The Crimson White Gymnastics Preview Staff

GYMNASTICS'07

Balance of power

g 2007 season preview g Meet the freshmen Veterans, newcomers g What you know balance Tide lineup

GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 1 ON THE INSIDE Season preview Fresh faces Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson and the Crimson Tide gear up for the 2007 gymnastics season. Cover photo by T.G. Paschal Pages 04-05

Meet the freshmen Six freshmen will impact the Tide gymnastics team quickly. Pages 6-7

Rightley ready to lead Alabama’s lone senior, Erin Rightley, wants a ring in her final season with the Crimson Tide. Pages 14-15

What you know Terin Humphrey on her favorite restau- rants, the Olympics and more. Page 16

The Crimson White Gymnastics Preview Staff ■ Marlin Caddell - editor, [email protected], 348-8049 ■ Mike Faulk - managing editor: news ■ Callie Corley - managing editor: design ■ Jessie Patterson - sports editor ■ Dan Sellers - assistant sports editor ■ T.G. Paschal - photo editor ■ Amy Owens - chief copy editor ■ Cassie Edwards - advertising manager, 348-8044 ■ A.J. Johnson - creative services manager, 348-8042 ■ Whitney Gullett - Advertising Manager assistant & national account executive Courtesy of Jim Davis Top: Freshman Casey Overton performs a leap on the balance ■ Khalid Al-Qahtani - account executive beam during practice. Middle: Freshman Alyssa Chapman works ■ Leigh Anne Landis - account executive on her floor routine. Chapman joined the team in January. Bottom: ■ Jesse Scroggins - account executive Freshman Kassi Price works through her beam routine during a ■ J.T. Braswell- account executive practice session. ■ Laura Pickard - advertising coordinator, 348-8995 2 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW NCAA Meet preseason the team poll Alyssa Chapman Morgan Dennis Ashley Ford 1. Georgia Freshman Freshman Sophomore 2. Utah Spartanburg, S.C. Westampton, NJ Tuscaloosa 3. Florida 4. Alabama 5. UCLA Terin Humphrey Ricki Lebegern Brittany Magee 6. Michigan Junior Freshman Sophomore 7. Nebraska Bates, Mo. Annandale, Va. Arlington, Texas 8. Stanford 9. LSU 10. Oklahoma 11. Arizona State Cassie Martin Amanda Montgomery Ashley O’Neal Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore 12. Oregon State Olney, Md. Jacksonville, Fla. Kennesaw, Ga. 13. Iowa State 14. Penn State 15. Arkansas 16. Arizona Casey Overton Kassi Price Courtney Priess Freshman Freshman Sophomore 17. Denver Virginia Beach, Va. Plantation, Fla. Hamilton, Ohio 18. Missouri 19. North Carolina 20. Auburn 21. Minnesota Erin Rightley Jacqueline Shealy Kaitlin White Senior Freshman Junior 22. Kentucky Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. Tuscaloosa Allen, Texas 23. Michigan State 24. West Virginia 25. Boise State Jan. 12 Oklahoma Tuscaloosa 7:30 p.m. 2007 Jan. 19 Florida Gainesville, Fla. 7 p.m. Alabama Jan. 26 Auburn Tuscaloosa 7:30 p.m. gymnastics Feb. 2 Kentucky Tuscaloosa 7:30 p.m. schedule Feb. 10 Georgia Athens, Ga. 4 p.m. Feb. 16 Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. 7 p.m. Feb. 23 North Carolina Tuscaloosa 7:30 p.m. March 2 LSU Tuscaloosa 7:30 p.m. March 9 UCLA Tuscaloosa 7:30 p.m. March 16 Auburn Auburn 7 p.m. GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 3 A look back: Alabama gymnastics 2006 season

