Crimson Tide Claims 1st Place at 2006 Super Six Challenge

Dana Filetti

The 2006 edition of the Alabama Gymnastics Team showcased their youth and firepower in Baton Rouge last Friday Night, coming away with a victory over five teams in the Top 16, including home-standing LSU.  The Tide coaches took this opportunity right out of the chute to showcase their heralded freshman class and expose them to the high-charged atmosphere of a six team-competition format.  They successfully passed muster and showed the upper class that they were ready to take on the challenge of college competition.  Scoring was tight on three of four events (exception, uneven bars scoring later in the competition) and the Tide will look to polish up some technical and form errors before heading to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania this next weekend to take on the Nittany Lions and the Arizona Wildcats.  For now, let’s review some of the highlights from the January 6th meet…

Uneven Bars: 48.600

Youth was certainly served on this opening event with 4 of 6 positions being covered by freshmen (2) and sophomores (2).  The final two were covered by seniors Ashley Miles and Dana Filetti, both 1st Team All Americans on the bars.  Senior Mari-Christine Bayer, also a 1st Team All American on bars, was held out of the line-up when she was unable to hit her Jaeger release during long warm-ups.  She is expected to be back in the mix this Saturday, as Mari has been one of the Tide’s most consistent performers over the past 3 years.

Terin Humphrey

Cassie Martin (Freshman) earned the critical lead-off position during Fall workouts because of her classic lines, consistent execution and top-notch difficulty on this event (toe-on toe-off to Tkatchev to pak Salto combination).  She popped the Tkatchev release just a little too high and missed her re-grasp on the high bar, having to settle for a final score of 9.100. We loved her aggressive swing, vertical position on top of the bars during handstands and fantastic toe point and extension throughout the rest of the routine.  The double tuck dismount had both revolutions above the high bar, tiny one step forward on the landing. When she hits, this is a high-scoring routine the Tide fans will be very excited about.

Kaitlin White (Sophomore) earned the “Go To Gymnast Award” from the WVUA Radio Team for successfully completing her routine after Cassie’s unexpected fall.  Kaitlin’s strong work ethic in the gym this past Fall paid off when the coaches tapped her to take Mari’s place on this date.  She threw a full turn to Geinger release, pak Salto, full turn to double tuck dismount, one step on the landing, slight shoulder drop forward as well.  This is the aggressive performance the coaches have been looking for from the Allen, Texas native and hopefully will boost her confidence for the future.

Kaitlin White

Ashley Miles (Senior) threw a strong Shaposhnikova transition to the high bar and a super Hindorff release.  She added the full pirouette (new move) on top of the high bar before another giant to double layout dismount (D), one step forward on the landing (9.825). Very confident routine.

Courtney Priess (Freshman) struggled a bit in long warm-ups with her very difficult Arabian double front dismount so we were not sure how her first collegiate performance would turn out.  But she came through with panache, aggressively rotating the bars with beautiful body extension as she threw a full turn to Tkatchev release and a toe-on toe-off before standing up the E dismount with confidence (one step forward on the landing) for a 9.825. Another great routine with high-scoring potential once she spots that landing better. 

Brittany Magee

Dana Filetti (Senior) seemed to rush her routine just a bit.  She was not reaching all of her handstands in the process and swung the double front dismount (E) out versus up and out, resulting in a fall after just under-rotating the landing.  She threw a beautiful toe-on toe-off straddle release to the high bar and a very high Geinger release out of a full pirouette (slight leg separation during the re-grasp).  The final score of a 9.300 was counted in the Tide’s team total but we expect to see Filetti nail this routine the rest of the year.

Terin Humphrey (Sophomore) hit her routine in the wake of Dana’s fall like the champion she is, throwing a brand new release move in the process and sticking her double layout dismount (D) for a 9.875.  She will add the Markelov release back into the routine soon and will have one of the most difficult combination release series in collegiate competition.  Her other goal is to add the stalder back in later in the season.

Balance Beam 48.300

The coaches were confident risk-takers on this event as well, putting four freshmen in the line-up and having two anchor the event with their D and E dismounts respectively (Magee and Banville).  This event has the potential to be one of the deepest and most exciting for Alabama fans in 2006; it also is the one event that arguably cost the Tide a fifth national title in 2005 when critical tenths were given away by each gymnast on Super Six Night, allowing Georgia to push through to their sixth title.  Barring unfortunate, pesky injuries, that is not expected to happen this year if the skills and confidence displayed by the freshmen in this first meet are anything to go by.

