Alabama Gymnastics Ranked No. 1 in Preseason Coaches’ Poll

The two-time defending NCAA Champion Alabama gymnastics team is ranked No. 1 in the newly released preseason national coaches’ poll. The Crimson Tide was ranked second in the preseason poll the last two years.

The preseason top 25 also includes all nine of Alabama’s 2013 opponents, including the remaining three of the top four, with UCLA at No. 2, Florida at No. 3 and Oklahoma at No. 4. The Gators and Bruins, which finished second and third respectively last season in the tightest championship finish in gymnastics history, are separated by a single point in the preseason poll. Utah rounds out the top-5.

“I had the same four teams at the top on my ballot,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “Although I had Florida at No. 1, and I feel they are the most talented team in the country and have been for the last several years.”

The Tide will face No. 8 LSU twice this season and will take on No. 11 Georgia and No. 12 Arkansas on the road. Alabama will also face off with No. 13 Auburn at midseason and will open on the road with No. 21 Missouri. This year’s Power of Pink meet will see the Tide take on No. 25 Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum.

“The addition of Missouri to the Southeastern Conference this season does nothing but strengthen the nation’s premiere gymnastics conference,” Patterson said. “All eight of our schools are in the top-25 with seven in the top-15 and two in the top three.”