Tonight is senior night in Coleman Coliseum. The Tide gets set to honor senior team members, Dara Stewart, Robin Hawkins, Lissy Smith and Katie Hornecker along with manager Sarah Harris and student coach April Makinson.

April Makinson has adjusted well to the transition from gymnast to coach. An injury keeps her from performing, but not from contributing to the Tide's success.

"April is a wonderful coach," Coach Sarah Patterson said. "She has a great attitude that really encourages the athletes. She is also a keen observer, which helps with the technical side of coaching."

As a gymnast, April earned Scholastic All-American Honors and Academic All-SEC honors two years in a row and as a coach she has helped her team to a SEC Championship last year.

Senior manager Sarah Harris is another person who even though she is out of the limelight contributes a lot to this team. She and fellow manager Allison Spidle are responsible for everything from videotaping meets to organizing warm-ups and leotards for each meet. Because of her contribution to the team, Sarah received a SEC championship ring right along with the gymnasts.

The Tide has an incredible class of seniors this year. Each is a Scholastic All-American and a Academic All-SEC.

All-American Katie Hornecker was in the best shape of her career this season when she injured her Achilles' in warm-ups prior to the LSU meet cutting short her senior year.

Katie is still a team player though, within 30 minutes of her injury she was back out on the floor to support her team. Following her surgery Katie even called the gymnastics' office to find out what color leotards the girls were wearing that week so she could color coordinate her cast.

All-American Lissy Smith has been voted Captain by the team two years in a row and has been the anchor of the beam line-up for the last three. Her sophomore year she competed in every meet and did not have single fall on beam.

Lissy is perhaps best known as a beam performer, but she is always ready to step into the floor or uneven bar lineup when she's needed.

Dara Stewart, an All-American on the uneven bars, has been another such gymnast for the Tide. Her skill level has continued to improve throughout her four years here. She continues to push the envelope and word harder to add new skills. (It's possible that Dara might debut a new bar dismount this weekend.)

Dara began as an uneven bar performer for the Tide but has worked her way into the vault and beam lineups through her skill and determination.

Robin Hawkins has been a huge asset to the team this year on the floor exercise. Named SEC Freshman of the year, Robin has made of triumphant recovery from a torn ligament, which cut her season short last year. Robin made her return to the floor exercise at the LSU meet and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Come join us to honor these seniors who have contributed so much to Alabama Gymnastics and watch Alabama compete against Kentucky, Saturday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m.