Cassie Martin

Mari-Christine Bayer (Senior), as expected, was tapped by the coaches to anchor the front end of the line-up given her consistency on this event during the past 3 years.  However, Mari is still recovering from a broken toe suffered at a water park this past summer and this may be affecting her landings to a certain degree.  For example, in this routine (9.450), she was not given full credit for her connection on the flight series and leap series when she appeared to hesitate after completing the first element of each respectively (front aerial to back handspring to Korbut; switch leap to straddle side jump) and was automatically deducted for the gainer back pike dismount (not up to the level of competition rule).  She threw a nice double stag jump and a switch leap ½ turn (small step back to balance the landing).  As history has shown, we expect Mari will polish up these elements quickly and perform like she did against LSU last year in the third meet of the year (9.90). She is also upgrading her dismount to a back handspring to gainer full twist and may be throwing a double twist by post-season.

Cassie Martin (Freshman) had tons of difficulty, including a ring leap, front aerial, a flight series of back handspring to layout step-out, switch leap to double stag jump combination, back handspring to gainer full twist dismount. She received a 9.600 and was likely deducted for a small step on the dismount landing and small but noticeable balance checks throughout the routine. Overall, an excellent first time effort, highlighted again by her classic body lines and technique.

Courtney Priess (Freshman) threw a very confident, aggressive routine for a 9.675 and would have scored higher but she missed her leap series combination (only threw one straddle jump).  The rest of the routine was terrific, including a back handspring to back pike (stuck), a wolf full, a punch front (awesome control), switch leap to switch side straddle jump (beautiful leg extension and height on both elements), and a switch leap to immediate gainer back pike dismount (stuck as well).  As Salto said, “The doll’s a winner.”

Courtney Priess

Terin Humphrey (Sophomore) seemed motivated by the previous efforts of her teammates and threw a beautiful triple spin in the lunge position (the Humphrey) to open, followed by a super Kotchetkova (full twisting back handspring) to back handspring to layout step-out, a punch front, a solid Omeliantchik (could have shown a little more split and holding of this position) and finished with a stuck gainer full twist off the side of the beam for a final score of 9.800.  Terin will replace this dismount with her round off back handspring to double tuck in the near future to increase her scoring potential.

Brittany Magee (Freshman) showed us how well trained she was at Texas Dreams under former World Champion, Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, by garnering a 9.775 that also would have been higher but the judges had to deduct for her step forward on the double tuck dismount landing (going for the stick!).  The rest of the routine was textbook: beautiful toe point, extension as she worked up on her toes through several elements, including the one-handed gainer back handspring to layout step-out, front aerial, switch leap to wolf jump, punch front (awesome form in flight and landing of this salto trick). Exciting days ahead as we get to see this routine evolve even further.

Melanie Banville (Freshman) also blew us and the crowd away with her final element, the super difficult double pike, landed chest high with a small check to the side on landing.  Her routine had even more difficulty than Magee’s, including a straddle jump to straddle full combination, back handspring to layout step-out (beautiful control), double spin (fell after completing the second turn, just barely off on her timing), punch front (a little low, one slight lift of leg on landing), running switch 3/4-straddle turn (stood up but had to bend forward a bit on landing).  The final score of 9.200 showed the respect from the judges for her technique and high level of difficulty. 

Erin Rightley

Floor Exercise 48.300

Erin Rightley (Junior) debuted a new routine (Music: Scorchio by Bond) and unfortunately was rather lackluster in both her dance and tumbling, resulting in a disappointing 9.475 score.  Her tumbling passes were watered down for this first meet to allow her to recover from some aches and pains experienced over the past month of training. She opened with a front through to a Rudi (solid but not crisp on landing) and bailed on the third element of her new second pass, throwing a front-front full to front tuck (step forward to balance) instead of the punch layout. She finished with a double twist, loose form on execution and landing as well.  Erin was also a little off in her timing of one choreographic sequence on the floor (seemed to wait for the music). Overall, the routine will need to be executed with more polish and passion if it is to score similar to her dynamic routine from last year (hit 9.90 on several occasions).  Erin is expected to put her strong double pike back in as her opening pass, along with the punch layout out of the front to front full combination.  She has also been impressive with the 2½ twist in Fall workouts and this will give her the added difficulty to meet the code of points for 2006.  All of these adjustments no doubt will lead to a higher score. 

