Amanda Montgomery

PBAs and Salto hit the doors running on this date to get another peek at the 2006 Alabama Gymnastics Team.  With the exception of junior walk-on Meredith Laxton, all ladies were present and working out on the four events before hitting the spinning bikes.  PBAs learned that Laxton informed the coaches the previous Friday of her decision to retire from gymnastics and focus on her studies for the remainder of her time at the Capstone.  The Medalist Club wishes Meredith all the best in her future endeavors. 

And now for some Tidebits...

For this practice, most of the gymnasts worked only one event each based upon the coaches' specific recommendations for where they needed to improve their technique or skill levels.       

Cassie Martin(Freshman): Call us pleasantly shocked on this date when we witnessed her already throwing two powerful 10.0 valued vaults into the pits with excellent height and form after only two weeks of official practice.  These included the "pinball vault" made famous by former Tider, Brittany Comeaux, (Yurchenko ½ on - front tuck - ½ tuck out) and the Omelianchik (Yurchenko ½ twist on - front pike off).  The coaches report Cassie is once again healthy after suffering back pain this past spring and will be training for the all around.

Bianca Puello

Melanie Banville (Freshman): The coaches have redesigned her bar routine in certain spots to accommodate collegiate rules.  On this date she was receiving lots of coaching from Bryan Raschilla on the Shaposhnikova release to the high bar followed by an immediate release back to handstand position on the low bar.  BTW, Melanie enjoys snacking on apples to help fuel her workout.

Bianca Puello (Freshman): On this date we saw her perform on the beam under the careful eye of Coach Patterson.  Her workout included several reps of the back handspring to layout-step-out, a switch leap to straddle - straddle combination, a punch front and a round off to double twist dismount.  Bianca has strong form and power on her punch front.

Courtney Priess (Freshman): Like we predicted earlier, Priess is training the Hristakieva vault (Yurchenko ½ off - front layout).  She was working on her form and body extension with this vault and her push off the table under David Patterson's supervision.  Priess is already in terrific shape after training this past summer at the Woodward Camp.

Ashley O'Neal (Freshman): She was working vault as well and threw powerful, clean front pikes before starting to twist it (1/2 out) towards the end of the practice session.  Ashley's twisting was consistently coming just a little late on this date but we expect the coaches will help her master this technique before long.

Dana Filetti

Amanda Montgomery (Freshman): She was doing lots of reps on the uneven bars to perfect the Gienger release move.  She also threw several nice double tuck dismounts but will hopefully start throwing the triple twisting flyaway when optimal conditioning has been achieved.   Amanda was a little sluggish in her technique at first (legs not tightly together or toes pointed) but started to show better technique and form as the practice wore on.

Ashley Ford (Freshman): We saw very nice form, toe point, extension and height from her during the front pike vault timers.  Like O'Neal, Ford started to twist this vault a little too late when she upgraded midway in practice and just needs more reps to refine her technique as well.  However, it looks like Bama will be in great shape for vaulting in 2006 with the progress we're already seeing in only two weeks of practice.

Terin Humphrey (Sophomore): She was perfecting the toe-on toe-off to half turn move repeatedly before adding a stalder towards the end of her workout.  After taking most of the summer off, it is amazing how quickly Terin has regained her skills on this event.  Prior to practice beginning on this date, she worked on new floor exercise choreography moves with Dana Duckworth and appeared pleased with the final dance elements that came out of this consultation.  Her music will remain the same for 2006 but the choreography will be more dramatic and crowd-engaging.

Terin Humphrey

Kaitlin White (Sophomore): Her Yurchenko 1/1 into the pits was fairly controlled but lacked adequate push off the table to obtain maximum height during twisting.  Based upon her performances last year by mid-season, we look for Kaitlin to adjust her technique quickly to claim her spot in the line-up for 2006.

Erin Rightley (Junior): We saw plenty of push off the vault table during her Yurchenko 1/1 efforts, resulting in excellent height and complete twisting into the pits.  If Erin is able to compete this vault as well as she practices it, look for her to also claim a position in the line-up.

Ashley Miles (Senior): Most of her reps were on the balance beam with rehab work on her ankle in between.  Timers for her double back dismount were included during this workout, along with the gainer back handspring to layout-step-out and a switch leap to switch split side leap.

Mari-Christine Bayer (Senior): She was working on the uneven bars and the balance beam today.  Highlights included a double layout dismount off the bars and front aerials on the beam.  Mari is just about recovered from her broken toe suffered at the water park this summer.

Dana Pierce (Senior): The Advance, Indiana native notched several reps on the uneven bars, showing nice form with her front giants and we even saw her throw timers for what looks like a double front dismount.  It would be terrific to see Dana throw this dismount again before she concludes her career at Alabama.

Ashley Miles

Rachael Delahoussaye (Senior): We saw terrific wolf full jumps on the balance beam from our Mandeville, Louisiana gal, along with timers for a three element tumbling series (back handspring - back handspring - layout).  Rachael also worked determinedly on a side Somi on the lower beam and her side switch leap.  She will be adding a switch leap to her gainer back pike for her dismount.

Dana Filetti (Senior): The Tide's 1st Team All America on the uneven bars was focusing today on the balance beam, where she has upgraded a few skills for her senior campaign. She is now throwing a Kotchetkova (full twisting back handspring) to back handspring combination and was working on a double tuck dismount with Coach Raschilla spotting. Dana's confidence on this event has increased significantly in just a year and she remains hungry to try new skills that will benefit the team.

Look for one more practice report during the week preceding the 2005 Ghosts vs Goblins Intrasquad (Sunday, October 30, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm in the Frances Smith Practice Gymnasium).   See you there!

Our Team