Alabama
No. 9 Alabama Comes up Short in 198.325-197.325 Loss to No. 2 LSU – University of Alabama Athletics
BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics program (9-3-1, 3-3-1 SEC) came up short against the No. 2 LSU Tigers (8-3; 5-2 SEC), 198.325-197.325, Friday night in Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Despite the loss, the Crimson Tide still posted a season-high score on the balance beam (49.500) behind multiple podium finishes highlighted by an event-winning 9.950 performance on beam.
After starting slow in its opening rotation, Alabama moved to vault where junior Corinne Bunagan made her season debut before super senior Luisa Blanco recorded her fifth 9.900-or-higher score of the season, claiming her first of three podium finishes of the night.
A week after scoring a 9.975 on the floor exercise, sophomore Gabby Gladieux posted a 9.950, marking two consecutive scores of 9.950-or-higher on one event for the first time in her young career. Alabama closed the night by recording the highest balance beam score of the night in Baton Rouge, as super senior Burgess calmly performed to a career-high-tying 9.950 to propel the Tide to a season-high rotation score of 49.500.
Alabama claimed six podium finishes on the night as Burgess claimed the only event title. Blanco found the podium three times (vault – 2nd | 9.900; balance beam – 2nd | 9.925; all-around – 2nd | 39.550), while Gladieux reached the podium twice (floor exercise – 3rd | 9.950; all-around – 3rd | 39.450).
Head Coach Ashley Johnston Said
“The environment tonight [at LSU] was really exhilarating. I felt like our team came in ready to start strong, but got a little fazed right there at the start on [the uneven] bars. And at that point, we went into ‘fight mode’ to try and command every opportunity we had. I felt like as the meet progressed, they did a good job of fighting and battling back entering that last event. I’m proud of how we responded on beam – that was a clutch moment that they could have decided to either, truly, go after it or be distracted. But, they went after it and fought all the way through to the finish line, which was an important step for this team. We have to keep building, though. We have to get back in the gym and, as a staff, challenge them to compete hard in tough moments. I know this team is committed to continuing to get better, finding ways to overcome the challenges they’re experiencing. I truly believe this team is capable of competing with anybody in the country; we just have to get back after it.”
Inside the Score Sheet
- Three Alabama gymnasts claimed three podium finishes inside Pete Maravich Assembly Center
- Luisa Blanco – vault (2nd | 9.900); balance beam (2nd | 9.925); all-around (2nd | 39.550)
- Ella Burgess – balance beam (2nd | 9.950)
- Gabby Gladieux – floor exercise (3rd | 9.950); all-around (3rd – 39.550)
- UA posted a season-high event score of 49.500 on the balance beam, as half of the Tide’s lineup posted a 9.900-or-higher score
- Blanco recorded her fifth 9.900-or-higher vault score of the season
- For the first time in her career, Gladieux posted 9.950-or-higher scores in back-to-back weeks on the same event
- Corinne Bunagan made her season debut on vault (9.775)
Up Next
- Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for its final home meet of the 2024 season next Friday night, with first vault at 7 p.m. CT
- The quad meet will feature No. 16 Minnesota, No. 23 Illinois and Talladega College
- The night has been dubbed as Eras Night as the Crimson Tide welcomes home its alumni and honors its seven senior gymnasts as part of Senior Night festivities
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Alabama
Kevin Turner Prattville YMCA Golf Tournament welcomes Auburn, Alabama players as guest hosts
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) – One of the most anticipated golf tournaments of the year happens Monday — the 29th annual Kevin Turner Prattville YMCA Golf Tournament.
This year’s guest hosts are both placekickers — former Alabama kicker Michael Proctor and current Auburn kicker Alex McPherson.
Proctor, a Pelham High graduate, came to the Crimson Tide in 1992, a year after Turner was drafted by the Patriots. But he still remembers the Prattville native’s infectious personality that resonated with teammates. “I had heard about the tournament through the years,” Proctor said. “It’s a big deal. Kevin is a big deal. When he was playing here, and even after his unfortunate passing, he’s well remembered and respected. Anything I can do to help anything in his name, I would be willing to do. I met him when I was there. He came back, obviously knowing people on the team that he had played with. Anything I can do for his name … I’m sure anybody at Alabama or anybody that knew him would be willing to do anything for him because he would do the same for you.”
