As a four-time NCAA Champion, former Alabama gymnast Ashley Miles has enjoyed some tremendous moments in Coleman Coliseum and even though she finished her career last spring, the 2006 National Gymnast of the Year will have another standout moment on Saturday when she walks across the stage as a college graduate.

"It's hard to believe it's already here," Miles said. "They tell you that it will go fast, but you have no idea until you get to this point. I am tremendously proud of what I have been a part of at this University. There is no where else I could have had the career that I did at Alabama. Of everything I have accomplished since I've been here, Saturday will be the high point. Earning a degree is what I came to Tuscaloosa for and I can't wait to walk across that stage."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Gymnastics team hosted its annual Christmas party for the children from the Stallings RISE Center in the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility.

Head Coach Sarah Patterson and the Crimson Tide have joined with RISE for a Christmas party for more than a dozen years and have hosted the party in their practice facility since it opened in 1996. As always, the gymnasts and RISE students were joined by a special guest when Santa Claus made an appearance.

The Alabama Gymnastics Team was hard at work again this past Sunday with another intrasquad on uneven bars and vault. The team also practiced full reps on the balance beam and continued to work through their floor choreography. Junior Terin Humphrey has made great strides in her recovery from elbow surgery (removal of bone chips in each) that occurred approximately three weeks ago and was working vault, bars and balance beam, as well as a full dance through on the floor. Sophomore Courtney Priess competed her full routine on bars and practiced several big skills on the balance beam, while junior Kaitlin White blocked out her new floor routine with the help of Dana Dobransky-Duckworth.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama Gymnastics program signed Jennifer Iovino to a national letter of intent in the early signing period according to head coach Sarah Patterson. Iovino will wear the crimson and white of Alabama starting with the 2008 season.

"We are thrilled to have Jennifer join our program and look forward to the many great qualities and talent she brings to the Crimson Tide," Patterson said. "Jennifer and her family went through the recruiting process early in her junior year, visiting many of the nation's top programs. We feel fortunate that she committed to the University of Alabama early in the process. Having her finally be able to sign her national letter of intent is exciting for all."

The defending Level 10 National Floor Exercise Champion, Iovino also finished third in the all-around at the 2006 nationals. She competed at the 2005 United States Championships as a senior international elite.

We have a Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2007 Quad autograph session.

• Photo Album: 2007 Quad autograph session
• Slide Show: 2007 Quad autograph session

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

200169 bytes 01. JR Kaitlin White in a pre-signing interview

259342 bytes 02. The south line gets the sunshine

242143 bytes 03. and Bama gymnasts brighten the cool north line

Show your support of Alabama Gymnastics by joining the Medalist Club. Join by December 1^st to ensure that you receive your membership card, t-shirts, parking passes, and other benefits applicable to your membership level before the first meet.

We have a Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2007 Ghosts vs Goblins Intrasquad Meet.

• Photo Album: 2007 Ghosts vs Goblins Intrasquad Meet
• Slide Show: 2007 Ghosts vs Goblins Intrasquad Meet

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

395580 bytes 01. Goblin Erin posts a last sign

217655 bytes 02. and Ghost Amanda energizes a Cackling Ghost

100036 bytes 03. as Ghost & Goblins & Others gather for the annual rematch

Greetings from the Medalist Club,

The 2007 NCAA Women's Gymnastics National Championships will be held April 26-28, 2007, on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the championships, the Alabama gymnastics team will be staying at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center (the former Doubletree). At this writing, there are rooms available at the Hilton. However, the Medalist Club was unable to secure a block of rooms there at a rate favorable, and with other considerations acceptable, to our membership.

Fortunately, we have been presented with an opportunity to block 20 one-bedroom suites and 15 two-bedroom suites rooms at the Residence Inn City Center, which is only a block or two away from the team hotel.

The Medalist Club is currently soliciting nominations for the third annual SPDAA. The purpose of this award is to continue the Alabama Gymnastics tradition of involvement with the people who have been the basis of the creation of this exceptional program. It is the intention of the Medalist club to cite and honor those members of the Alabama Gymnastics family who continue to lead in life and in their profession as they did in the gym and in the classroom while contributing to the success of the program on a daily basis. Our first two recipients of the award, Barbara Mack Harding and Patti Rice Eggers exemplify the criteria for this award.

