Official NCAA Practice Begins; Bama Returns 7 All Americans
Official NCAA Practice Begins; Bama Returns 7 All Americans
Official NCAA team practices are beginning around the country this week! Below is the update from the defending National Champions who will field another strong team in 2013.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The two-time defending NCAA Champion Alabama gymnastics team opens official practice for the 2013 season Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility. But before the first vault, the national champions will start the afternoon by cheering on the Crimson Tide volleyball squad against No. 17 Tennessee in Foster Auditorium at 1:30 p.m.
"We're extremely excited to get official practices started," UA head coach Sarah Patterson, now in her 35th season as the Tide's head coach, said. "And I can't think of a better way to get things underway than by supporting another member of the Alabama family as they go for their second SEC win in a row. I hope everyone will join us in packing Foster when volleyball faces the Lady Vols on Sunday."
The Alabama gymnastics team returns 15 members of last year's team which edged Florida by less than a tenth of a point to win its sixth NCAA Championship and second in a row, including seven All-Americans - Sarah DeMeo, Marissa Gutierrez, Kim Jacob, Diandra Milliner, Ashley Priess, Ashley Sledge and Kayla Williams. In addition to its veterans, Alabama added a pair of rookies to this year's roster, Lauren Beers and Carley Sims.
Beers and Sims finished 2nd and 4th all around at the 2012 J.O. Nationals. Priess made an unexpected return for a 5th season after being sidelined in 2011 to undergo surgery on both ankles. Priess whill compete while pursuing a Master's degree in marketing. She clinched the Tide's 2012 NCAA Championship title by tying her career-high score of 9.95 on the balance beam in the Super Six Team Finals.
The 2013 season will kick off in January. Check out what the home meets look like at Alabama: