It was wonderful to return to Coleman Coliseum and the best gymnastics fans in the country this past Friday night.....and even better to out-duel our arch rival, the Georgia Gym Dogs! While be it both teams showed it was early in the season and that there are still plenty of "jitters and kinks" to work out, it was evident that "The Big Show" is really here!
Our ladies were really excited to be at home and compete in front of you, our fans. Many of the ladies had family members traveling from far away to watch them perform. It was a big step forward for us in many ways, as I have already said, just be patient because this team has a chance to be really good as the season progresses.
It was awesome to see Raegan Tomasek perform so well in the all-around competition and be named "SEC Gymnast of the Week!" We were hoping to use someone different on the vault, but when plans were altered, Raegan stepped in and gave us her best. It is definitely rewarding to see how far she has come both as a person and competitively in four years. We need to be smart when dealing with Raegan's training schedule so she gets what she needs individually to keep her healthy, rested, and performing to the best of her abilities.
Another highlight of the evening was the return of Andree Pickens to Coleman Coliseum. The fans appreciate her competitive spirit and athletic ability. That was evident by their tremendous ovation. Andree is doing fine and is right on schedule in terms of her training.
Before I close, just let me say a tremendous thank you to our new student organizations, the "10 Troupe" and the "Bama Gym Jammers." There were awesome and provided much fun and entertainment over the entire evening. Russell Moore, a dedicated member of the Medalist Club, worked hard to insure that these organizations were successful. Just ask our ladies....they loved it!
We are excited about the meet on Saturday, and the chance to welcome a new top 12 team to Coleman Coliseum...the University of Denver. Expect them back here in April for the NCAA's. Hope to see you Saturday, bring a friend, as we promise to have an even better show for you then.
Roll Tide,
