For the first time this season, Alabama senior Nickie Guerrero has been named the Southeastern Conference Specialist of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
The Texas native helped Alabama defeat Auburn last Friday with a season-high 197.3. Individually, she won vault with a 9.95 that tied her career-best mark. She also finished first on the balance beam and floor exercise with a 9.9 and a 9.925, respectively.
“I’m excited for her, that she’s just allowing herself to shine,” Alabama coach Dana Duckworth said. “All she needs to do is keep being Nickie — dancing around, keeping loose, doing what she does and just focusing on being the very best she can be in the moment.”
Through Alabama’s eight meets, Guerrero has scored at least a 9.9 on vault six times. She has posted a 9.9 or better five times on beam and four times on floor. Her season-high beam score is a 9.95. For floor, it’s a 9.925.
Guerrero is also normally the Crimson Tide’s anchor on the three events she does compete.
“Any coach will tell you, of any sport, that you always ask yourself, ‘OK, if we have one second left in the game, who do you want to have the ball?’” Duckworth said. “I think that Nickie is at a place in her life right now where she wants the ball and she wants to carry the ball. Whether she makes it or not, she’s going to give you everything she has.”
