Alabama Gymnastics Opens Ashley Johnston Era with 196.975-196.550 Win over Michigan State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — One would possibly that suppose that moving into the pinnacle teaching function on the college the place you received a nationwide championship as an athlete a decade in the past would possibly fire up some nerves. 

However for Ashley Johnston in her head teaching debut Friday night time in opposition to Michigan State, it simply felt like coming residence. 

“This seems like I am simply strolling in for an additional meet ready and prepared,” Johnston stated after the meet. “You already know, everyone is aware of what their job is for tonight, and now all we’ve got to do is simply execute. So it is an ideal feeling.”

And execute is precisely what Alabama gymnastics did. The Crimson Tide beat Michigan State 196.975-196.550 inside Coleman Coliseum Friday night time. It was the second highest season-opening rating in program historical past. 

Alabama bought off to a powerful begin on vault with a 49.325, and all six gymnasts competing a ten.0 start-vaule vault. The rotation was highlighted by a 9.9 from senior Makarri Doggette and true freshman Gabby Gladieux anchoring the lineup with an enormous Yurchenko 1.5 that scored a 9.825. 

It was the beginning of a formidable night time for each gymnasts. Doggette was again within the throughout for the primary time since her freshman season after coping with accidents over the past two years. She completed in second place behind Luisa Blanco with a 39.375. Johnston stated Doggette’s efficiency was one of many highlights of the meet for her. 

“She really wasn’t slated to compete on flooring tonight,” Johnston stated. “However after three occasions she confirmed the kind of vitality and the kind of focus that we had been actually trying to see. So we made a rapid change, put her within the flooring lineup and she or he actually thrived and rose to the chance. And so I believed that was an enormous deal. 

“We always speak about adapting and ensuring that we take advantage of the second, and so I feel Makarri was an ideal instance of that tonight the place there was an ideal alternative to step in to, and she or he did that. And getting again within the all spherical for her was a extremely large deal. So I am tremendous pleased with that.”

After the meet, Doggette stated it has been a protracted course of to get up to now, however she’s realized to belief her physique. However tonight was about greater than herself. It was additionally about placing on a powerful efficiency for Johnston in her first meet as head coach.

“Ashley can be an NCAA champion, a nationwide champion, and she or he’s put in a lot work for us and simply made us such higher human beings and gymnasts,” Doggette stated. “I feel we actually wished to point out her how a lot we respect her and the way a lot we love her tonight, and I feel all of us did that.”

The one freshman to debut Friday night time was Gladieux. Doggette has been raving about her because the freshman arrived on campus. She competed on three occasions (vault, stability beam, and flooring), closing the night time with a hovering flooring routine that scored a 9.9. The freshman stated she’s been dreaming about this second since she was 11 years previous.

“I simply wished to soak all of it in,” Gladieux stated. “I did not wish to get forward of myself. I simply wished to soak in all of the lights, all of the sounds, and simply form of be current. And I feel I actually did that.”

Johnston referred to as Gladieux a stud, and stated there are large issues coming for the freshman from Greensboro, North Carolina. 

“She’s bought large issues coming this yr,” Johnston stated. “I don’t suppose there’s anyone that tumbles increased than her or vaults increased than her. And the truth that she was capable of step into some actually essential positions and keep calm and simply form of do her factor—I feel that speaks volumes about the kind of athlete that she is. And I feel folks must be actually enthusiastic about watching her compete all year long.”

Alabama scored not less than a 49.125 on all 4 occasions. Regardless of the sturdy begin to the season, the Crimson Tide nonetheless left lots of factors out on the mat. Johnston feels that it provides her a great basis for the workforce transferring ahead.

“It was a extremely nice begin,” she stated. “I feel we’ve got a great baseline to construct from. We positively had some little errors right here and there—some bobbles, some landings that weren’t caught, some handstands that had been a bit shy, a pair flooring landings that had been a bit off. You might see some nerves on the market nonetheless. It was the primary meet. It is vital to get a few of these jitters out however I do imagine once more, the method was right. And so now it is about actually honing in on these little particulars that assist create that polish that we’re finally on the lookout for.”

Subsequent up for the Crimson Tide is a street meet at Arkansas subsequent Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Community. 

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