• Sarah Patterson Distinguished Alumni Award

The Alabama Crimson Tide Gymnastics Team held their annual spook-tacular intra- squad on Sunday, October 29, 2006, for the fans in the Francis Smith Practice Facility on the campus of the University of Alabama. After officially starting pre- season practices on September 11th, the team has been working diligently to perfect skills that will be incorporated into full competitive routines by Thanksgiving.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama junior gymnast Terin Humphrey, an NCAA Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, underwent successful surgery Tuesday to remove bone chips from both elbows.

For Humphrey, a nine-time All-American through her first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, the surgery corrected a long standing ailment that had grown more painful as her career progressed.

"Terin has had difficulty with both elbows from many years of competitive gymnastics at the elite level," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "It was time for us to take care of the problem and give her some relief. She came through the surgery like the true champion she is, and will begin rehabilitation immediately."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team, in the midst of preseason training, is having an extra busy week.

Thursday night, Sarah Patterson serves as hostess for "A Nite of the Green" a charity gala that raised money for the DCH Breast Cancer Fund started in 2004 to support Patterson's "Power of Pink" initiatives. And that's just the start of a hectic schedule that runs through the weekend.

"We have a busy week, but certainly an exciting one," Patterson said. "The ladies are certainly looking forward to getting out into the community and lending a helping hand as well as meeting the fans and getting a taste of competition on Sunday."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After nearly a year of planning and hard work, "A Nite on the Green" is finally here.

Alabama Gymnastics head coach Sarah Patterson along with many others have been working since last year's "Drive 4 the Cause" event to put together a gala event that would benefit the DCH Breast Cancer Fund which was created by Patterson with the DCH Foundation to support her "Power of Pink" initiatives.

All that planning and work comes to life this Thursday, October 26, with "A Nite on the Green", held at the Bryant Conference Center starting at 5 p.m. Tickets for the event ($40 for an individual and $70 for a couple) can be purchased at Tuscaloosa Toyota, First National Bank of Central Alabama, Bank of Tuscaloosa and DCH Foundation, Inc.

PBAs and Salto were in attendance for another GymTide practice this past week and we have a brief report to share with the fans. Let's get right to the highlights...

Fall is in the air, the leaves are turning colors, footballs are flying...that can mean only one thing - it's time for our annual Medalist Club membership drive! Current Medalist Club members will soon receive a membership brochure, which includes an application form, in the mail. If you would like to become a member of the Medalist Club, there is a membership brochure and application form available online here.

We have a mini Photo album (and a slide show) for the Rings Ceremony (Saturday, October 14, 2006).

• Photo Album: Rings Ceremony (Saturday, October 14, 2006)
• Slide Show: Rings Ceremony (Saturday, October 14, 2006)

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

258962 bytes 01 Ashley Miles and AD Mal moore

165224 bytes 02 Coach Sarah, AD Mal Moore and Ashley

153282 bytes 03 Honda's Rick Schostek presents the honda Award to Ashley

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Four-time NCAA Champion and 2006 National Gymnast of the year Ashley Miles one of the most decorated student-athletes in University of Alabama history was honored at halftime of today's Alabama-Ole Miss football game.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama gymnastics sophomore Melanie Banville has retired from gymnastics due to a pre-existing and ongoing back problem. A Scholastic All-American last season, Banville has withdrawn from the University and returned to her home in Long Sault, Ontario.

"Melanie struggled with this injury last year and took most the summer off from training to see if this would help make a difference," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "She feels she can no longer continue in the sport of gymnastics and, if she is not able to compete for the team, would rather finish her education closer to her home, her family and her friends. Melanie qualified for a medical exemption and could have continued her education here at the university on scholarship, but made the personal choice to return home. We wish her well and know that she will continue to be an excellent student."

A member of the 2004 Canadian Olympic Team, Banville made an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide as a freshman, winning the 2006 Southeastern Conference uneven bars title and earning All-American honors.

The Pattersons have been part of the Adopt-a-School project for several years, lending their time and support.

Sarah and David Patterson, in the midst of their 29th season coaching the Alabama Gymnastics team, were on hand at the Country Club of Tuscaloosa Thursday morning, serving as honorary chairs of the Tuscaloosa Adopt-a-School golf and tennis tournaments.

