Coming off a Southeastern Conference Championship, an NCAA Regional title and a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, the Crimson Tide finds itself in the enviable position of returning all but one gymnast off last year's championship squad. Of course, filling in for that one athlete will be tough. Kristin Sterner graduated as an 11-time All-American and two-year captain of the Tide. But Alabama has four freshmen ready to step in and help with the transition, plus 12 veterans ready to improve on last seasons results.

Improve on two postseason titles and a No. 2 national finish? Obviously that will take some doing, but this squad has a definite advantage over last year's, namely experience. While Alabama is still one of the nation's youngest team, with 10 athletes in its freshman and sophomore classes, the Tide now has 12 athletes with at least a year of collegiate experience under their belt, as opposed to just seven last year.

Last season the largely revamped lineup was looking to carve out its own identity, this season, with so many returners, the Tide can focus on building on last year's accomplishments.

"Winning the SEC Championship was definitely the defining moment for last year's team," head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We took one of, if not THE youngest teams in the nation to Birmingham and they brought back the championship in the closest, most down the wire meets imaginable. This year we can build on the experience we gained last season and focus on getting better across the board."

This may be the most talented and the deepest team Sarah and David Patterson have had in their 26 seasons. With 16 highly talented athletes, the Pattersons, along with assistant coach Bryan Raschilla and volunteer coach Dana Duckworth, will have their hands full figuring out how to best utilize each athlete, but that is certainly a good problem to have.

Keying Alabama's hunt for NCAA title No. 5 will be the Tide's six returning All-Americans. Leading that group will be reigning SEC Gymnast of the Year Jeana Rice. Rice earned five All-American honors last season, giving her 13 for her career. Not only is Rice one of the nation's very best gymnasts, but she has continued to improve through her career.

Seniors Lauren Holdefer and Stephanie Kite both return ready to take a spot in the Tide's vault and floor exercise lineups. Last season Kite earned All-American status on the floor and set up the Tide's SEC title when she scored a career best 9.925 in the Tide's next to last routine of the night. Both Kite and Holdefer, a Northport native, could also see duty on the balance beam.

Junior Alexis Brion took most of last season to recover from off-season ankle surgery, but was well enough by the NCAA Championships to earn All-American honors on the vault. This season, a healthy Brion could see action in the all-around, and will certainly be a welcome and exciting addition to the Tide's balance beam lineup. Fans can also look forward to the return of her high flying floor routine. Junior Shannon Hrozek earned her second straight All-American honor on the balance beam last season and should again see all-around action during the season. The Tide's lead off on the balance beam last season, earning All-SEC honors in the process, junior Michelle Reeser may add the uneven bars to her list of duties. She is also slated to return on the floor where she is a fan favorite.

Sophomore Ashley Miles was arguably the nation's most exciting athlete last season on the vault and the floor exercise. She clinched the SEC title last year with a huge routine that scored a 9.975 in the Tide's last routine of the night. She scored a 10.0 on the floor at the NCAA Regionals and capped a huge rookie season by winning the NCAA Vault title. She returns this season ready to compete on all four events. Mari-Christine Bayer opened up her rookie year with All-American honors on the uneven bars and balance beam in 2003. This season she could see action in the all-around, using her long lines and graceful routines to their full advantage.

Sophomore Dana Filetti is running away with the "most improved" title in the pre-season. After competing exclusively on the uneven bars last season, she could go all-around this season. Her floor routine will include some big, exciting tumbling. She may also be the first gymnast to compete a full on, pike off vault in NCAA competition. Larissa Stewart returns for her second season slowed after cutting a tendon in her hand while using scissors to open a package. All-SEC on the uneven bars last season, Stewart started swinging on the bars again in December. Sophomore Dana Pierce should again compete on the vault, uneven bars and balance beam this year while classmate Rachael Delahoussaye could again see action on the balance beam.

The Tide's rookie four consists of Brittany Comeaux, Johnna Gay, Meredith Laxton and Erin Rightley. Comeaux could see action in the all-around, with the uneven bars and vault being her top events right now. Gay looked good on the vault and floor exercise in the preseason. Her bubbly personality shines through in her floor routine, making her routine one to look forward to. Laxton will be trying to break into the Tide's balance beam and uneven bars lineup while Rightley could make an impact on the Tide's beam and floor lineup. Rightley is another gymnast, whose huge tumbling on the floor can bring fans to their feet.

It is a good thing that Alabama's lineup is far more experienced this season, because they will dive right into the thick of things, hosting the Super Six Challenge on January 9th. That meet, which will feature Georgia, Florida, Oregon State, Oklahoma and Denver, is the first of the Alabama's five Fun Family Fridays. The decision was made to move all the home meets to Friday this season.

"I was looking for a way to kind of become a marquee event on Friday night for families," Patterson said. "I think we provide great entertainment for the whole family and we're a bargain in terms of ticket prices."

Patterson has again put together a schedule that will be exciting for the fans and challenging for her squad. In addition to the Super Six Challenge, Alabama faces perennial powerhouses Penn State, Florida and Georgia along with scrappy newcomer Arkansas in Coleman Coliseum in addition to seeing LSU, Auburn, Kentucky and Michigan on the road.

And once the regular season is over, Alabama will defend its SEC title in Duluth, Ga. at the Gwinnett Convention Center and challenge for the NCAA title in Los Angeles, Calif. in Pauley Pavilion.