ALABAMA ROSTER 2019
Seniors
Abby Armbrecht	VT BB FX	Competed VT, FX every week in 2018 RQS of 9.895 FX, 9.835 VT Competed 12 BBs for 9.830 RQS
Angelina Giancroce	UB	Competed 5 UBs in 2018, hitting 4-for-5 Peak UB score of 9.875
Ari Guerra	VT UB FX	Made final VT, UB, FX lineups in 2018 #1 returning RQS on VT (9.860) RQS of 9.860 FX, 9.850 UB
Juniors
Wynter Childers	VT UB BB FX	Made final 2018 lineups on UB, BB Competed at least 3 times on each piece RQS of 9.820 on UB, 9.660 on BB Avg of 9.742 on VT, FX
Maddie Desch	VT BB FX	Made final 2018 lineups on VT, FX RQS of 9.805 on VT & FX, 9.765 on BB Has possible 10.0-start Y1.5 on VT
Shea Mahoney	VT UB FX	Made final 2018 lineups on VT, UB #1 returning UB routine (9.885) RQS of 9.835 on VT Competed 5 FXs, hitting 4-for-5
Sophomores
Kylie Dickson	VT UB	Competed weekly UB in 2018 for 9.840 Showed 4 VTs, peaking at 9.775
Lexi Graber	VT UB BB FX	Competed AA in final 6 meets of 2018 #1 returning BB routine (9.895) Has 10.0-start Y1.5 on VT RQS of 9.870 on UB, 9.855 on VT Avg of 9.825 on FX
Bailie Key	UB BB FX	Competed 1 BB routine for 8.475 in 2018 We’ll take anything
Tia Kiaku	VT BB FX	Tranfer from Ball State Competed weekly FX for 9.875 RQS in 2018 Possible BB option
Alonza Klopfer	BB FX	Competed 3 BBs and 2 FXs in 2018 Peak score of 9.825 BB, 9.800 FX
Freshmen
Asia DeWalt	VT UB	AIM Athletics 5th VT, 2018 JO Nationals
Emily Gaskins	VT UB BB FX	CGA US elite, 2013-2017
Jensie Givens	UB BB	South Coast 4th UB, 2018 SoCals
Griffin James	VT UB FX	Gymstrada 4th VT, 2017 JO Nationals
Shallon Olsen	VT BB FX	Omega 2nd VT – 2018 World Championships All the 10.0-start VT options

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FINAL SEASON RANKING
2018 – 8th
2017 – 6th
2016 – 3rd
2015 – 4th
2014 – 4th
2013 – 3rd
2012 – 1st
2011 – 1st
2010 – 3rd
2009 – 2nd

THE STORY
Alabama isn’t super happy with what’s been happening. The last two seasons have produced Alabama’s weakest finishes in a decade and rank 33rd and 34th on the list of Alabama’s results from 37 seasons of NCAA gymnastics. The dismissal of Bryan Raschilla immediately after nationals sent the message to all of us that the status quo isn’t going to be good enough anymore.

After all, Alabama’s 8th-place performance at nationals last year wasn’t the result of a random miss that can be chalked up as “just one of those things.” It didn’t include a fall, nor did it include a single counting score under 9.800. Alabama hit, still missed Super Six by four tenths, and (potentially more crushing to an Alabama fan) lost to Georgia.

That said, I’m quite comfortable ranking Alabama as at least a top-8 team again this year, and Alabama will enter the season as a favorite to advance to nationals. By the second half of 2018, Alabama was securely packed in that 6-7 ranking area, and while the team has lost two essential contributors in Winston and Guerrero (and all its 9.9 RQSs), it can look to Emily Gaskins and Shallon Olsen to make up a fair chunk of those scores and will present a team deep with 9.850s once again.

Still, top 8 is a pedestrian goal for Alabama. That should be a DUH. It might not be, but it should be. A more Alabama-level goal is making the team final, which now requires being in the top 4. Based on the level of competition this season, that’s a tough ask.

VAULT 2019

Lineup locks: Shallon Olsen, Lexi Graber, Ari Guerra

Lineup options: Abby Armbrecht, Shea Mahoney, Emily Gaskins, Maddie Desch, Wynter Childers, Kylie Dickson, Tia Kiaku, Asia DeWalt, Griffin James

Alabama will have three definite 10.0 starts in the vault lineup this year, certainly not the most we’ll see but still enough to stay competitive. It’s what Alabama showed most of last season, and I would expect 2019’s roster to keep pace with that level of vaulting. Continue reading 2019 Preview – Alabama Crimson Tide →