(Check out Gwen's personal page in athletes/roster)

Senior co-captain of the Alabama Gymnastics Team, Gwen Spidle, is excited about the talent and depth of this year's squad, noting that the "sheer numbers" alone will allow for much experimenting throughout the first half of the season and will better prepare the team for the National Championship's two-day event schedule in April 1999. In particular, Spidle noted that the scheduling of a dual team meet over the February 19-21, 1999 weekend at Penn State and the University of Massachusetts will almost certainly ensure that all of the team's athletes will have an opportunity to compete. Spidle herself returns as the top all-arounder on Bama's squad, along with Mandy Chapman and a fully recovered Robin Hawkins.

By upgrading several of her skills, Spidle jokingly confided that she hopes to hold her own with the six freshmen but will look forward to being spelled by them during mid-season as well! On vault Gwen notes that she will once again throw a Yurchenko vault (round-off entry), hopefully with an extra twist to obtain a 10.00 start value. Her bar routine will be somewhat different in that she will add a front giant heli to her Jaeger release move and will be dismounting with either a double pike or a full-in. Her beam routine will once again start with a round-off mount. On floor exercise she will continue to dance to the music of the "Squirrel Nut Zippers" and will add a 2 ½ twist mount to a front full/punch front (second pass) and finish with a front full/round off/layout.

When asked about the impact of the new practice facility, Gwen noted that it has definitely resulted in less wear and tear on the gymnasts' bodies and has also contributed to faster tumbling skills overall. On the subject of the new regional competition format, she expressed the opinion that this will offer Bama the opportunity to possibly experience west coast judging prior to Nationals (at Utah), which historically tends to be more conservative. Finally, we asked Gwen to share with us some of her favorite competition locations, which may surprise our fans a little: she relishes the Georgia arena because of its competitive atmosphere that tends to bring out the best gymnastics in the Bama athletes, including last year's meet. Also, while she confessed to falling in love with the Phoenix area during a recruiting trip to the University of Arizona, she fortunately opted for the excellent educational, athletic and social opportunities offered by the Crimson Tide! And aren't we all glad that she did!