Student Section Fuels Bama Gymnasts to Victory

The student section heard Head Coach Dana Duckworth's message loud and clear. They filled out the student section from the floor all the way to the top of Coleman Coliseum. Duckworth says the student section had a big impact on the meet versus the Kentucky Wildcats, but she thinks they could still be louder.

"It was so awesome. I still think we need to teach our crowd, if you see a 9.900 or better you got to go crazy. You can't do a golf clap.  It's got to be eruption. I don't even want to be able to hear myself think," says Coach Duckworth.

The gymnasts were also excited to see a packed Coleman Coliseum again after COVID-19 limited the capacity last season. It was freshman Lilly Hudson's first meet in front of her home crowd. It was a day she dreamed of since she committed to Alabama in the 8th grade.

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Hudson had career-high night with scores of 9.900 or higher in 3-of the-4 events she competed in. She scored a 9.750 on the vault, a 9.900 on the uneven bars, a 9.925 on the balance beam, and a mighty 9.950 on her floor routine. She tied for first place on beam and floor.

Hudson says that performing in front of her fellow peers "pumps you up" which was definitely seen in her performance against the Wildcats. She wasn't the only one pumped up from the crowd, however.

Junior Makarri Doggette felt the crowd's energy after she stuck the landing on her vault and scored a 9.950 on bars. The crowd erupted in cheers after her vault and bars routines. The students coming out to support the team meant a lot to Doggette because "they make it what it is."

Doggette, Hudson, and Duckworth have one final message for the students.

"Come back and Roll Tide."