"Yes, its time for another 'random thoughts' article. Of course, I get unfairly accused of having nothing but random thoughts. I sure am glad college gymnastics doesn't have a 'BCS'. Wait. . . what was the topic? Oh, yeah, random thoughts:"

The Alabama Gymnastics team, NCAA Runner-up a year ago, is third in the national preseason coaches' poll released this week.

"We're obviously pleased to be ranked in the preseason top 5," head coach Sarah Patterson said. "But we also know that it's not where you start but where you finish. If we can stay healthy we can achieve our goal of being on the floor the last night of the season with a chance to win a national title."

Defending NCAA Champion UCLA is ranked No. 1 by the coaches while Georgia, who finished third in 2003, is second. Utah and Michigan are fourth and fifth respectively.

The Alabama Gymnasts will join in at The Medalist Club's annual Preseason BBQ Sunday, December 14th from 4 - 6 p.m. in the Scholarship Room of Bryant Denny Stadium.

The Medalist Club is the booster organization for the four-time NCAA Champion Crimson Tide. The BBQ is open to members of the Medalist Club only, but memberships can be obtained and renewed at the door. The BBQ costs $8 per person..

2004 info for TenTroupe

• Alabama Gymnastics TenTroupe: The Tradition Continues!

We have a new "Chalk Talk" from Coach Patterson:

• ChalkTalk: Thursday, December 11, 2003

Every year since the Crimson Tide's new practice facility opened in 1996, the Alabama Gymnastics team has invited the children of the Stallings RISE Center over for a holiday get together. This year was no different, as the gymnasts took sometime away from training for the upcoming season and studying for fast approaching exams to spend some time playing in the facility with their young friends. Even Santa took a break for getting ready for the holidays, stopping by to hear a few Christmas lists.

We've got a photo album for the 2004 Rise Party

• Photo Album: HC Parade (Sunday, October 26, 2003)

Here are a few of the Photos:
(Click on a thumbnail to view a full size picture)

25 kb RiseParty2004 brion1

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26 kb RiseParty2004 delahoussaye

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.

Alexis Brion is 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.