Alabama
NCAA Championships Semifinals
Alabama Gymnastics Advances to 2017 NCAA Super Six Team Final with a 197.600
4/14/2017 10:29:00 PM | Gymnastics
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Using its third-highest score of the season, a 197.600, in the NCAA Championships Semifinal II, the Alabama gymnastics team advanced to its NCAA-best 23rd Super Six Team Final Friday night in St. Louis. In the 25-year history of the Super Six format, Alabama's 23 berths is more than any other program.
"The NCAA Championships are the pinnacle of collegiate gymnastics," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "It's what we start with even in the summer, preparing us for the opportunity to be here. It never gets old and you can never take it for granted."
The top-three teams from each semifinal session populate the Super Six. The Crimson Tide finished third in its session, with LSU (198.2750) and Florida (197.8125) making it an all Southeastern Conference affair out of the second semifinal, taking first and second, respectively. Nebraska (197.2125) was fourth, followed by Michigan (196.4625) and Georgia (195.8000). From the first semifinal session earlier in the day, Oklahoma, UCLA and Utah advanced to Saturday's final.
"I'm so proud that we have three teams qualifying from the SEC because we do have one amazing conference," Duckworth said.
Alabama started things off with a 49.3875 on the floor exercise led by a 9.9375 from junior Kiana Winston and 9.875s from seniors Katie Bailey and Aja Sims. On vault, Bailey and senior Keely McNeer both went 9.8875 to pace the Crimson Tide to a 49.3625. It was McNeer's first turn in the vault lineup since breaking a finger in a car accident prior to the Georgia meet in early March. It also marked the first time she has ever done a one and a half vault in collegiate competition. The one and a half comes from a 10.0 start value.
Coming off its first of two byes on the night, Alabama caught fire on the uneven bars, scoring 49.4875 led by Bailey's 9.95. Winston and McNeer both scored 9.9s on the uneven bars. It was a season-best score on the uneven bars for McNeer and her first routine in the uneven bars lineup since February. Bailey's score won the NCAA uneven bars title, earning Alabama its 27th individual national title and the seniors second after taking first on the vault last season.
More than four-tenths of a point ahead of Nebraska going into its final rotation, the balance beam, the Tide made it interesting with a fall in the third position, but closed out strong to secure a 49.3625 and stay well ahead of the Cornhuskers. Freshman Wynter Childers started things off with a 9.8875, followed by a 9.925 from Sims. Following the fall, freshman Maddie Desch earned a 9.8 while Winston went 9.8875 and Guerrero closed things out with a 9.8625.
"Our goal, every year, is to be on the floor the last night of the season with a chance to win a national title," Duckworth said. "That's what we've earned. Now comes the best part, going against the best-of-the-best, competing for a championship."
The NCAA Super Six Team Final gets underway at 8 p.m. CT and will air live on ESPNU. The Tide will start competition on the uneven bars before advancing to the balance beam. After the first of two byes, Alabama will finish competition on the floor exercise and vault in the fourth and fifth rotations, respectively, before finishing on it second bye.For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
Players Mentioned
