TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Four Crimson Tide gymnasts, all members of the 2009 Southeastern Conference Championship team, were awarded their degrees on Saturday, Dec. 11 in Coleman Coliseum during the University of Alabama's winter commencement ceremony.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team took time out from its normal practice routine to host its annual Christmas party for the children from the Stallings RISE Center in the Frances Smith Practice Facility Thursday afternoon.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference office announced the league's 2011 gymnastics television schedule this week, a slate that includes five of Alabama's six regular-season conference meets.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama gymnastics team is ranked second nationally in the 2011 preseason coaches’ poll it was announced this week. The Crimson Tide, which finished last season ranked third nationally, received three first-place votes and 950 points.

“This just goes to show that the success we’ve enjoyed over the years has created an expectation nationally that no matter what kind of roster we have, whether it’s a veteran team like we had last year, or a very young team like we have going into this season, Alabama is going to find a way to be at the top,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “This is a team that has lost four All-American seniors, including NCAA Champion Morgan Dennis, to graduation and junior All-American Ashley Priess to ankle surgery. The fact that we were still voted the No. 2 team in the nation despite having to replace 14 of 24 routines from last year’s team, it’s flattering for our program and a definite challenge to our ladies.”

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The Alabama Crimson Tide Gymnastics Team completed a three hour mock meet on all four events under the close scrutiny of two judges and the coaches this past Friday. Fifteen minute warm-ups were completed before the line-ups (six up plus one alternate/exhibit) were determined for what would simulate a dual road meet set-up (uneven bars, vault, floor and finishing on balance beam). The coaches have increased the number of intra-squads this year in the pre-season to benefit the freshmen, who will figure in key positions on every event right out of the chute on January 7, 2011.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama head gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent today. Kayla Williams, Brooke Parker, Diandra Milliner and Kaitlyn Clark are all slated to join the Crimson Tide in the gym.

"We’re very excited about this class and to have them join our program," Patterson said. "They are each very talented and have enjoyed championship success in their careers to this point. Moreover, they have great personalities which I think will capture our fans right away."

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - While the Alabama gymnastics team's first dual meet isn't until January 7 against Penn State, the Crimson Tide's first competition comes this Sunday with the annual Ghosts and Goblins Intrasquad which will be held in the Frances Smith Practice Facility located in Coleman Coliseum.

"After all this time practicing, our ladies will have the chance to get on the equipment, in front of a crowd and compete against one another," UA head coach Sarah Patterson, in her 33rd year leading the Tide, said. "This will give us a great indicator of where we are and what we need to work on between now and the start of the season. We invite our fans to join us for what will be a really fun afternoon in the gym."

Fans are welcome at the annual intrasquad which gets underway at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The Goblins, who won last year's competition, are comprised of senior All-American Kayla Hoffman, junior All-American Ashley Priess, senior Alyssa Chapman, junior Jocelyn Fowler, sophomore Ashley Sledge along with freshmen Sarah DeMeo, Ria Domier, Lindsey Fowler and Hannah Toussaint.

The Ghosts feature junior All-Americans Geral en Stack-Eaton and Rachel Terry, senior Megan Mashburn, sophomores Mariss a Gutierrez and Becca Alexin as well as freshmen Olivia Carisella, Jordan Moore, Kim Jacob and Jacque line Probst.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Coach Sarah Patterson invited fans to an open practice in the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Arena from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm this past Saturday to catch their first peek at the 2011 Crimson Tide Gymnastics Team before tail-gating on the Quad in preparation for the Alabama-Florida football game later that day. A large contingent of fans filed in and out during the two hour period to watch the gymnasts on the apparatus, including an impressive number of Bama alumni and Medalist Club members (the gymnastics booster club organization). While everyone was initially focused on the 8 newest members of the Tide, there were several nearby that commented on how great the entire team was looking after just the first month of intensive cardio and strength conditioning under the supervision of Travis Illian. In fact, those voluntary workouts during the summer are already paying dividends – the veterans on this team look leaner, faster and stronger and several high level skills are already being thrown by Hoffman, Priess and Stack-Eaton to challenge the youngsters in the weeks leading up to their first major intrasquad – Ghosts versus Goblins! Here are some of the skills that caught our eyes…

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama gymnastics team is hosting an open practice Saturday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility located at the rear of Coleman Coliseum.

“We can’t wait to introduce our young team to our fans,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “We want to encourage everyone who is in the area for Saturday’s game to come by and get a sneak peek of this year’s team. We’re really starting to hit our stride in practice and our ladies can’t wait to perform in front of the best fans in the world.”

