti is opening with the double front Arabian but falls back on the landing. Gotta throw it to perfect it. She loses some control on the second pass, the whip 1/2 to front full and this will be heavily deducted but finishes with the front full to front layout and almost steps out of bounds. She really lost her energy after the first pass was not successful and the coaches are talking to her now about this to reassure themselves that she is okay. It's important to complete the entire routine as if you have hit every element because you never know when your effort might have to count towards the team's final score.

(double pike, front-front full to a front tuck). She looks great in the hot pink and is selling this routine for the highest score possible. She finishes with a double twist and a sweeping salute to the Ten Troupe after a beautiful double stag leap.

Nicole Barnett receives a 9.575 on beam for the Tigers and Kayce Stein is looking good so far in her routine, gainer layout stepout and two switch leaps, she dismounts with a double twist, tiny pop forward, slight leg separation.

Somero received a 9.725 on the beam. Aimee Goheen just fell on her front punch so that should be an automatic five tenths.

Erin Rightley opens with a super high double pike, balance step forward on the landing (jammed it a bit). She follows with a Rudi (1 1/2 twist) and then finishes with a very nice front-front full-front pike for a 9.85.

Beautiful opening double pike, very controlled landing, nice follow up pass of the front-front full-front layout (yeah!). Nice dance and presentation including the straddle full to wolf full combination. She finishes with a double tuck, another terrific landing and salutes the judges. RTR!

two back handsprings to a layout, small balance checks on subsequent leaps and a slight bend at the shoulder after a straddle leap. She dismounts with a double twist, bent shoulders forward but a solid landing.

The Tide still leads by over two points.

changed it to Ladies Night! The gymnastics moms are taking over the regular line-up and pushing the guys out of the way.

mainly came on the first and third passes for execution errors.

Michelle Reeser is exhibiting and just fell on the third element of her flight series (two backhandsprings to a layout thrown this week). She is back on and throwing the switch leap to two straddle jumps and nails the back handspring to gainer full.

Tarantino throws the double pike and lands it with the back left leg popping straight up and out, so that will be a deduction for execution. She comes back with a front-front full-front layout, nice control and landing. She finishes with a double tuck, nice landing as well! Eye of the Tiger is the music.

Terin is up and through her mount and the flight series (Kotchetkova to back handspring to layout, the switch leap to a 3/4 twisting back handspring ending in a split position, held for 3 seconds) and another stuck dismount of a double tuck. Her team envelopes her and the crowd is on their feet.

Julie Dwyer is now up for the Tigers. She opens with a 2 1/2 twist to a punch front, nice control and height and finishes with a front-front full-front layout, one step out of bounds (judge raised the hand).

mount with only a slight balance check. Nice switch leap to switch side combination and the gainer layout step out, another small balance check. She also threw a wolf full, nice landing and control. She will dismount with a round off to double tuck, beautiful landing! The crowd was holding their breath throughout that routine.

and will certainly have lots to talk about in the post-meet commentary if these scores keep coming up.

Mari completes her routine without any major deductions either and receives a very conservative 9.800.

followed by two front layouts and she finishes with a double tuck, nice landing. The first pass will be deducted for form errors as her legs were very loose in the air and she had a bit of a directional problem on the landing.

Shannon receives a 9.625 (ouch!) and Filetti will try to build on that. So far she is looking strong with a handstand to immediate layout stepout and the tuck full is right on. Nice back handspring to Korbut and she finishes strong with a sheep jump and a double twist dismount, one step to the left on the landing.

Goheen receives a 9.725 for her floor routine.

bend at the knees on the landing but she stood it up. Second pass of a front-front full-front tuck.

Flight series completed with a slight bend at the right on the third element and foot lift off the beam; nice switch leap to wolf, full turn, hitch kick to sheep jump, slight shoulder bend; she dismounts with a double twist, one step back. Not as good as last week but we'll take it!

as well as a nice Rudi to layout-stepout for her second pass. She finishes with a front-front full-front layout. Nice routine!

landing of the layout but continues through the wolf to Korbut back dive and the side switch leap; cartwheel 1/2 down onto the beam and some nice dancing in between. She dismounts with a stuck gainer back pike. Deductions will come on the flight series. Tommy Deas just stopped by and took blame for that slight "weeble" bobble after writing the feature article this week on Rachael. We told him he needs to stop jinxing our gals.

We need six for six on the beam to ice this one. A huge lead can dwindle fast if you get tentative on this event.

Rachael will start us off.

exhibited a great routine, highlighted by a super landing of the double front dismount and she always achieves wonderful height on her Tkatchev as well. She'll likely be in the line-up by next week but we are so proud of the great routine from Dana Pierce (9.80) and welcome the depth she brings on this event. Bama now has Alexis, Kaitlin, Dana P. and Brittany to move into the line-up at any time.

the double layout. Beautiful stalder work on the high bar and she reached every handstand this week.

toe-on straddle release to the high bar (caught it very close and had to muscle up) but the rest of the routine was fine, especially the awesome height on the Gienger release.

Hristakieva with a hop forward and she threw this one very confidently for a 9.800.

front dismount chest high with one step back.

Mari Bayer completed just before this vault a terrific pike Jaeger release and stuck her double tuck out of a full turn. She receives a 9.85.

Holtz gets a 9.725 for her vault and Pinckney a 9.025 for falling on hers. Looks like she was going for the Yurchenko 1/1 but tucked it during flight and fell back almost immediately on the landing.

Shannon is up on bars and completes her Gienger release and dismounts with an Arabian, stuck that landing cold. Way to go.

distance (9.90 valued vault). She receives a 9.675.

Miles receives a 9.825. Dana Pierce is looking mighty good on the bars and reached her handstand (transition to the low bar) in perfect position. Nice Tkatchev release as well and a reverse tuck off the high bar.

had a rather deep bend at the knees before popping it backward.

Ashley is through the Shaposhnikova and Hindorff and lands her dismount of the double layout with terrific distance, one step forward (whoosh!).

Tarantino gets a 9.65 for her vault.

for more difficult release moves and combinations of skills, as well as D and E level dismounts in their routines. Of course with the greater difficulty comes the higher risk for a miscue.

deductions came from failing to reach handstands (persistent across all six gymnasts) and two gymnasts had major form breaks during their routines (Stein especially during the transition to the low bar).

48.575 on the uneven bars.

Barbara Mack is the first recipient of the Sarah Patterson Distinguished Alumni Award, which she is receiving now as the teams move to the next events.

The crowd was screaming and hushed until the score came up and went ballistic! Roll Tide!

If that's not a 10 we've never seen one.

routines but we will try and give more details in the post meet commentary.

Beautiful pike front handspring 1/2 twist for a 9.925!

hers without a major deduction.

a 1/2 tuck off for a 9.775. Somero receives a 9.725 for her bars and Terin Humphrey just rocked her vault, first time out! Yurchenko 1/2 on 1/2 off pike front (1/2 out) and receives a conservative 9.825. We think they may have deducted for the limited distance but she had very nice form and height.

Somero is through her bars routine and lands the double tuck with a little leg separation.

Dana Filetti is through her Yurchenko full twist on back pike off, nice height, distance, one small foot shift back for a 9.80. A little more amplitude will get her a higher score.

Kayce Stein is on the bars for the Tigers and has a major bend over on the low bar but stays on and finishes with the difficult double twisting layout, bent forward and a step but she stood it up.

Shannon Hrozek will vault the Yurchenko 1/1 and she has been gunning for a 9.90 for the past two weeks. Will she ace it this week?

YES!!!!!!

Ashley, Dana P., Shannon, Mari, Dana F., and Terin

Auburn on the vault will showcase: Rachael Tarantino, Aimee, Danielle, Karmen Pinckney, Kayce and Julie

For Auburn on Bars: Kayce Stein, Shanna Somero, Jackie Smith, Julie Dwyer, Aimee Goheen and Danielle Holtz

For Alabama on Vault: Shannon, Dana F., Brittany, Terin, Alexis, Ashley

Auburn is in the light pastel pink with contrasting white at the top and shoulders.

Alabama is in white and HOT HOT PINK silk. We've been begging Sarah to bring back this color for years and finally got our wish. The ladies from both teams look terrific. There's something in the air tonight.

Erin, Brittany, Meredith, Kaitlin, Mari, Ashley are introduced and are decked out in black warm-up pants and white sweat tops with the Crimson logo on the front.

The national anthem is being played by a quartet of young violinists (3 females and 1 male). What a unique version of the Star Spangled Banner! The crowd stays standing as they applaud loudly.

The Crimson Tide is introduced with a collective roar from the 12,000 plus crowd.