CW/ File

CW/ T.G. Paschal

AP Photo

Top left: Former Crimson Tide gymnast Melanie Banville competes on the balance beam during a meet at Coleman Coliseum last year. Banville retired during the offseason due to recurring back problems. She was one of Alabama’s regular competitors as a freshman in 2006. Top right: Former gymnast Ashley Miles nails a vault landing at the 2006 NCAA Championships. Miles ended her career as a four-time national champion. Bottom left: Junior Terin Humphrey strikes a pose during her floor routine during Alabama’s breast cancer awarenss meet. Bottom right: Sophomore Ashley O’Neal does a leap during her floor routine. Right: Erin Rightley competes on the floor exercise during a home meet last year. CW/ File 4 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW

CW/ File Junior Terin Humphrey performs on the balance beam. Humphrey won two Olympic silver medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 5 Revamped Tide to be tested early

BY DAN SELLERS Assistant Sports Editor ■ [email protected]

As fans sit in Coleman Coliseum Friday night for the Alabama gymnastics opening meet against Oklahoma, the team they will see perform probably won’t be the same team that you will see toward the end of the season. At least, that’s how head coach Sarah Patterson sees it. Armed with eight sophomores and six freshmen, Patterson said she thinks it might take a couple of meets to get in the groove. “I think because we have so many freshmen and sophomores, the beginning of the season is not going to be where we end the season,” she said. “We’re as good right now as we’re going to be until we get into a couple of competi- tions. Then, I think that will inspire them to be even better. A lot of [our success] will stem from how they respond to those initial CW/ File meets.” Tide gymnast Cassie Martin performs on the floor exercise during a meet last season. The revamped squad will be thrown into the fire early as national powers Oklahoma in her rehabilitation and Patterson said she and Florida come calling. should be ready for the season opener. “I think because we have so many Later in the season, the Tide will also “Terin’s doing great,” Patterson said. “Just square off against Georgia, LSU and UCLA. freshmen and sophomores, the begin- six weeks out of her surgery, she is doing Patterson said the unsupervised time dur- every skill that she was doing before. She’s ning of the season is not going to be ing Christmas break could be the make-or- in much better shape. Mentally, her attitude break time for this squad. If the team doesn’t where we end the season.” is 100 percent improved. come back in as good of shape as when they “I’m just astounded at her physical accom- — SARAH PATTERSON left for the break, the season could get off to plishments in the past month. I would have UA gymnastics head coach a slow start. thought this would have taken much longer. “We’re a little bit different than other She’ll be ready to go.” little ahead.” sports,” she said. “We just don’t do some- Humphrey’s contributions will be crucial, Along with Lebegern and Price, Casey thing a little slower, it’s a matter of whether because she is one of only three upperclass- Overton, Alyssa Chapman, Morgan Dennis you’re landing on your head or not. men on the roster. and Jacqueline Shealy make up the six-per- “It’s so precision and performance-based Humphrey and Kaitlin White make up the son freshman class. that you’ve got to have everything running junior class, while Erin Rightley is the lone Last year’s freshman class was one of the on all cylinders. If you don’t, you have to be senior. biggest in Alabama history with eight new- very careful. Right now, for them to make a White admitted that depth was one of her comers on the squad. mental mistake would be detrimental not concerns about the team, but after going Most all of the youngsters saw action in only for their health, but for our season.” through fall training, the freshmen proved a 2005, but their roles will be increased this The start of the season will put an end to lot to her. season. an offseason that was one to forget for the “After going through this fall, I know we’ve Magee headlines the class, while Ashley gymnastics squad. got five freshmen that have a lot of competi- O’Neal and Cassie Martin should see signifi- Not only did they see the graduation of tive experience,” White said. “Yes, we’re a cant action as well. Ashley Miles, Dana Filetti and Mari Bayer, young team, everybody sees that, but I don’t “I hope all of them will do well,” Patterson but Alabama lost one of its most solid com- think it’s going to be a factor at all. We’ve got said of the sophomore class. “We’re count- petitors this summer when sophomore-to- a lot of talent and a lot of depth.” ing significantly on Brittany with Melanie’s be Melanie Banville retired. Of the newcomers, Patterson said that retirement, and I think we’re counting on Banville, a Canadian Olympian, decided Ricki Lebegern and Kassi Price separated Ashley O’Neal as well.” to retire and return home after a back injury themselves on arrival as two immediate Magee said that some of the others from did not heal. competitors for the Tide. that class, like Courtney Priess, who com- Patterson said the physical pain was too The freshman duo could see a lot of early peted some last season, could step up and much for Banville to endure. experience much like Banville and Brittany be a bright spot on the team. To make the offseason worse, return- Magee did last season. “We have a lot of people who haven’t ing uneven bars national champion Terin “Those two from day one came in ready competed yet that have been working really Humphrey underwent surgery to remove to go,” Patterson said. “They made a great hard in the summer, and I think we will get bone chips from her elbows. transition to college. I expect all of the fresh- to see some of them compete this year,” she However, Humphrey is ahead of schedule men to be competitive, but those two are a said.” 6 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW

Courtesy of Jim Davis Freshman gymnast Morgan Dennis practices a release move on the uneven bars during the Crimson Tide’s workouts. GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 7 Newcomers to determine success

BY RYAN WRIGHT tion with that many fans who are Senior Sports Reporter excited to see the team compete,” ■ [email protected] Lebegern said. “I’m sure I’ll be a little nervous. With just one senior and two You can only do so much and juniors, the 2007 gymnastics hope for the best.” squad looks to a sizable freshman Patterson said the new athletes class to have an early impact. will gain a lot of “on the spot expe- With the loss of last year’s rience.” five seniors, including three All- “I don’t know how they’ll Americans and four-time NCAA respond to performing in front of champion Ashley Miles, an equal 13,000 to 15,000 people,” Patterson number of freshmen must help said. bear the load as expectations Joining Price and Lebegern remain high. in the freshman class are Alyssa Alabama head coach Sarah Chapman, Morgan Dennis, Patterson expects them to do just Jacqueline Shealy and Casey that. Overton. “I think it goes without saying Despite the youth-laden team, that a lot of our success for the Patterson refuses to change her 2007 season will depend on how overall goals. the freshmen perform,” she said. “Whether we are a senior-dom- “They are young, but they are very inated team or freshman-domi- talented.” nated team, we have the same Despite a roster dominated by goal, and that’s to be there on the 12 sophomores and freshmen, last night with a chance to win a the country expects Alabama to national title,” she said. remain a frontrunner for a nation- Patterson plans to build the al title. area in which all new athletes of The coaches’ preseason poll any sport lack: experience. ranks the Crimson Tide fourth. “We have to put them in more “I think that they’ll have to step difficult positions in the pre- up immediately,” Patterson said. season than they will face dur- With the first two matches ing the season,” Patterson said. against Oklahoma, ranked 10th, “The biggest thing we have to give and Florida, ranked third, she them is experience.” means immediately in the most Like many gymnasts, Price and Courtesy of Jim Davis literal way. Lebegern spent their prep careers Kassi Price, a freshman from at gymnastics clubs, working pri- Above: Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hopes to marily on an individual basis. Freshman channel the anxiety into motiva- Because of that, newcomers must Ricki tion. shift from an attitude of self to Lebegern “I am a little bit nervous about one of team. practices her While Alabama’s high-profile it,” Price said of starting the sea- floor routine son against such high-profile coaches and stacked four-title opponents. “But I feel comfort- résumé attracted their attention, in Alabama’s able in my gymnastics. I want to those weren’t the only things that practice step it up when they need me. The persuaded the two to attend the facility. Left: pressure gets me to work harder.” University. Freshman Patterson said they have to real- They are scholars as well as ath- Jacqueline ize “our schedule is one of the letes. Shealy danc- toughest in the nation.” Price said the business school, es through On the positive side, she said, one of the top ranked in the coun- the girls will head into the post- try, and the overall atmosphere her routine season tournaments having com- made the decision that much eas- during one peted against the best. ier. of the Tide’s It’s not just the competition that “The schooling is amaz- practice ses- gives freshmen butterflies — it’s ing,” Price said. “When I visited sions. the Alabama fans. Alabama, I felt like I was a part of The team routinely entertains a big family.” a crowd in excess of 10,000 at During her transition to col- Coleman Coliseum, and students legiate practice and life, Lebegern who show up late are often turned said the team has supported her away. in much the same way. That will be an eye-opening “It’s definitely been a team experience for freshman Ricki effort,” Lebegern said. “Everyone Lebegern. is there to help each other. We all “I’ve never been in a situa- take care of each other.” 10 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ ‘DRIVE FOR THE CAUSE’ Rivals ‘think pink’ for cure again Crimson Tide gymnasts to host third ‘Drive for the Cause’ on Jan. 26