Fans can enter the practice facility through the southwest entrance to the Coliseum, which is located across from the entrance to the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium. In addition to getting a first look at Alabama’s eight freshmen, fans will have the chance to see returning All-Americans Ashley Priess, Geralen Stack-Eaton, Kayla Hoffman and Rachel Terry.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala.As the University of Alabama gets the 2010-11 academic year underway this week, the Crimson Tide athletics department is coming off one of its best years in recent memory, not only athletically, where UA won its 13th national football championship as well as four Southeastern Conference titles, but in the classroom as well, where Alabama student-athletes were honored in impressive numbers.

"At the University of Alabama our goal is always to be the very best in everything we do and last season is certainly a tribute to the success of our student-athletes, both athletically and academically, at the highest levels," Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore said. "Our high academic achievement is also a testament to the focus our student-athletes and coaches put on academics and the efforts Jon Dever and our entire academic support staff put into helping each student-athlete reach their full potential."

A total of seven UA student-athletes spanning six sports earned ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America honors, which ranks the Tide fourth nationally among the award's University division and tops among SEC schools. Three of Alabama's Academic All-Americans - Colin Peek (football), Charlotte Morgan (softball) and Kassi Price (gymnastics) - earned first-team honors, which ties the Tide with Tennessee for the most first-team honors in the SEC. Alabama has earned a total of 52 Academic All-America honors over the last decade.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Nine members of the 2010 Alabama gymnastics team earned NACGC Scholastic All-American honors, a total that leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks second among schools that competed at the NCAA Championships last season.

"Our ladies continue to excel in all areas of the collegiate experience," head coach Sarah Patterson said. "Year-in and year-out Alabama stands among the very best, both in the gym and the classroom. Our ladies work very hard to maintain that level of success in everything they do and this is just another indication of that drive for excellence."

In a year that saw Alabama finish third at the NCAA Championships, second at the SEC Championships and win its 25th NCAA Regional title, the Crimson Tide earned a team GPA of 3.41. Four Tide gymnasts, senior All-American Kassi Price, junior All-American Kayla Hoffman, sophomore All-American Rachel Terry and freshman Mary Hauswirth, earned perfect 4.0 GPAs last season.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team placed four student-athletes on the 2010 Southeastern Conference Freshman Academic Honor Roll the league office announced today. The Crimson Tide's total is the most of any gymnastics team in the conference.

"I'm proud of these ladies and the start they've made in their Crimson Tide academic and athletic careers," UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We strive every day to be the best in everything we do and this award certainly speaks to the success our ladies have had in the classroom."

Courtney Bell, Marissa Gutierrez, Mary Hauswirth and Ashley Sledge all earned the rookie honor. To earn a spot on the honor roll a student-athlete must have a 3.00 or better cumulative grade point average, be on scholarship or be a letter winner and have completed 24 semester hours.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Sarah Patterson, the University of Alabama head gymnastics coach, and David DeSantis, co-owner and general manager of Tuscaloosa Toyota, were honored Tuesday morning by the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) with its Special Citation Award.

"Coach Patterson and Mr. DeSantis are individuals who truly care about the health of our citizens, especially women and the battle against breast cancer," said J. Michael Horsley, FACHE, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. "They were instrumental in increasing cancer awareness and access to health care among women, particularly in the Tuscaloosa area. We celebrate their dedication to women's health and are pleased to be able to recognize their outstanding service with this award."

Patterson was at the DCH Leadership Forum to pay tribute to Angel Pittman Burnett, a former club gymnast, who succumbed to cancer in October 2009.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - TUSCALOOSA, Ala. For the third time in her Crimson Tide career, Alabama gymnast Kassi Price has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Women's At-Large Team, earning first-team honors for the second consecutive year.

Price was one of just three student-athletes on this year's list to repeat as a member of the first team. She is also the first Alabama gymnast to earn Academic All-American honors three times during her career, earning first team honors 2010 and 2009 and third team honors in 2008.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior gymnast Kassi Price was one of four Alabama student-athletes voted to the 2009-10 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV At Large Team, which was announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America Thursday.

Price is the ninth Crimson Tide gymnast to earn Academic All-District honors and the first to earn the accolade three years in a row. The at-large team spans 13 women's sports including bowling, rowing, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

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Well it certainly wasn't the ending to the 2010 gymnastics season originally envisioned by Bama's awesome seniors. But they can certainly hold their heads up high for a 3^rd Place finish that was not looking likely after the team's opening performances on Floor Exercise.

• Postmeet Commentary: Tide Struggles Early On Floor, Roars Back to Finish 3rd

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics Team celebrated the 2010 season, which included the Crimson Tide's NCAA-best 25th regional title, 20th top-two Southeastern Conference Championship finish and 19th top-three finish at the NCAA Championships with its annual awards banquet hosted by The Medalist Club, the program's booster organization.

The event was held Saturday night at "The Zone" located in Bryant-Denny Stadium with more than 250 in attendance. UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore spoke at the opening of the banquet, praising the team and its coaches for their accomplishments this year as well as the legacy of success coaches Sarah and David Patterson have built and maintained over the past 32 years.

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