Alabama Gymnastics Rises to the Challenge with Impressive Showing in SEC Championships

After barely squeaking into the evening session, the Crimson Tide was the biggest challenge to Florida, and Gabby Gladieux earned a individual title in the vault.

Alabama Athletics

The motto was "Let it Rip," and the Alabama gymnastics team did just that Saturday night. It may not have resulted in another SEC title for the program, but first-year head coach Ashley Johnston had the Crimson Tide in the running at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Ga. 

By tying its second-best overall score of the season with a 197.925, No. 10-ranked, and fourth-seeded Alabama finished second in the 2023 SEC Championships, which should help its status for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. 

The NCAA Selection Show will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. CT. The regionals will be held March 29-April 2 at Denver, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Norman, Okla., and reduce the field down to eight teams that will compete in for the national championship in Fort Worth, Texas, 

Freshman Gabby Gladieux was a prefect example of how a lot of the Crimson Tide stepped up as her 9.950 on vault earned a share the SEC title in a four-way tie. Not only was it her first win of the season on the event, but she was in the leadoff spot, which traditionally doesn't get the highest scores from judges. 

"Gabby winning the vault title is a huge deal, especially as a freshman," Johnston said. "It was really special that she did it with a Yurchenko full. We’ve been going back-and-forth on whether or not she would do or Yurchenko full or a Yurchenko 1.5, and she really committed of going into the details on the full, and it was great to see that pay off.

"That was really the theme of tonight. Every single athlete committed to owning their process and doing the little things to collectively help big performances come together. I’m really proud of how they performed tonight."

Top-seeded Florida, ranked No. 3 in the latest polls, won the meet by scoring a season-high 198.425. 

Place Team Final

1. Florida 198.425
2. Alabama 197.925
3. LSU 197.800
4. Kentucky 197.675
5. Auburn 197.100
6. Missouri 197.000
7. Arkansas 196.825
8. Georgia 196.600

Alabama earned a 49.375 on balance beam to start off the meet, led by a 9.950 from Luisa Blanco. The senior finished second in the all-around with a 39.675, posting scores of 9.9-or-higher on all four events

The Crimson Tide posted its highest rotation score on floor exercise, 49.550, to move into second place, the spot it would never relinquish to LSU or Kentucky, which finished third and fourth, respectively. 

Alabama maintained its position with a 49.525 on the vault, tying UA’s season-best on the event this season, before closing out the night with a 49.400 on the uneven bars.

The scores were even more impressive considering that Alabama had to make some last-minute lineup changes. 

Among them, Makarri Doggette only competed in floor and vault due to soreness stemming from a recent dismount during practice. 

Freshman Jordyn Paradise stepped in on bars and scored a career-best 9.900. 

Overall, Alabama totaled 13 scores of 9.9-or-higher, with Blanco (9.950) on the balance beam, Hudson (9.950), Blanco (9.925), Gladieux (9.900) and Shania Adams (9.900) on the floor exercise, Blanco (9.900), Doggette (9.900), Shallon Olsen (9.925) and Gladieux (9.950) on the vault, and Paradise (9.900), Mati Waligora (9.900), Cameron Machado (9.900) and Blanco (9.900) on the uneven bars

Alabama used 13 different gymnasts in the competition, including five seniors/graduate students.

“We had a lot to celebrate tonight," Johnston said. 

"I believe the best is still to come for this team.”

See Also: 

Live updates: Alabama at the SEC Championships 

Alabama Gymnastics Healthy Heading Into Postseason

What Team 49 Means to Alabama Gymnastics Seniors