BY CAROLINE GWALTNEY Senior Sports Reporter ■ [email protected]

Imagine more than 15,000 screaming gymnastics fans cheering on their favorite team during a meet; only, you can’t decipher who is cheering for whom because everyone is wearing pink. Then the gymnasts and coaches enter the building and they too are not in their school colors but instead, in pink. What would typically be unheard of is exactly the scene during one meet each year when the Alabama gymnastics team competes against a rival SEC school while joining together to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. What began as head coach Sarah Patterson’s small vision in a doctor’s office waiting room to help women who don’t have adequate healthcare has now become an annual charitable effort with the support of many people. Patterson said part of the idea came from her own personal experience of not being able to pass mammograms many years ago. Although she was healthy, she still felt a certain sense of being uncomfortable with the situation, she said. Realizing how fortunate she was to not only be healthy but to also receive appropri- ate healthcare from qualified physicians, she wanted to use her position with gymnastics events to increase awareness for those who may not be able to receive the kind of care she did. “Breast cancer, if caught early, is something people don’t have to die from,” she said. “I began to think that maybe I could do CW/ File something to make a difference.” Sophomore Ashley O’Neal vaults during Alabama gymnastics’ 2006 breast cancer awareness meet. Patterson first shared her idea with the president of the DCH foundation, Larry O’Neil, whose own daughter had been diag- 15,000 fans. “Breast cancer, if caught early, is nosed with breast cancer. “Our first meet was tremendous and then A fund was then established so that any to have sell out crowd the second year was something people don’t have to die woman who has a problem in relationship phenomenal,” she said. “This is definitely to breast cancer can apply for the funding. one of the highlights of my 29-year career.” from. I began to think that maybe I “I wanted to take my own situation and Over time, Patterson’s breast cancer could do something to make a differ- use my position to do something that helps efforts have grown with numerous support students at the University and my own from the Tuscaloosa community. ence.” team,” she said. “And now it’s much more Additionally, a leotard manufacturing — SARAH PATTERSON open to anyone.” company donates the pink leotards to the UA gymnastics head coach In 2005, Patterson’s vision became a real- gymnasts each year. ity with the inaugural breast cancer aware- Tuscaloosa Toyota and the DCH founda- ness meet against Auburn. tion have been big supporters of the charity With the “pink” meet and these other Only a year later, in the meet against golf tournament and A Nite on the Green, events, the Alabama gymnastics team will Florida, the Tide had raised $90,000 for the which are additional events to help raise be able to present approximately $225,000 fund with a sell-out crowd of more than more money for the fund. this year on Jan. 26 at the Auburn meet. GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 11