Cassie Martin (Freshman) scored only a 9.625 but hit all of her tumbling passes, including the opening double front Arabian (landed with moderate knee bend forward though), the front handspring to front layout to front full (very nice) and the round off to double full (beautiful landing).  However, we suspect she was deducted at two points of her routine when the choreography failed to flow into the next phase, at which point she almost seemed to stop and ponder for a brief moment before executing the next dance moves.  We had noticed this in her practice reps and just figured that adjustments were still being made at that time.  Cassie also seemed a little lost in the dance sequence near the end of her routine and the subsequent cat leap prior to her final pose on the floor was a little awkward in form and execution.  More reps will take care of most of this but the dance moves in certain areas definitely need polishing to make the most of her classic lines and grace.  Music is from Esteban’s version of The Godfather theme.

Ashley Miles

Brittany Magee (Freshman) had all the bells and whistles as far as choreography and tumbling but had too much power on her second pass, resulting in a 9.575 when she had to scoot back and out of bounds to balance.  Opened with a ½ in ½ out, landed just a little low, came back with a whip-whip-back handspring to HUGE double pike, finished with a front through to a Rudi (popped out of the landing a bit as well).  Dance and leap series (switch leap to split full jump combo) were gorgeous in the air.  This will be a fantastic, crowd-pleasing routine once she gets the tumbling power under control. Music is sultry, middle Eastern in flavor. 

Melanie Banville (Freshman) hit a strong routine for 9.725 and would have scored higher if she had controlled the double twist a little more (final tumbling pass).  Opened with a very nice double pike, followed by a 2½ twist to punch front (big smile for the judge after landing).  She sold the routine very well and should score higher once she upgrades to the pike full in and closes with the double pike.  She also threw a nice double turn as part of her dance.  Very polished effort for the most part.

Terin Humphrey (Sophomore) also struggled with the landing of her first pass (2 ½ twist to punch front, several steps back to balance her landing) and even took a balance scoot back on the second pass (double pike).  But she finished aggressively, hitting the final 2½ twist for a 9.600.  Terin showed some new dance moves and had all eyes on her during this routine. Terin also threw a double turn as part of her dance and will upgrade to either a double front Arabian or her pike full in from last year as the opening pass and the 1 ½ to 2 ½ sequence for her final pass.

Mari-Christine Bayer

Ashley Miles (Senior) threw a huge double layout to open but had to lift her right leg to keep from moving backwards after going for the stick.  Second pass was similar with a very high double pike (one leg again lifted).  Finished with a front-front full-punch layout, nice landing for a 9.775 (lowest score on floor in four years of competition).  New dance and music for her senior campaign (mixture of Drumline and Jimi Hendrix’s Foxy Lady).  The tumbling balance checks were most likely the primary areas where deductions were taken.  But then, no one scored higher than a 9.825 on the floor (April Burkholder of LSU).

Vault 49.050

Melanie Banville (Freshman) stuck the Yurchenko 1/1 for a 9.825.  Likely deducted for limited distance from the vault table and a slight bend at the waist. 

Melanie Banville

Ashley Ford (Freshman) earned a 9.625 for a solid Tsuk full twist in the tuck position, one step back on the landing.  This was a great confidence builder for her and she hopes to lay this vault out for the higher score before long.

Brittany Magee (Freshman) showcased her great technique with the Yurchenko 1/1 by scoring a 9.850.  Beautiful form in the air and super landing, one step only. 

Ashley O'Neal (Freshman) had lots of power and height on the front pike ½ twist, pretty solid landing as well for a 9.750.  Split legs noted on entry but she controlled this vault pretty well in the air otherwise.

Kaitlin White (Sophomore) also threw the Yurchenko 1/1, garnering a 9.675.  She will need to continue to refine her power push off the vault table to gain more height and complete the twist more smoothly without having to pike it down on landing, which happened on this night and likely led to the deductions.  

Ashley Miles (Senior) had a slight balance step on her landing of the Yurchenko 1/1 but was still able to garner a 9.950 from the judges.  We admit we’re spoiled and have run out of words to describe her awesome skills on this event.

Be sure and tune in for the next meet, at Penn State on Saturday, January 14, 2006, starting at 6:00 pm Central.  Roll Tide!