The 2007 season will feature three bus trips to away meets, including one to the SEC Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas. For additional information, please refer to the bus trip page.

Here's a video montage of the Sunday, September 17th "Show and Tell" practice, once again presented in three sizes to suit your internet connection speed:

09/17/2006 - Show and Tell Practice

• Dial-up speed (1.06 MB)
• High speed internet (3.88 MB)
• Broadband only (36.9 MB)

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

• Chalk talk - Highlights for the 2007 season

We have lots of Tidebits to share from Bama's "Show and Tell" practice this past weekend, including some amazing tumbling already being thrown by our gymnasts. Let's start with some "housekeeping" notes before we get into the technical skills.

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

• Chalk talk - Think Pink and Think Bama!

The GymTide began official practice on Monday, September 11, and we hope to have a brief practice report up soon. In the meantime, we have created a short video montage of some of the sights and scenes from the team's first day of preparation for their 5th National Championship. In an exciting development, you are all cordially invited to the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility this Sunday (09/17/06) at 1:30pm for what the coaches are calling a 'Show and Tell' session - a chance to meet the freshmen and get a look at what the team is working on. Note that spectator space is limited in the practice facility and there will also be a volleyball match starting at 1:30 in The CAVE. (It will be Bama volleyball vs. Ole' Miss. Admission is free, so why not make it a 'doubleheader'? Come by, check out the GymTide, and have a look at Bama volleyball in action, as well!).

• Dial-up speed (717 KB)
• High speed internet (5.72 MB)
• Broadband only (32.2 MB)

Coach Sarah Patterson and David DeSantis of Tuscaloosa Toyota have teamed up once again to help out the DCH Foundation, a fund supporting breast cancer awareness and early detection for area women who otherwise would not be able to afford the breast cancer screening and tests. You may have seen Coach Patterson and Mr. Desantis on TV promoting 'A Nite on the Green', a new event prior to the Tuscaloosa Toyota/DCH Foundation Golf Classic. The event will feature "The Tip Tops," a dance and show band from New Orleans, a silent auction, a live auction, and a chance to win a 2007 Toyota Camry from Tuscaloosa Toyota. 'A Nite on the Green' will be Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Bryant Conference Center. Tickets can be purchased for $40 for an individual and $70 for a couple at Tuscaloosa Toyota, First National Bank of Central Alabama, Bank of Tuscaloosa and DCH Foundation, Inc.

PBAs had a chance to catch 2007 Tide signee, Kayla Hoffman, in action this past weekend at the 2006 U.S. Classic in Kansas City, Missouri. Kayla finished 10^th in the All Around and earned the silver medal (2^nd) on the Floor Exercise. Here are some of the highlights of her routines.

TUSCALOOSA, ALA - The University of Alabama Gymnastics team continues to reap the benefits of yet another outstanding season with nine gymnasts earning Scholastic All-American honors this week.

The Crimson Tide's latest honors caps off a season that saw them finish third at the NCAA Championships and produce a 3.4 team grade point average. To earn Scholastic All-American honors, awarded by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches, a student-athlete must carry a 3.5 or better GPA.

"This is another outstanding achievement by our ladies," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "At Alabama it is our mandate to excel not just in the gym, but in all aspects of collegiate life. Each of our student-athletes works extremely hard to be the best that they can be and this is certainly proof of that."

We have a brand new Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2006 NCAA Championships (SuperSix - part2).

• Photo Album: 2006 NCAA Championships (SuperSix - part2)
• Slide Show: 2006 NCAA Championships (SuperSix - part2)

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

219930 bytes 232 Coach Sarah consoles Sr Mari

262334 bytes 233 Terin prepares to demo the Humphrey

241764 bytes 234 and finishes it perfectly

So as we say goodbye to the outstanding, high-achieving senior class of 2006, what can the Tide fans expect for 2007? How will the coaches and team approach the 2007 season without the dynamic personality and athletic leadership of Ashley Miles in the line-up? Who will replace her and the other All America routines from the 2006 graduating class? What will it take to turn this predominantly youthful Tide team into a title-hungry machine by post-season? Let's break down the classes to see where Bama's coaches will likely focus their pre-season training objectives in order to prepare for the 2007 season. We will focus on the upper classes in this initial article and Part II will highlight the freshmen after they arrive on campus and experience their first few practices with the team in September. Part III will highlight how the entire team is looking at the annual Ghosts vs Goblins intra-squad at the end of October.

