The regular season for college gymnastics is over. Alabama starts its 2019 postseason run this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with one of the four NCAA regional sites. But before that rolls around, let’s take a look back at how the Crimson Tide has done overall this year – so far.
Right now, Alabama is 10th in the nation, two spots below its highest ranking. It has a 196.99 National Qualifying Score that averages out two 197s and three 196s. The team’s season-high 197.35 isn’t counted in its NQS.
That best mark, which was posted less than two weeks ago to finish third at the SEC championships, can help gauge how far the Crimson Tide has come. Alabama began its season with a 194.75, the program’s lowest score since 2006, and then slowly but surely raised the bar to where it is now. UA did, however, take its time breaking 197.
The Crimson Tide finished out its entire home schedule without displaying a single 197 performance in Coleman Coliseum, another first since 2006. It eventually did get over that hump March 9 with a 197.1 during a neutral site meet in Birmingham and has since built on it week after week, adding a 197.25 and the 197.35.
The highest score nationally goes to No. 2 UCLA with a 198.4. No. 1 Oklahoma is next with a 198.325, followed by No. 3 LSU with a 198.175.
So, as Alabama was trying to hit 197, other teams were making 198. Five, to be exact.
As for each event, the Crimson Tide is seventh on the floor exercise (49.41) and ninth on the vault (49.235). It then drops out of the top 10, coming in 11th on the balance beam (49.27) and 15th on the uneven bars (49.235). Those are also determined by NQS.
Just to see how Alabama would do if all of its event season highs happened in the same meet: That would mean a 49.325 on bars, a 49.35 on vault, a 49.45 on beam and a 49.5 on floor. The Crimson Tide would then have a 197.625, which is 0.275 better than its actual season best.