Vault: Kathy Feldman and Mary Lou Dillard
Bars: Sandy Oldham and Gail Tourtellotte
Beam: Kathy Feldman and Gail Tourtellotte
Floor: Mary Lou Dillard and Sandy Oldham

almost walks by him but gets grabbed before she can get away. Sheryl Dundas, Kim Kelly, Mandy Chapman, Dara Stewart, Lexa Evans, Katie Hornecker, Lissy Smith, Robin Hawkins, Alexa Martinez, Krista Gole, Raegan Tomasek, Whitney Morgan, Kristin Sterner, Sara Scarborough, Erin Holdefer, Lauren Holdefer, Stephanie Kite are just some of the gals that are here tonight, all decked out in various shades of pink. Sarah hugs each one and must be truly amazed at the accomplishments of each in the past 27 years. Wow!

Big Al has pink dots all over his body! That's the kind of support you want from your favorite pachyderm.

well and starts the national anthem of the University of Alabama "Yeah Alabama!" as the crowd prepares to welcome the teams.

Time for the big show!

It's looking like pink is reaching to the upper levels of the arena and we are confident now that the meet will sport 12,000 or more fans easily from the crowd that has already arrived.

and looks very GQ. Chad Anderson of WVUA 90.7 is vying for top GQ man on campus in his crisp white shirt with a HOT HOT pink silk tie in honor of tonight's festivities. They both win in our books.

Erin Holdefer is the head coach now of the Bama Bounders Gymnastics Club here in Tuscaloosa. She and sister Lauren help escort the ladies off the floor as they receive hearty applause from the fans.

Next up are the cheerleaders and Big Al, serenaded by the Million Dollar Band.

their gymnastics skills for the home crowd. Is a future Tide star performing even as we type?

prepare to depart the coliseum.

We are happy to report that the crowd is mostly decked out in pink throughout the arena and the lucky season ticket holders in front of the floor and beam get a complimentary pink tee-shirt tonight for attending.

Remember that McAlister's in Tuscaloosa will be donating all pink lemonade proceeds to the DCH Breast Cancer Unit (tonight and Saturday), so think pink and drink pink while you are in town this weekend.

choreography. Disco music is being played as the teams wrap up their final warm-up. Ashley starts to break down some funky late '70s dance moves with Rachael and we wish we could get this to you on a live video feed. Join Crimson Tradition and you can get live-streaming of tonight's meet!

with hot pink feather boas. To say they stand out is putting it mildly. Filetti just stood up the double front Arabian and Alexis a super whip to a double pike. And Erin Rightley! Another terrific double pike, incredible height, form and she landed it like the Romanians (straight-line, feet together, no steps).

Yowza! Filetti is working the double front Arabian.

first few times. Nice side switch leap by Rachael! The teams now rotate to their final 15 minute warm-up event, floor for the Tide and beam for the Tigers.

and Aimee Goheen a double pike. It doesn't look like Courtney Puckett will be competing tonight, as she is on the sidelines through the first three long warm-ups, cheering her teammates on.

to the balance beam area fans as Terin practices her Humphrey mount.

early arriving Tide fans. Rachael, Ashley and Mari and Dana F. follow shortly after finishing up on the bars.

accuracy into handstands and she turns on a dime. She is getting stronger each week it seems and adds another treat for the fans to ooh and aahhh over. Shannon's Gienger is super sharp as well but she just missed the Arabian dismount that time after going for the extra distance from the high bar on her landing.

is looking good. Her mother Cynthia Bayer is here from California and is decked out in hot pink and white, sitting next to Dan Filetti, all the way from Virginia. Dan must really rack up on the frequent flyer miles, he is present every week to see his daughter compete.

along with Dana P. It doesn't look like Kaitlin will go tonight on the bars or exhibit but we expect to see her next week against Kentucky. Nice Arabian dismount just then from Shannon.

Shannon, Dana F., Brittany, Terin, Alexis and Ashley

On bars: Ashley, Dana P. Shannon, Mari, Dana F., Terin

On beam: Rachael, Shannon, Dana F., Mari, Ashley, Terin

On floor: Shannon, Erin, Mari, Dana F., Alexis, Ashley

for the Tide and Tigers.

-Terin Humphrey will add the vault tonight to her responsibilities and will throw the Yurchenko 1/2 on 1/2 off pike front (1/2 out). She is looking very strong in the long warm-ups.
-Alexis Brion will return to the vault and floor line-up tonight and does not appear to be suffering from any lingering effects of last week's illness. She has that look, the fiery gleam of competition in her eyes that says "a 10 or bust!"

Well, if we were playing the 10,000 Pyramid or Jeopardy you would guess "Things that are pink?"

And you would be correct!

We are in Coleman Coliseum on the campus of the University of Alabama for the "Think Pink - Wear Pink" dual gymnastics meet between the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. Great gymnastics and a greater cause are the targets for tonight's meet.