Alabama Gymnastics Celebrates with Season Ending Banquet
5/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
 |
|
The Alabama Gymnastics team celebrated the 2003 season Saturday night with the annual year-end Medalist Club Banquet.
The banquet celebrated the Crimson Tide’s fifth Southeastern Conference Championship, 19th NCAA Regional Championship and its NCAA Runner-up finish last week in Lincoln, Neb. Alabama also celebrated Sarah and David Patterson’s 25th season coaching the Tide.
The squad’s lone senior, Kristin Sterner, was named captain for the second year in a row. The Ionia, Michigan native earned three All-American honors during her last season, boosting her career total to 11. She was also named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Sophomore Michelle Reeser was presented with the Lewis Each Courage Award, given to the member of the Alabama gymnastics family that best emulates the example of Each, a former sports writer who covered the gymnastics team in the mid-90s before succumbing to cystic fibrosis.
Other highlights from the season include freshman Ashley Miles’ individual NCAA Championship on the vault, the Tide’s 14th individual title. Miles also earned All-American honors on the floor exercise and vault, and was SEC Champion on the floor.
Junior Jeana Rice, the SEC Gymnast of the Year, won the SEC all-around, uneven bars and balance beam titles as well as earning five All-American honors. Rice’s career All-American total is now at 13, giving her the opportunity to set the school career record next year.
Junior Stephanie Kite, sophomores Shannon Hrozek and Alexis Brion and freshman Mari Bayer all earned All-American honors. Sophomore Michelle Reeser and freshman Larissa Stewart both earned All-SEC honors. Rice and Miles also earned All-SEC honors.
Outgoing Medalist Club president Lori Wesson was given the David Dutton Award, given to the person or persons who go above and beyond the call of duty for Alabama Gymnastics. In addition to Wesson, the other past presidents of the booster club were honored with a commemorative pin.
