This past weekend, the Alabama team and fans celebrated the athletic careers of two very special team members, Gwen Spidle and Mandy Chapman. The seniors were recognized for their accomplishments during their collegiate gymnastics careers, as well as their dedication to the team and the program. We will always appreciate their leadership and friendship. As for the team's performance, we knew that competing against the LSU Tigers was going to be a challenge, as is competing against any Southeastern Conference team. We realized that the LSU gymnasts are capable of being National Champions, so we rose to the occasion and competed as if we were in the Super Six at the National Championships. We earned our highest score of the season yet there are still areas where we can improve. I know that I continue to stress this but the Alabama Gymnastics Team has yet to reach its peak. Throughout Saturday night's competition I came to several conclusions. What excited me most is that we are now able to choose from a variety of vaulters, something that the coaches have not been able to do since I arrived in 1996. The competition in the gym to get into the line-up is a welcome change from years past. Bars and floor seem to be our two strongest events where we can switch competitors in and out without worry of their preparation. Balance beam was a flashback to the 1996 National Championships. Though we had a fall in the beginning of the line-up, the four competitors that followed wanted to prove that they could support the team. The result was four solid performances without one of our most consistent beam competitors, Gwen. The best thing about the LSU - Alabama gymnastics meet, however, was that the team was able to send the seniors out in style. We had accomplished our goal for the evening. I read in The Tuscaloosa News that the LSU head coach said something to the effect that her team knew that we were a talented group, but that they did not expect us to compete as well as we did. Championship season will prove that our team is talented and competitive. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain in the next six weeks. There is one regular season competition left. As we head west to Utah State, we can only look forward to improvement in our performances. Bryan (Raschilla) told me today that it has come to a point in the season where we need to start paying attention to the details. When I hear this, I know that the time has come once again to show that Alabama Gymnastics is ready to roll on into championship season. Watch out...the Tide is high!!! Roll Tide Roll!!!