The Alabama Crimson Tide claimed the 3rd Place bronze trophy at the 2006 NCAA Championships in Corvallis, Oregon, the fifth straight year that Alabama as a team has achieved no less than a Top 3 national finish. Along the way, Bama capped off a 14-1 regular season, a 2nd Place showing at the SEC Championships and a 1st Place West Regional victory.

We have a brand new Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2006 NCAA Championships (SuperSix - part1).

• Photo Album: 2006 NCAA Championships (SuperSix - part1)
• Slide Show: 2006 NCAA Championships (SuperSix - part1)

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

118034 bytes 001 Prelims over, Bama lightens up for SuperSix

246861 bytes 002 Ashley O finds a mimic in Mari

240209 bytes 003 Brittany and

We have a brand new Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2006 Awards Banquet.

• Photo Album: 2006 Awards Banquet
• Slide Show: 2006 Awards Banquet

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

311310 bytes 01 2006 AA Melanie Banville, Brittany Magee, Terin Humphrey and Ashley Miles

626997 bytes 02 Central Region Gymnast of the Year Ashley Miles and David

322560 bytes 03 Mari Bayer and Rachael Delahoussaye

May 3, 2006 - Ashley Miles, a University of Alabama senior, has been chosen the nation's top collegiate female gymnast for 2006. The honor was based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program, now in its 30th year.

Miles' victory will earn her the Honda Award, given annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, along with automatic nomination for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. She was voted over three other nominees: Courtney Kupets, a freshman at The University of Georgia, Ashley Postell, a sophomore at The University of Utah, and Kate Richardson, a senior at The University of California at Los Angeles. The candidates were selected by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches.

Miles won her third NCAA vault title this year, making her only the second gymnast in NCAA history, and first in over twenty years, to win a trio of vault titles. It was her fourth overall NCAA title (vault 2003, 2004 and 2005; floor exercise 2004). As a senior, Miles earned All-American honors in the all-around, vault and floor exercise, pushing her career total to 12, all of which are first team honors. She also won the NCAA West Region floor exercise and vault titles in 2006, closing out her career with four consecutive regional wins on both those events.

We have a brand new Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2006 NCAA Championship Session 1 (Thurs).

• Photo Album: 2006 NCAA Championship Session 1 (Thurs)
• Slide Show: 2006 NCAA Championship Session 1 (Thurs)

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

244571 bytes 001 Ashley O'Neal floor sequence

245102 bytes 002 Ashley O 2

197487 bytes 003 Ashley O 3

Alabama senior Ashley Miles, the 2006 NCAA Vault Champion, is one of four finalists for this year's Honda Award for Gymnastics.

Miles is up against UCLA's Kate Richardson, Utah's Ashley Postell and Georgia's Courtney Kupets for the award which denotes the nation's top gymnast.

"Wow, that's really cool," Miles said. "I'm honored to be considered for such a prestigious award and to represent the University of Alabama in this way."

Corvallis, Ore - And then she had four.

Alabama senior Ashley Miles won the fourth individual NCAA Gymnastics Championship of her career here tonight, dominating the field with two massive vaults. It marks her third NCAA vault title, adding to the titles she won in 2003 and '04. She also won the floor exercise title in 2004.

She is only the second gymnast in NCAA history, and first in over 20 years, to win three national vault titles in a career, joining Utah's Elaine Alfano, who won the titles in 1982, '83 and '85. Miles is sixth gymnast in NCAA history to win the same event three times in a career.

Corvallis, Ore - The Alabama Gymnastics team finished third at the NCAA Championships with a 196.725 here in Gill Coliseum, marking its 17th top-3 national finish.

Georgia won its second championship in a row with a 197.75, followed by Utah's 196.800. Alabama finished just .075 behind the Utes despite counting a fall on its last event, the balance beam. Florida finished fourth with a 196.275, followed by Nebraska at 196.175. Iowa State finished sixth with a 194.725.

