Shannon Hrozek: BRYAN'S WELL-KEPT SECRET

Alabama's coaches will tell you that recruiting "never stops" when it comes to the sport of gymnastics.  The annual plethora of Level 10 and Elite Level competitions around the country offers them several opportunities to analyze potential gymnasts throughout the year.  Assistant Coach Bryan Raschilla, who is in charge of recruiting for the Crimson Tide, set the bar high when he arrived on campus in 1996, vowing to go anywhere and everywhere to nab the best for Alabama's storied program.  In 2000 his eye was caught by a gymnast in Texas that was a Level 10 standout on the floor and vault.  She also had big-time all around skills that all three coaches felt would mesh very well with the Tide's philosophy of clean yet powerful gymnastics.  Her name was Shannon Hrozek and, like Alexis Brion, she made an immediate impact on the Alabama team as a freshman.  In 2002, Shannon earned 1^st Team All America honors on the balance beam and also contributed a key uneven bars routine to help seal the national title on the second night of competition.

While Shannon struggled periodically on the balance beam in her sophomore year, she never wavered on the uneven bars (15 of 15, average of 9.835, high of 9.90), the vault (9 of 9, average of 9.780, high of 9.85), or the floor exercise (6 of 6, average of 9.85, high of 9.95).  She finished 2^nd Team All America on the balance beam and is now ready to help pace the team in the all around for 2004.

New elements will be added for her junior campaign, including two powerful 10.0 vaults, a Yurchenko ½ off front layout and a Yurchenko 1/1.  On the uneven bars, Shannon is perfecting a second release and a new dismount (full out) to increase her scoring potential in the 9.90 and higher range on this event.  Her strong beam routine will remain the same but Shannon will debut a new floor routine with some of the most creative choreography we've seen yet by Dana Dobransky-Duckworth.  Dana has chosen the perfect music for Shannon and has really challenged the junior's interpretive dance skills to a new level.  Shannon will be called upon early to help lead Alabama's most balanced and talented team to date.