The Alabama Gymnastics team is fifth in the first rankings of the 2006 season after winning the Super 6 Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. on Friday.

The Florida Gators, Alabama's opponent for its home opener on Friday, Jan. 20, is currently ranked No. 1, followed by Georgia, Stanford and Utah. The top four teams from the Super Six Challenge are ranked 5-8, with Alabama at No. 5, followed by No. 6 Nebraska, No. 7 Iowa State and No. 8 LSU. UCLA and Denver round out the top-10, tied for ninth.

The Crimson Tide is tied for the No. 1 spot on the vault with Florida. Both squads produced 49.050 scores in their first meet. Alabama is led on the vault by the nation's No. 1 vaulter, senior Ashley Miles, a two-time NCAA vault champion.

The Tide is seventh on the floor exercise and the balance beam and 10th on the uneven bars. Sophomore Terin Humphrey, the 2005 NCAA uneven bars champion is tied for second on that event and is 10th on the balance beam. Freshman Brittany Magee is 13th on the vault and 15th on the balance beam. Miles and freshman Courtney Priess are tied for 18th on the uneven bars. Freshman Melanie Banville is 19th on the vault.

Of the Tide's eight freshmen, three are ranked this week. Of the Tide's 24 routines at the Super Six Challenge, 13 came from the freshmen class. Alabama returns to action Saturday in Happy Valley, Pa., facing Penn State and Arizona.

Alabama opens its home season Jan. 20 against the Gators with its "Drive 4 the Cure" meet which benefits breast cancer. Tickets are available at 205.348.2262 or online at www.rolltide.com.

--UA--