Alabama went into the last rotation just .025 behind Georgia, but even before the Tide's falls, the Dogs 49.65 on the vault put the championship out of reach.

Corvallis, Ore. - While there were a few anxious moments, Alabama handled the pressure of the NCAA Gymnastics Championships first day and advanced to tomorrow night's Super Six Team Finals.

The Crimson Tide scored a 196.25 to advance along with Nebraska, 196.325, and Utah, 196.175. Those three schools await the top three finishers from the evening session, which consists of Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Oregon State, Iowa State and Arizona State.

"Being at the national championship and advancing to the Super Six is just a highlight of the year," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said after the first session. "You never take it for granted. You look at the teams one through six, and these are the teams that had the best meets, not necessarily perfect, but didn't count a fall and you have to perform like that to move on."

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Practice time is over. After working out on the equipment here in Gill Coliseum for about 90 minutes, the next thing on the Alabama Gymnastics team's schedule is day one of the NCAA Championships.

"Today was all about adjusting the equipment, getting a feel for it," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We did a good job of that, and staying loose and having fun. We're ready to go at this point, we're ready for tomorrow."

The Crimson Tide arrived in Oregon late Monday night, capping a day that included morning classes and full practice, the last Tuscaloosa-based one of the year. After landing in Portland, Alabama bused the hour and a half to Corvallis and then spent Tuesday making the adjustment to the Pacific time zone, stretching and studying.

We have a brand new Photo album (and a slide show) for the 2006 SEC Championship.

• Photo Album: 2006 SEC Championship
• Slide Show: 2006 SEC Championship

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

239822 bytes 01 Dana F sprints to a vault wu

254540 bytes 02 and Cassie taps the table also

227740 bytes 03 Brittany needles her vault

The Alabama Crimson Tide Gymnastics Team notched a decisive West Regional championship victory over the home-standing Stanford Cardinal (3rd Place) and the Oregon State Beavers (2nd) at Palo Alto last weekend. In the process they secured their 24th straight NCAA National Championship appearance, second in the nation only to the Utah Utes. We'll briefly review some of the Tide's highlights on each rotation and talk about what performances they will need on these same events at Nationals to ensure a trip to Super Six night in Corvallis

Just a 'heads-up' for fans traveling to Corvallis for the National Finals; be sure to bring along your portable FM radios. The Medalist Club and WVUA radio are teaming up to attempt a little 'radio magic' by having Chad Anderson's and Leesa Davis' insightful and informative radio broadcast available to you inside Gill Coliseum at Oregon State. Now, this is a first for us, so please bear with us if there are a few 'growing pains' as we get this service off the ground. Additional details will be available here in a few days. In the meantime, pass the word - and don't forget those radios!

INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA announced today the teams and individuals who qualified to compete for the 2006 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships.

The championships, hosted by Oregon State University will be held in Corvallis, Oregon, at the Gill Coliseum, April 20 - 22.

The National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships consist of 12 teams and 12 all- around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and event specialists. The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors from each regional received automatic berths to the national championships. In addition, the event winners at the regional championships advance to the national championships (in their specific event) if they were not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.

We have complete audio coverage for the 2006 NCAA West Regional Championships

• Complete Radio Broadcasts of the 2006 Meets.

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Sarah Patterson told her squad all season long that the big meets came down to the balance beam, and tonight's NCAA West Regional Championship, held on the Stanford campus proved her right.

Alabama was in a tight battle all night long, before coming up big on the beam in its last rotation, scoring a season and meet best 49.35 paced by a 9.9 from Terin Humphrey and 9.875s from junior Erin Rightly and freshman Melanie Banville to advance to its 24th consecutive NCAA Championship. Senior Mari Bayer and freshman Brittany Magee both added a 9.85s. It was a career best for Banville, Rightley and Magee and a season best for Humphrey and Bayer.

Alabama won the regional with a 196.475, followed by Oregon State, the host of the NCAA Championships April 20-22, with a 195.800. Stanford, the early favorite to advance, had a disastrous balance beam rotation and finished third with a 195.275. San Jose State was fourth with a 192.375, Sacramento State followed in fifth with a 192.050 while Boise State brought up the rear with a 189.850.