Uncharacteristic mistakes end Alabama gymnastics season

WVUA 23 Sports,
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The University of Alabama football team cheers on their gymnasts during the NCAA National Semifinal at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX on Thursday, Apr 18, 2024.

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Juliet Brown

It was a wild night of gymnastics in Fort Worth, Texas. No. 8 Alabama competed in the NCAA Gymnastics Championship Semifinals against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 4 Florida, and No. 5 Utah.

The Crimson Tide got off to a strong start on the uneven bars in the first rotation. Three gymnasts scored a 9.9+. Freshman Chloe LaCoursiere started her team off with a 9.9120. Lilly Hudson scored a 9.900 while Luisa Blanco anchored the lineup with a 9.9375. Alabama finished the first rotation in second place with a 49.4875 behind Utah’s 49.6375.

Oklahoma surprised everyone in the first rotation as the Sooners had three gymnasts under rotate their vaults. Those three vaults scored a 9.325, 9.375, and a 9.450. The Sooners dropped the 9.325 but had to also count a 9.750. Oklahoma ended the first rotation with a 48.325.

Alabama’s second rotation looked promising after Hudson started the rotation with a 9.900; however, it went all downhill from there. Mati Waligora fell off the beam in the second spot and had a hop on her dismount. She scored a 9.025. Ella Burgess, who is usually very steady, also fell off the beam and scored a 9.050. Gabby Gladieux righted the ship with a 9.875, but it didn’t last. Shania Adams couldn’t stay on the beam and scored a 9.2875. Blanco, who is usually so steady on beam, anchored the lineup but fell off the beam following her flight series. Blanco scored a 9.1375.

Having four falls on beam is pretty unheard of. The Oklahoma head coach actually noticed an issue which could’ve been the culprit for the uncharacteristic beam rotation Alabama had.

“In that last break, (Oklahoma head coach) K.J. Kindler noted that the beam was actually moving,” ESPN sideline reporter Taylor Davis said. “She pulled representatives from the NCAA over, a couple gentlemen actually pulled the mats apart, reaffixated some things to make sure the beam was more stable. Obviously this interacted with their warmup time, but the judges said they would allow a typical warmup process for the Sooners.”

Alabama’s team score on the beam (47.250) is the programs lowest score on that exercise on record (the 2014-15 season is as far back as the Alabama gymnastics statistics go on its website). The previous lowest beam score was a 47.700 in the first meet of the 2019 season.

The Crimson Tide’s hope of making it to the NCAA Championship finals were all but over after the second rotation; however the gymnasts still competed their hearts out on floor. Waligora, Cam Machado, and Burgess put up 9.8625’s to lead off the third rotation. In her final floor routine of her collegiate career, Blanco performed a routine worthy of a 9.900. Hudson recorded a 9.8875 in her Alabama-themed floor exercise. Gladieux anchored the rotation with a 9.900.

Alabama ended the night on vault. The Crimson Tide didn’t have a vault score a 9.9+. Hudson recorded Alabama’s best score which was a 9.8875. Alabama finished the night in fourth place with a 195.4125 which was its lowest since 2019 when it scored a 194.750.

While four super-senior gymnasts competed for the last time with the Script A on their chests on Thursday night, their legacy at Alabama will remain forever. They were instrumental in rebuilding this program to compete with the best of the best. Makarri Doggette, Blanco, Burgess, and Waligora were apart of the teams that recorded six team scores of 198+. They also combined for eight perfect scores.

Adams, Machado, and Isabella Martin are all seniors, however they can return for a fifth year using the extra year of eligibility granted due to COVID-19.

Categories: Alabama, College Sports, Featured, Sports

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