The University of Alabama Gymnastics Team finished 2nd at the 2004 SEC Championships and it was once again a fight to the end between the premier programs in the conference, UA and UGA. The Dawgs reclaimed the crown with a 198.175 final score to Bama's 197.950, showing relentless determination on the balance beam and floor exercise to seal the victory

We've got a new slide show and a photo album for the Penn State Meet

• Slide Show: Penn State Meet
• Photo Album: Penn State Meet

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

83 kb 01.Alexis displays perfect landing form

79 kb 02.Coach David applauds Dana F's fine effort

72 kb 03.Brittany swings a nice giant to

Usually, a trip from Alabama to Los Angeles, Calif. does not involve a stop in Oregon, but that's just the route the Alabama Gymnastics team is looking to take.

The No. 3 ranked Crimson Tide will travel to Corvallis, Ore. to compete in the NCAA West Region on Saturday, April 3 for one of two spots available from that regional to the NCAA Championships hosted by UCLA.

"We're looking forward to earning our ticket to the NCAA Championships," head coach Sarah Patterson said. "It's a long trip, but we will be on Spring Break, so we're not as crunched in terms of classes and travel. We will go out Wednesday afternoon and use Thursday to adjust."

DULUTH, GA - The Alabama Gymnastics team posted a season best 197.950 at the 2004 Southeastern Conference Championships but fell just short of Georgia's 198.175, finishing second.

It marks the 14th time Alabama has finished in the top-2 since 1985. LSU was third with a 197.275, followed by Florida's 197.225 in fourth and Auburn's 195.925 in fifth. Arkansas finished sixth with a 194.825 while Kentucky took seventh with a 193.850. Alabama's 197.950 was its highest ever at the SEC Championship and fifth highest all-time.

"We didn't beat ourselves tonight," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We went out there and gave a tremendous performance. We just ran into a red hot team tonight. There were so many great things about what our athletes did tonight that we can use to make us better in NCAA competition."

Despite the sub-freezing temperature outside the Crisler Arena on March 12, 2004, the Alabama gymnasts were putting on a performance indoors that warmed the hearts of Crimson Tide and Wolverine fans alike.  And, regardless of the cold weather and the distance from Tuscaloosa, Bama boasted approximately 50 boisterous fans in attendance, led by Russell Moore.  The trip was worth it, as the Tide netted a decisive 197.725 to 197.025 victory over Michigan, sealing a 12-1 regular season record and a #3 national ranking for the week of March 15th.  Jeana Rice received her second SEC Gymnast of the Week award and is ready to lead her team into the post-season championship run.

The Alabama Gymnastics team will start the defense of its Southeastern Conference Championship on the uneven bars Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m. ET at The Arena in the Gwinett Center in Duluth, Ga.

The Crimson Tide's rotation order was decided today by a random draw. Starting on the uneven bars, the Tide will move to the balance beam before taking a bye for rotation three. The floor exercise will follow, then another bye before finishing competition on the vault. The Tide will sit on a bye for the seventh and final rotation to see where they will finish the meet.

This is the same rotation Alabama started the season with at the Super Six Challenge, a meet that also featured Georgia and Florida, and one the Tide won.

Alabama senior All-American Jeana Rice was named Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week for the second time this season coming on the heels of a standout performance in the Crimson Tide's regular season finale at Michigan.

Rice tied her career best all-around mark against the Wolverines, posting a 39.750. She rang up scores of 9.950 on the uneven bars and balance beam and 9.925 on the vault and floor exercise. She won the all-around, bars and beam and was second on the vault and floor. Rice shares this week's honor with Florida's junior Erinn Dooley who posted the same all-around score at home in a loss to No. 1 ranked UCLA.

Alabama Gymnastics senior Stephanie Kite is a member of the inaugural Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Good Works Team, which was announced today. The SEC sponsors a Good Works Teams for all 20 sports it sponsors. The Gymnastics Good Works Team represents seven SEC gymnasts, one from each competing institution. The Good Works Team highlights an athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts.

"The Crimson Tide has fought through a long season, seven kinds of flu and cold bugs, wind and snow, some nagging injuries, arctic temperatures - and one tough loss - to arrive at just the point in time when they need you the most. Let's all take a solemn vow to show up in droves at the Gwinnett Center Arena this coming Saturday, March 20th for the 2004 SEC Gymnastics Championship."

NOTE: the departure time from Tuscaloosa has changed to 9:30 AM.

From [ our bustrips page ]:

The only other trip this season will be to the SEC Competition in Duluth, GA at the Gwinett Center. This will be March 20, 2004. This WILL NOT be an overnight trip. We will leave the Coleman Coliseum parking lot(east side) at approximately 9:30am, stop in Birmingham at the Sheraton Perimeter (circa 10:30) parking lot to pick up any Birmingham area fans, then continue on to Duluth. We will leave Duluth immediately following the end of the meet and return to Birmingham & Tuscaloosa. The cost of the bus trip is $30.00. You will need to have your own SEC Competition ticket. There is a block of rooms available for anyone who intends to travel by private vechicle at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Duluth at a cost of $55.00+tax & including continental breakfast. You may call their toll-free number 800-426-7866 and ask for the Medalist Club block to reserve. We will make meal stops.

Contact person for this bus trip:

• Lucy Liles at 205-556-1171

[Gwinnett Center map from www.gwinnettcenter.com ]

Gwinnett Center area map from MapQuest

Gwinnett Center is located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, Georgia 30097. This is located about 10 miles northeast of I-285, just off I-85.

Traveling North of I-285 on I-85 (from Atlanta): Take Exit 108/Sugarloaf Parkway. Turn right off the exit, go back under the Interstate and cross over Satellite Boulevard. The Center will be on your left.

Alternate Route: Take I-85 to Exit 107/Highway 120 West. Turn right on Satellite Boulevard. The Center will be 1/2 mile on your left.

Alternate Concert Route: Take I-85 North to Exit 107, Highway 120 West toward Duluth (Exit will force you into correct direction). Cross over Satellite Blvd. Continue to next light at Meadow Church and take a right. Continue to Sugarloaf Parkway (next light) and turn right. The Arena will be on your right.

From the Gwinnett Place Mall take Satellite Boulevard north 2-1/2 miles. The Center is located on your left.

The Arena is the northernmost large building on the Gwinnett Center campus, and parking is to the north and to the east of the Arena.

The Alabama Crimson Tide welcomed second-year program Arkansas to Coleman Coliseum for the first time in a dual meet and claimed another Bama victory in the process: 197.325 to 196.450. It was Senior Night as well for Tide greats Jeana Rice, Stephanie Kite and Lauren Holdefer. Each performed very well for the home crowd as they took their final bow in Tuscaloosa. With this meet, Alabama completed the SEC regular season with a 5-1 record (11-1 overall record for the season) but will have one more meet against Michigan (March 12) before heading to the SEC Championships. The highlights were many so we'll dive right in.

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

• ChalkTalk: Thursday, March 04, 2004

The Alabama Gymnastics team remains in third place in the latest national rankings released today.

The Crimson Tide, which finished its home season last Friday with a win over No. 20 Arkansas, still leads the nation by average score, but holds a 197.325 regional qualifying score, which determines the rankings until the NCAA Championships in April.

UCLA remains No. 1, while Georgia stands just ahead of the Tide at No. 2. LSU jumped six spots in the rankings to land at No. 4 and Stanford is No. 5. Utah stands in sixth, followed by Florida and Iowa State. Arizona and Oklahoma round out the top-10.