TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - When the Alabama Gymnastics team returned to campus for its first team meeting Tuesday it was greeted by a coaching staff that remains the same, but is stronger overall due to a change in titles.

Long-time volunteer coach and two-time NCAA Balance Beam Champion for the Crimson Tide Dana Dobransky Duckworth will become a full-time assistant coach beginning Sept. 3 and David Patterson, who enters his 31st season with Alabama this year, will be the volunteer coach.

TUSCLAOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team's 2009 schedule, released today, features all but one member of last year's NCAA Super Six Finals and 11 teams that were among the nation's top-25 at the end of last season.

"This is another packed schedule, one that I'm sure our fans will enjoy and one that will prepare us for the championship season," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We have seven teams from last year's NCAA Championships on our schedule which will make things very challenging. We're also hosting an NCAA Regional which is always such an exciting event to have on campus as will be striving for our 27th consecutive NCAA Championship bid."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team once again stands among the nation's elite when it comes to the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches' academic rankings.

Alabama was one of just two teams that finished in the Super Six at the NCAA Championships and among the top 15 nationally in terms of team grade point average with Utah being the other. Alabama posted its 24th top-6 national finish last April and was 13th overall in terms of team GPA. The Crimson Tide was the top ranked Southeastern Conference school with its 3.48 GPA.

"It is always our goal, our mission, to be among the nation's very best in the gym and the classroom and there's no doubt that we accomplished that last season," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "I'm very pleased with the dedication and hard work that our ladies showed which resulted in another outstanding showing academically."

Ashley O'Neal

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama Gymnast Ashley O'Neal has been named a 2008 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by "Diverse Issues in Higher Education" magazine.

"Diverse Issues in Higher Education" established the Ashe Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination. To be included, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport; maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2; and be active on their campuses or in their communities.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team saw all three of its rookies earned Southeastern Conference Freshman Academic Honor Roll honors it was announced by the league office today.

Kayla Hoffman, Jennifer Iovino and Megan Mashburn all earned the honor which requires an athlete to be on scholarship or a letterwinner and earn a 3.0 grade point average or better as a rookie.

Terin Humphrey

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama gymnast Terin Humphrey, a two-time NCAA Champion during her Crimson Tide tenure, was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame recently as part of the 2003 World Championship team.

"Terin's induction into the USAG Hall of Fame is a testament to the tremendous career that she enjoyed, one that saw her reach tremendous heights on the national, international and collegiate stages," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said.

Humphrey and her teammates, Courtney Kupets, Chellsie Memmel, Carly Patterson, Tasha Schwikert, Hollie Vise and alternates Annia Hatch and Ashley Postell, claimed the United States' first team world title, as well as three individual event medals in 2003.

Andree Pickens

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Andree Pickens, a two-time individual NCAA Champion and the captain of Alabama's last NCAA Gymnastics Championship squad is preparing for her biggest meet since won team and individual national titles as a senior in April of 2002.

This week Pickens will once again be attempting to land the perfect vault, though this one will take her soaring far higher than her days in Coleman Coliseum. These days Pickens, who competed for a year on the Crimson Tide's track and field team after her gymnastics eligibility was done, is trying for Olympic glory in the pole vault.

The Houston, Texas native is at the United States Olympic Trials, being held in Eugene, Ore., where she is seeded eighth. The top three finishers at these trials, if they meet the Olympic standard, make the U.S. team that will compete in Beijing.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Five Alabama Gymnasts earned a 3.9 or better grade point average for the spring semester including three who earned perfect 4.0s. As a team, the Crimson Tide earned a 3.62 GPA in the spring which followed a 3.515 average last fall.

"To earn a team GPA of 3.62 is an extraordinary accomplishment, and it makes us very proud," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "Alabama Gymnastics enjoys an outstanding academic standing and this year's team certainly built on that reputation, helping take it to new heights."

The Tide's academic success comes on the heels of its 26th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, 24th top-6 national finish and 23rd NCAA Regional Championship.

We have added 5 sets of Video and Audio files from the 2007 season. We plan to add a set of videos to meets from past seasons every few weeks.

• Postmeet: 08) LSU - Friday, March 02, 2007
• Postmeet: 09) UCLA - Friday, March 09, 2007
• Postmeet: 10) Auburn - Friday, March 16, 2007
• Postmeet: 11) SEC Championships - Saturday, March 31, 2007
• Postmeet: 12) NCAA Central Region Championships - Saturday, April 14, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Consistently ranked among the nation's top gymnasts, Alabama sophomore Kassi Price was recognized as one of the nation's best in the classroom as well today when she was named an Academic All-American.

Price, who helped lead Alabama to a sixth place national finish this spring, was named to the 2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America Women's At-Large Third Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The at-large team covers student-athletes from 13 NCAA Division I sports.

"Kassi's success in both the gym and the classroom is a testament to her tremendous work ethic and dedication," Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson said. "She strives every day to be the best she can be and that effort continues to pay dividends in ways both large and small. We are very proud of her and all that she has accomplished."