The Alabama Crimson Tide welcome in a large freshman class with six talented gymnasts. The Tide will look to these freshman this season to add depth and help replace routines from last yearÂ’s senior class. The Tide finished 4th last season at Nationals and look to improve on that finish this season. This yearÂ’s freshmen include: Abby Armbrecht, Jenna Bresette, Angelina Giancroce, Ari Guerra, Amanda Huang, and Avery Rickett.

Abby Armbrecht
Abby Armbrecht is a freshman from Mobile, Alabama where she trained at Planet Gymnastics. Armbrecht was a two-time JO National Team Member. In 2014 she had great success placing 3rd all-around at JO Nationals as well as the regional all-around champion. In 2013 she was the JO National Beam Champion and 5th place all-around. Armbrecht comes into Alabama with great consistency and difficulty on all four events.

Coach Dana Duckworth on Abby Armbrecht
"One of our three in -state Alabama athletes who we have known for years from camp, she is beyond excited to have fulfilled her dream of becoming an Alabama gymnast. Abby is consistent on balance beam which I would describe as her playground and happy place. In pressure situations she has done well as a lead off routine and for now that is where she has the greatest chance of breaking into the line-up.  Abby trains all four events and once she adds more difficulty on vault, bars and floor we would like to see her competitive on more events and at the national championship level."

Jenna Bresette
Jenna Bresette is another freshman from Kansas City, Kansas where she trained at Fuzion Gymnastics. Bresette has experience as a member of the USA Junior Olympic National Team (2011) and a Junior International Elite qualifier (2011). She was also a JO National qualifier three times, including placing 2nd all-around in 2010. Despite missing both the 2011 and 2014 seasons due to injury, Bresette has a promising collegiate career ahead of her. She can effortlessly perform a double-twisting Yurchenko on vault, and has tons of difficulty on beam and bars. On floor, Bresette can execute a double Arabian, a double layout and a piked full-in, among others. Bresette will make a substantial impact rolling with the Tide.

Coach Dana Duckworth on Jenna Bresette 
"I describe Jenna as resilient because she has a spark, a fight and a competitive drive even after a few setbacks. She had an elbow injury before she arrived at Bama that we are monitoring this closely.  She had a scary fall that caused a knee injury which she is working through. Jenna loves to compete, wants to compete and will push through to compete. As a staff we are working hard to pace her appropriately so she comes back 100% in time.  Jenna has quickness on vault and floor and she loves being a college gymnast and you can tell she enjoys having a team that is a family and there for one another. Jenna trains vault, beam and floor.  Her immediate impact will be on vault and floor."

Angelina Giancroce
Angelina Giancroce is a freshman from Aiken, SC where she trained at HaydenÂ’s International Gymnastics Academy in Evans, GA. Giancroce had committed to Georgia last season to begin in the spring, however decided to wait until the fall to join the Alabama Crimson Tide. Giancroce is a two time JO National Qualifier (2015, 2014). In 2015 she finished 4th on floor at Nationals, at regionals she placed 1st on beam, floor and all-around. In 2014 she placed 4th on floor at JO Nationals. Giancroce's gymnastics brings beautiful and clean lines that will be an asset to the Tide this season.

Coach Dana Duckworth on Angelina Giancroce
"Angelina has stunning lines and her rhythm and artistry are her signature.  She has a wonderful spirit as a teammate. We appreciate how she has embraced our strength and conditioning program and it is rewarding to see how her power and amplitude have improved. After a small elbow injury we made a decision to rest from vault until she is fully recovered and focus on bars, beam and floor. Her nickname is  "Lina" and we are most proud of how she is excelling in the classroom after being home schooled since the 4th grade."

Ari Guerra
Ari Guerra is another Texas born gymnast from League City, TX where she trained at Texas Dreams Gymnastics. Guerra was a US National Team Member where she competed for Team USA in Belgium. In 2014 Guerra was the JO State All-Around and Balance Beam Champion, also placed 2nd on the vault and floor exercise. She was also the 2014 JO Regionals all-around and beam champion, 2nd on the vault, bars and floor exercise. In the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons Guerra competed at the Visa National Championships, placing 6th on vault at the 2012 meet, 5th on the bars and 6th on the beam at the 2013 P&G Championships. GuerraÂ’s experience at both the JO and elite levels will be a key component to her success this season for Alabama.

Coach Dana Duckworth on Ari Guerra
"Ari, she is so fun to watch.  Powerful, spunky and competitive, she has a contagious positive attitude and an optimistic view of life regardless of circumstance. Ari has had a challenging road returning from back surgery but she has put in the work and her work ethic combined with pure determination will make her successful.  She is training bars , beam and floor and has the potential to compete on all three events."

Amanda Huang
Amanda Huang is a freshman from Roswell, Georgia where she trained at Brandy JohnsonÂ’s Global Gymnastics. Huang is a former junior international elite gymnast who will bring a quiet strength to the Bama squad. Huang is a reliable bar competitor performing with difficulty, clean lines, and consistency. She was the 2011 J.O. National Bar Champion and placed 2nd at the 2014 J.O. Nationals. As the power events donÂ’t appear to be her forte, Huang will most likely contribute on the events that demonstrate her lithe dexterity: uneven bars and balance beam.

Coach Dana Duckworth on Amanda Huang
"Although small in stature, Amanda, who we call "A," is one of our hardest workers in the gym and has proven herself as a "gamer" under pressure situations with elite lines and a mighty package of skills. "A" strives for excellence with every turn. She is driven academically and athletically but we are working on turning her self-criticism into an expression of joy and happiness everyday. I love her smile but she is a very serious person, so she works hard at allowing herself to show positive emotion which is translating into her being a reliable competitor and a special teammate.  Our staff can see the difference our program has made in her life, for her self-esteem, and confidence.  Look to see Amanda on bars, beam and floor."

Avery Rickett
Tombell, Texas native, Avery Rickett is a freshman who trained at World Champions Centre. Rickett was the 2014 Buckeye Classic balance beam champion, 2nd all-around at the 2014 Houston National Invitational and qualified for the 2014 JO National Championships. In 2015 Rickett finished 3rd on beam at the JO Nationals. Rickett will provide a great deal of heart and determination to the Tide this season.

Coach Dana Duckworth on Avery Rickett
"She is cute as a button, a very calming teammate and easygoing.  She understands her need to become more competitive in intrasquad settings and that her new routines are still a work in process. We are working daily on her confidence.  Her natural events are beam and floor and she is working hard on bars. Avery has a unique split leg double layout off bars that is named “The Rickett," although her nickname my our team is Ave's."

Related:
Incoming Freshmen: LSU
Incoming Freshmen: Utah
Incoming Freshmen: Georgia
Incoming Freshmen: Oklahoma
Incoming Freshmen: Michigan
Incoming Freshmen: Florida
Incoming Freshmen: Stanford