Alabama enters the third week of competion ranked # 3 in the country while Auburn is ranked # 22. The Tide will look to rebound from their loss at Georgia by taking on their cross-state rival at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 1999, in Tuscaloosa. This is the only regular season meet between the teams and the competition should be better this year for a number of reasons. Auburn has senior Sarah Balogach, a former USA National Team member, who will be pacing the Tigers in the all-around, while junior Sarah Wentworth will provide additional leadership on the uneven bars, her specialty (9.90 last week versus LSU). Auburn has several freshmen and sophomores that, throughout the course of this season, will contribute much-needed depth on all four events as long as they can remain healthy. Of note, this is Coach Robert DillardÆs final year as the head coach and you can be sure he would like nothing better than to go out with an upset win over Alabama. Unfortunately, he would first have to take out four USA National Team members, the USA Junior Olympic all-around champion, the Elite Canada National Bars Champion and Canadian National Team member, the all-around state champions from Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and New Hampshire, and....you get the picture. Personally, Pooh BearÆs assistants are glad that DillardÆs final regular season meet against Alabama will be on our turf because strange things sometimes happen down in Auburn during gymnastics meets, like sudden uncharacteristic falls from bars and beam and lower vault scores by the judges. Must be that Tiger eye hypnotizing us or something! Look for the Tide to continue increasing their vault start values (three out of six last week were 10.0; possibly four or more this week) and for freshman Krista Gole to make her debut at home on this event. Uneven bars will possibly see freshman Natalie Barrington enter the line-up and exhibitions by Krista Gole, Lexa Evans and Lissy Smith to increase our depth on this event. Making the balance beam line-up continues to be a competitive process among more than half of the Tide gymnasts but it is starting to look like seniors Gwen Spidle and Mandy Chapman and sophomore Lissy Smith have solidified their positions at the sixth, fourth and first spots respectively. Primary competitors (at this time) for the remaining three spots are Raegan Tomasek, Andree Pickens, Alexa Martinez and Robin Hawkins. However, donÆt be surprised if you see Dara Stewart, Whitney Morgan, Natalie Barrington or Gina Logan (central regional beam champion) doing exhibitions, which will push the "regulars" to perform even better, no doubt! On the floor exercise there should be an opportunity to exhibit several new routines, possibly by Whitney, Natalie and Lexa. Krista has a great routine with dynamic tumbling (full-in mount) that we hope to see very soon. Raegan TomasekÆs double front Arabian may be debuted to the home crowd since she was so close to standing it up during the Georgia meet on the 16^th. Bring your friends and family and help us sell this one out! Roll Tide!