BRION SETS NEW GOALS FOR 2004

Alexis Brionis one of Alabama's most celebrated recruits.  Back in 1995 at age 12, she was poised on the brink of international stardom as a junior elite.  Despite competing at only 4 feet - 1 inch, she was tumbling spectacular passes on the floor that included a double layout, a full-in pike, and a whip to triple twist.  She was also the first gymnast to successfully compete a double twisting double back in the pike position on the floor.  But the years of pounding eventually took their toil and her dreams of making the Olympic Team were shelved to allow for her body to heal.  There was a time between ages 16-18 that she considered giving up elite gymnastics altogether but fortunately for the Bama faithful, she continued training and competing, with her eyes on a college scholarship.  When Alexis narrowed her choices to Georgia and Alabama, Tide fans who knew of her extraordinary talent kept their fingers crossed that she would choose the Crimson and White leo to don for her four years of collegiate competition.  Once Alexis committed to the Tide, Coach Patterson vowed to help her re-experience the fun, enjoyable aspects of gymnastics through collegiate team competition.

After electrifying Crimson Tide fans in 2002 with All America performances on the vault and floor exercise events, the sophomore-to-be was hoping for even bigger and better things in 2003.  While a nagging ankle injury delayed Alexis' return to the line-up on these two events until mid-season, she was still able to contribute critical scores in the post-season to help her team win the 2003 SEC Championship, the Central Regional Championship and a second-place finish at NCAAs.  Along the way Alexis picked up another 1^st Team All America honor on the vault and was inserted into the floor line-up on the second night to ensure a top score.  Now, Brion is back, healthier than she has been since her freshman year and ready to move into the all around.

For 2004, Alexis will be gunning for a second 1^st Team All America title on the floor by tumbling a dynamic new routine that may see the addition of a double layout.  She has been training this element as well as her signature sky-high double tuck in fall workouts and will be retaining the front pike ½ twist vault (8 for 8 with an average of 9.872 in 2003).  On the uneven bars, the coaches have challenged Alexis to regain her elite skills on this event for 2004 and she has responded wonderfully, mastering a full turn to Tkatchev combination and a full turn to double tuck dismount.  Her routine is now being refined with an additional release (pak Salto) and possibly a double front dismount.  Alexis has wonderful technique on the bars and the coaches are confident that she now has a routine that is competitive for 2004.  On the balance beam she has retained her elite skills as well, throwing a switch leap - switch leap combination, a back handspring - back handspring - layout flight series, a ¾ straddle jump, a punch front and a Rudi dismount (running 1 ½ twist).  Bama fans are hoping that Alexis has a healthy junior season and achieves all of her goals for the Crimson Tide.