For the fifth week in a row, Alabama gymnastics is the No. 6 team in the nation. It has the same 197.165 Regional Qualifying Score as last week and a season-high 197.525. Nothing has changed in the rankings.
Oklahoma is still No. 1 (198.12), followed by LSU (197.89) and UCLA (197.84) in order. Utah (197.54) and Florida (197.39) round out the top five.
Now that that’s handled, let’s flashback to the 2018 SEC Championships last Saturday, where Alabama placed second.
The Crimson Tide posted a 196.975. Through 12 meets, that is its six-lowest mark of the season. Alabama hadn’t scored below a 197 since the Kentucky meet on Feb. 16, more than five weeks ago.
Alabama was so close, too. It trailed by only 0.075 heading into the final rotation. All it had left was the uneven bars, it’s most consistent event this season. UA is nationally ranked fifth on the event, boasting a 49.415 RQS and a 49.55 high.
Instead, the Crimson Tide put up a 48.95, its lowest bars score this year. Sophomore Wynter Childers had the highest individual mark with a 9.85.
Had Alabama scored at least a 49.4 on bars, which it managed five times this season, it would have defeated LSU’s first-place 197.4 by 0.025.
Alabama surpassed Florida – the Gators are ranked higher nationally and the Crimson Tide lost to them earlier this season – and to junior Ari Guerra for winning the floor individual title with a 9.9.
