Alabama Gymnastics Set to Take on Auburn in the Iron Bowl
The Alabama gymnastics team comes off their first win heading into the Iron Bowl meet versus Auburn Friday. The Tide posted their season high overall score, a 197.650, against the Kentucky Wildcats. That meet was also their first home meet of the season. Alabama head coach Dana Duckworth was happy with the gymnasts performance against the Wildcats going into Friday's meet.
"What's exciting is to know that there is so much more to improve on, and the ladies are still very focused and fired up and hungry to improve," said Duckworth.
Alabama looks to keep the momentum going heading into this week's meet. The Crimson Tide travels to Auburn for their fourth top 10 matchup of the season. Bama is ranked No. 9 while Auburn is ranked No. 8.
Bama hopes to add a few more 10.0 start value vaults to the lineup and work on stuck landings. The Tide competed five 10.0 start value vaults against the Wildcats and one stuck landing by Makarri Doggette who scored a career-best 9.950. Duckworth has nine different athletes to choose from for the vault line up.
This week's meet will likely come down to the last rotation which Bama will end on the balance beam. The Tide is ranked 11th in the country on beam. The beam team holds a special place in Coach Duckworth's heart as she was a two-time national champion on the balance beam. She has a lot of confidence in her beam line-up.
"I believe we have six up that can go 9.900 or better and that is what my personal goal is–to see them perform that level on the same night and see truly how great we can be on that event."
Friday's meet will air on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. CT.