Tide gymnasts pull extra duty to ‘get focused’

TUSCALOOSA | Sarah Patterson isn’t giving the University of Alabama gymnastics team a break. Or at least not the kind of break the Crimson Tide gymnasts have grown accustomed to getting for the holidays.

Alabama will practice through Monday before taking a holiday break that will end the day after Christmas. Patterson, head coach of the Crimson Tide, changed her custom of letting gymnasts leave as soon as they finished with fall exams, instead calling for mandatory practices Saturday through Monday before letting the team go.

“We just felt like it would be better,” Patterson said. “I think it gets us focused again on what we want to do this season.

“We are going to sit down upon returning from the holidays and assess where we are at and set our goals.”

Alabama’s main goal in the coming season will likely revolve around returning to the Super Six finals, the last night of team competition at the NCAA Championships where the national title is settled among the last six teams remaining. The Tide failed to make the Super Six last season for the first time in a decade and just the second time in 25 years, finishing ninth in the final standings.

“I think it was just a big wakeup call for us,” said senior Terin Humphrey, a two-time Olympic silver medalist who won the individual uneven parallel bars championship at the NCAA meet. “Alabama has always been one of those programs at the top. It showed us we can’t just show up and expect it to happen.

“I think it’s looking good. As long as we stay healthy throughout the season we should be in the top three, hopefully in the top spot.”

Health issues have been the dominant feature of Alabama’s offseason, with five gymnasts undergoing surgery since the end of last season. The good news for Patterson is that all but one of those gymnasts are now fully able to partipate in practice. Kassi Price (knee), Humphrey (elbow), Ashley O’Neal (knee) and Kaitlin White (elbow) have worked their way back into full workouts, while Jacqueline Shealy (knee) is still limited but expected to participate at some point in the season.

“Surgeries limit you and you have to work around those limitations,” Patterson said. “We’ve done an exceptional job of working with these injuries and working around them.”

Price is fully cleared to participate, but is being held back in practice to limit wear and tear on her body after being slowed by injuries in the second half of last season.

“Kassi Price has made tremendous progress since her knee surgery,” Patterson said.

Patterson said she expectes Price, Humphrey, Ricki Lebegern and Brittany Magee to compete in the all-around in the coming season, which oepns on Friday, Jan. 11, against Illinois at Coleman Coliseum.

“Our numbers are small,” Patterson said. “Obviously I’m cautiously optimistic. It’s a management issues in a lot of instances.”

Freshman Jennifer Iovino has not been cleared to compete or practice after being diagnosed with a heart condition in the fall.

Patterson is excited about two additions to the UA team, one a gymnast and another a coach. New strength and conditioning coach Travis Illian, who joined the UA athletic department after working at Mississippi State, has changed up the team’s routines to get ready for the season.

“His approach has taken our strength program and conditioning to a new level,” Patterson said. “The majority of our ladies are stronger than they have ever been.”

Freshman gymnast Kayla Hoffman is expected to make an immediate impact.

“She will be a name and a face that will step out immediately,” Patterson said.

Season tickets are on sale at the UA athletics ticket office. Season tickets are priced at $36 ($30 in quantities of four or more) and $30 for UA faculty and staff. Single event tickets are priced at $7 for adults and $3 for youth. For information, call 205-348-2262 or go online at www.rolltide.com.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.