Alabama Gymnastics Takes Sixth at the NCAA Championships with a 196.000
The Alabama gymnastics team closed out its 2017 campaign by finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships with a team score of 196.000 Saturday night in Chaifetz Arena, in St. Louis.
Oklahoma won its second-consecutive national title and fourth overall with a score of 198.375. LSU and Florida finished second and third, respectively, giving the Southeastern Conference half of the final six. UCLA finish fourth and Utah was fifth.
With its finish, Alabama is the only team in the nation to finish in the top-six nationally each of the last ten years. Overall, Alabama has posted 33 top-six NCAA finishes.
Alabama scored a solid 49.325 on the floor exercise, led by junior Kiana Winston’s 9.925 in the anchor position. The Crimson Tide then closed with a 49.1625 on the vault led by 9.85s from sophomore Abby Armbrecht, senior Katie Bailey and junior Nickie Guerrero.
The Crimson Tide struggled through its first two rotation of the night, scoring a 48.8875 on the uneven bars to open the meet, led by senior Keely McNeer’s 9.9. That was followed by a 48.625 on the balance beam, paced by Guerrero’s 9.9.
Alabama earned its spot in the NCAA Super Six Team Finals with a 197.600 in the semifinal round on Friday night. It was the Tide’s third-highest score of the season. In 35-consecutive years at the NCAA Championships, Alabama has finished no lower than ninth.