Missouri at Alabama
When: 7:15 p.m.
Where: Coleman Coliseum
Records: Alabama 1-2, 1-1 SEC; Missouri 0-5, 0-4 SEC
TV: SEC Network+
By Taylor Morgan
Special to Tidesports
Coming off of an exciting upset against No. 6 LSU in an away meet, the No. 7 Alabama gymnastics team returns to Coleman Coliseum for the most impactful meet of the season.
For the 16th time in program history, the Crimson Tide will perform in the Power of Pink meet to honor breast cancer survivors. Many special guest breast cancer survivors will be introduced at the Friday meet alongside each gymnast.
After the past meet at LSU, where the Tide took over in every event, Alabama returns home to try and pick up its first win of the year at Coleman Coliseum. Dana Duckworth said this is the most meaningful meet of the entire year because it just means so much more than just the athletes performances.
“The Power of Pink represents so many things to so many people,” she said. “There isn’t a person I know that hasn’t either known someone or personally experienced breast cancer. It continues to amaze me the number of testimonials and stories that we hear from people.”
Not only does this Power of Pink meet take place inside and outside the coliseum, but other locations throughout campus are lit up in pink to honor those affected by breast cancer.
“It’s huge for our ladies to realize when you put the Power of Pink leotard on, you’re representing those who have not won their fight, you’re representing those who have won their fight, and you represent those who are fighting right now,” Duckworth said.
For the freshman Makarri Doggette, who has posted four-consecutive scores of 9.875 or better on the uneven bars, this will be her first Power of Pink match.
“Looking back and watching this meet as a little girl, I always wished it was me and now that it finally is, it just means so much and to experience it with my team knowing that it is more than gymnastics is so exciting,” said Doggette.
Returning junior, Lexi Graber who sealed the win against LSU with her beam performance with a 9.875 said that this is the best night of the entire season.
“This is my favorite meet ever. It just reminds us that on Friday night there is a woman standing next to us that has been through so much and has fought through so much more than we could ever imagine and so it just reminds us to fight for them, it’s for something bigger than ourselves” said Graber. “We’re doing it for something else. Instead of for ourselves and for our team, it’s for these women.”