McPherson, a Fort Payne High graduate, came to Auburn in 2022, weathered an inflammatory bowel disease that sidelined him in 2024, and is now preparing for his fifth year as the Tigers’ kicker. And even though he never knew Turner personally, he’s looking forward to the tournament.
“I’m honored,” McPherson said. “I heard what the tournament was about, Kevin and his story. I heard that one of the former Alabama kickers was going to be in the tournament and that they would love to have a kicker from Auburn. They thought that I would be a great fit.”
Proctor was recruited as one of the nation’s top prep kickers and went through a high school and collegiate career where he made 184 of 185 extra points. He kicked a then-record 60-yard field goal at Pelham and nine of his 26 field goals were longer than 50 yards. He finished a four-year career as the Crimson Tide’s second leading scorer with 326 points, earning All-American honors in 1993 and 1994 after winning a national championship in 1992 and returning as the Southeastern Conference’s top kicker a year later.
McPherson was recruited as one of the nation’s top kickers and kicked a record 61-yard field goal in high school before joining the Tigers. Like Proctor, his breakout year came as a sophomore (in 2023) where he made 13 of 13 field goal attempts and 40 of 40 extra point attempts in becoming a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.
Turner went through a five-year battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which was triggered by CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a disease that hits home with many collegiate players from that era who witnessed it first with Turner and more recently with former Tide running back Kerry Goode.
The tournament helps fund the “Coach A Child Scholarship Fund Campaign” which provides financial aid to make YMCA services available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Prattville YMCA has provided financial aid to more than 3,300 people, many of them children, at a cost of more than $400,000. This year, the goal is to raise $285,000 for the Coach A Child Fund Campaign.
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Alabama
Alabama softball No. 1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament: Who does Tide play?
Alabama softball is the cream of the crop heading into the 2026 NCAA softball tournament, cemented as the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in 16 years.
The Crimson Tide’s ranking means it will host a regional and, if it advances, a super regional. The regional field will consist of USC Upstate (36-21), Belmont (40-11) and SE Louisiana (46-14).
The Tuscaloosa Regional is double-elimination. Action will run through May 15-17 on SEC Network.
It marks the 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Alabama and the 21st-straight season it is hosting a regional at Rhoads Stadium, not including the canceled 2020 season. The Crimson Tide has advanced to the Women’s College World Series 15 times and is looking to do so for the first time in two years.
Alabama has one national championship, which came in 2012.
Alabama is coming off a championship game loss in the SEC Tournament. Seven unanswered runs led to a 7-1 fall to Texas, securing the Longhorns their first SEC Softball Tournament title during their second year in the conference on Saturday, May 9.
Friday, May 15
- Game 1: Alabama vs. USC Upstate, noon CT
- Game 2: Belmont vs. SE Louisiana, 2:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 16
- Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, TBD
- Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, TBD
- Game 5: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, TBD
Sunday, May 17
- Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, TBD
- Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary), TBD
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.
Alabama
Alabama mom sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
An Alabama woman was sentenced to life in prison Friday after authorities said she hired a hitman to kill her child’s father in a custody dispute.
Jaclyn Skuce, 43, of Madison, was convicted of capital murder after hiring a man to kill the child’s father in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation, the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office said.
The Hartselle Police Department was dispatched on July 24, 2020, to a residence for a welfare check after Anthony Larry Sheppard failed to appear in court for a scheduled custody hearing.
His attorney had asked officers to check on him, investigators said.
Upon arrival, police discovered Sheppard’s storm door shattered and the main door ajar.
Officers later found Sheppard dead with multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators determined that Skuce hired Logan Delp to kill Sheppard in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation with his child.
Prosecutors said Skuce used social media to hire the hitman, who lived in Hartselle, according to the Hartselle Enquirer. She allegedly offered to pay $30,000.
“There are never any winners in a case like this,” Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery said following the verdict.
“This jury was incredibly thorough and took their time to make sure they made the right decision, both for Mr. Sheppard and for the defendant.”
Vickery added, “We are glad that they convicted her for the choice she made to take Mr. Sheppard away from his family.”
Skuce was found guilty of three counts of capital murder: murder for hire, murder of a witness, and murder committed by shooting into an occupied dwelling.
Four other defendants have been charged with capital murder in connection with Sheppard’s death.
Delp was convicted of capital murder in October 2025, the DA’s office said. Another defendant has pleaded guilty, and two others are awaiting trial.
Skuce will be imprisoned without the possibility of parole in the Alabama Department of Corrections.
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