After the Auburn meet, Patterson says there will be more than $300,000 in the account to be accessible for those in need. Patterson also credits the community’s support to the success of her initiative. “No one has said ‘no’ to me,” she said. “You just can’t go far from your own life where someone has been affected.” The team has also enjoyed the effort and learned a lot in the process, she said. “They passed out over 8,000 pam- phlets and I know over the course of their careers, they will take care of themselves,” she said. Senior Erin Rightley has been able to see the growth of the initiative since the beginning. “It was really a surreal moment to march out and see a sea of pink in the stands,” she said. “I think it’s really great, especially for the sport of gymnastics where things can some- times become a little too competitive. Instead of it only being about winning, it’s good to make it about something else for the better of everyone.” Patterson said she sees the opportu- nities for the future as endless. She said she wants to continue to raise more funding and perhaps rally other institutions to begin the same type of program and grow across the country. “It would be really great to see women in other places reaping the benefits so that no one has to die from this disease,” Patterson said.

CW/ File Above: Sophomore Brittany Magee salutes after landing during the 2006 breast cancer awareness meet at Coleman Coliseum. Right: The Alabama gymnastics team is introduced with fire- works. Far right: Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson watches a routine during the first breast cancer awareness meet, 2004’s “Target the Cure” event. 12 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW 2007 Alabama 2007 Alabama baseball schedule softball schedule Feb. 9-11 Georgia State Feb 9-11 Texas State Tournament Feb. 14 Troy Feb. 16-18 Bama Bash Feb. 16-18 Canisius Feb. 23-25 Crimson Classic Feb. 23-25 Villanova Feb. 28 Samford Feb. 28 UAB March 2-4 Easton Spring Fling March 2-4 McNeese State March 10-11 Miss. State* March 6 Southern Miss March 14 Florida* March 7 Tennessee Tech March 17-18 South Carolina* March 9-11 Nebraska March 21 Arkansas* March 14 Samford March 24-25 LSU* March 16-18 Tennessee* March 27 La. Tech March 20-21 Miss. Valley State March 31-April 1 Georgia* March 23-25 Ole Miss* April 3 Northwestern St. March 30-April 1 LSU* April 3 Fla. Atlantic April 4 UAB April 6-7 Auburn* April 6-8 Vanderbilt* April 11 UT-Chattanooga April 10 SE Louisiana April 17 Mercer April 13-15 Georgia* April 21-22 Ole Miss* April 18 South Alabama April 24 Troy April 20-22 Auburn* April 28-29 Kentucky* April 25 Samford May 5-6 Tennessee* April 27-29 South Carolina* May 10-12 SEC Tournament

May 4-6 Florida* Home games in bold May 11-13 Arkansas* *SEC opponent May 17-19 Miss. State* May 24-27 SEC Tournament Check www.cw.ua.edu for a Home games in bold recap of the gymnastics opener *SEC opponent against Oklahoma. GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 13 14 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW

CW/ File Senior Erin Rightley performs her leap series on the beam. Rightley is the Crimson Tide’s lone senior heading in to the 2007 gymnastics season. GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ Friday, January 12, 2007 15 Rightley prepared to lead Alabama’s lone senior to be ‘stable force’ in 2007

BY DAN SELLERS a team chore rather than one she Assistant Sports Editor has to tackle alone. ■ [email protected] “There’s definitely more of an emphasis on leadership for me Erin Rightley is slightly differ- this year,” she said. ent from most of her Alabama “Just from the experiences that gymnastics teammates. I can pass down to the girls, but I She did not come from an elite think more than just me or Terin level gymnastics background. or Kaitlin being the leaders of this She did not come to Alabama team, it’s more of a team effort as a scholarship athlete like most this year.” all of her teammates. Patterson echoed those So while it may not seem like remarks, saying that the three she has much in common with experienced gymnasts would her teammates, as the lone senior share the majority of the leader- on the 2007 squad, Rightley has ship role. become the common fixture “To put the burden of all lead- on the competition mat for the ership on [Rightley] would be a Crimson Tide. mistake,” Patterson said. “We’ve Rightley walked on to the gym- been in that situation before, and nastics squad as a freshman, and I think it’s hard to ask them to do her hard work paid off at the end it all. She has worked extremely of last season when head coach hard to get where she is at. Sarah Patterson awarded her a “Between the three upperclass- scholarship for her senior year. men, they will lead.” While Rightley insists that her Rightley will be a key figure for mindset has not changed since Alabama this season, and consid- she received the scholarship, ering how far she has come since Patterson said she saw her role her arrival in Tuscaloosa, it could shift last season. be one of the best success stories “She went from being a spot at the Capstone in quite some competitor to being a weekly, sta- time. ble force in our lineup,” Patterson “She didn’t come from the same said. background as a lot of these other “I don’t think that will change gymnasts,” Patterson said. “She this year.” didn’t come from the best facili- Patterson attributed Rightley’s ties, and to see that she is com- CW/ File success to a boost in her self-con- petitive in at least two events and fidence. has earned a scholarship — that Above: Senior gym- “The difference in her is that speaks volumes. nast Erin Rightley performs on the bal- she has a tremendous amount of “You don’t necessarily have to ance beam against be the most gifted athlete in the confidence in herself that trans- Florida last season. lates into her performances,” world, but hard work and staying Left: Rightley tum- Patterson said. the course will definitely get you bles on the beam “Whereas, maybe in her fresh- places in your career.” during a meet in man and sophomore year she While the scholarship and an Coleman Coliseum. lacked confidence.” increased role on a nationally Rightley is the only Not only will her performances prominent team has been a joy- senior on Alabama’s be more important this season, ride for Rightley, she said she isn’t 2007 squad. but she will also have to carry the satisfied. load of leading a young team. As good as her story may be, Rightley is one of just three she said the ending still needs upperclassmen on the squad. some touching up. Juniors Kaitlin White and “I’ve been here four years, and uneven bars national champion I haven’t had a chance to get that Terin Humphrey. ring yet,” Rightley said. While Rightley realizes the “I have one more shot at SECs increased leadership role she and nationals, so I definitely want now has, she sees that burden as that happy ending.” 16 Friday, January 12, 2007 ■ GYMNASTICS PREVIEW ■ WHAT YOU KNOW Terin Humphrey speaks out

TerinHumphrey All-around Bates City, MO Olympic silver medalist NCAA champion

CW: What is your favorite restau- looked up to. rant in Tuscaloosa? TH: I think my freshman year the CW: What’s the best advice you’ve three freshmen ate at Pepito’s all ever been given? the time, but now I like Logan’s. I TH: My dad went through college like to go for the bread. knowing he could be a Divison I athlete but decided he didn’t want CW: Since you have fulfilled a to do that and he looks back and dream many have of going to the regrets the whole thing. So he Olympics, what are your dreams always told me to do the best that I and goals for the rest of your life? can now because you don’t want to TH: I would really like to win a regret it later. national championship while I am here. I have won a national cham- CW: What is your favorite thing to pionship by myself and I think it’s do outside of gymnastics? a greater reward if the whole team TH: I love hanging with my friends does it. After college, I want to and going to movies. I am a big get a good job maybe in detective movie buff, and my favorite movie work since I am a criminal justice is Troy. major and psychology minor. CW: What is one thing not many CW: What’s your favorite thing people would know about you? about being at the University of TH: I ride horses and before gym- Alabama? nastics, I competed in barrel rac- TH: I love being a student. Alabama ing. treats everyone so well, especially the athletes. CW: What do you like most about the gymnastics team? CW: What person in your life do TH: Competing in the Olympics you admire the most? was more like a job and now it’s TH: My brother is in Iraq right now, more for fun. I’ve enjoyed myself and I’m really proud of him and and had time to spend with friends what he’s doing right now. and it just gives me a positive out- He is just someone I have always look on gymnastics. www.supestore.ua.edu The SUPe Store believes Looking for asunnywindowsill

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