Highs and Lows of 2023 Alabama Gymnastics Season

Alabama had multiple perfect 10s, finished second at SECs, Coleman Coliseum was sold out for the first time in nearly a decade, but the Crimson Tide failed to reach the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2019

The postseason for Alabama gymnastics was representative of the entire season under first year head coach Ashley Johnston– talent, big-scoring potential and solid performances, but ultimately coming up just a little short. 

The Crimson Tide's season ended in the Sweet 16 with a fourth-place finish in the Normal Regional Finals as the No. 8 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Alabama made no major mistakes in the meet, but couldn't find enough stuck landings and other small deductions like bent knees or short handstands that eventually added up too much to keep up with the other competitors. 

"This team has really done a great job of building throughout the season and coming together and being united," Johnston said after the season ended. "And that's something that I've really enjoyed growing with them is just seeing all the pieces come together, seeing them invest in building each other up.”

Alabama saw high highs and low lows this season. Team 49 had a second-place finish at the SEC Championships with a 197.925, scored a season-high 198 at the Metroplex Challenge and had an exhilarating finish inside Coleman Coliseum on the floor exercise to beat Suni Lee and the Auburn Tigers in front of the first sellout crowd since 2014. 

For the first time in two years, Alabama gymnasts scored perfect 10s. Luisa Blanco had two on the balance beam, Lilly Hudson added one on beam as well, and Makarri Doggette had one on the uneven bars. 

Even though the Johnston era began with a win over Michigan State, Alabama opened the season with three straight scores in the 196 range and then finished the regular season with a 196.750 loss at Missouri and a 197.125 on Senior Night. And ultimately during NCAAs, Alabama couldn't put together its best performance when it counted the most to advance to the championships. 

Blanco, the former SEC Gymnast of the Year, continued to be the leader on the mat for the Crimson Tide. She was one of the best beam and floor workers in the country. But Alabama got major contributions all around in its senior class. Doggette was always a must-watch on the bars, scoring a 9.9 or higher in 11 of her 12 routines on the apparatus. Mati Waligora was a mainstay in the bars and floor lineup, and Ella Burgess continued to shine in the leadoff role on the balance beam. 

Fifth year Shallon Olsen was a major contributor on vault and floor. The Olympian has continually displayed some of the highest level of difficulty in collegiate gymnastics over the last five years, and her Yurchenko double-twist on vault always had the potential to put up big scores for the Crimson Tide. 

One of the great things about Alabama this season that Johnston touted from the preseason through the postseason was the depth and balance of upperclassmen and younger gymnasts. 

The freshman in Alabama's large freshman class that got all the hype coming into the season was Gabby Gladieux, and she delivered. Gladieux was the only freshman to compete in all 13 meets and consistently put up big scores for the Crimson Tide. The highlight of her season was winning the SEC title on vault with her perfect Yurchenko full at the SEC Championship meet. Her high-flying tumbling led to 10 scores of 9.9 or higher on the floor exercise. 

Fellow freshman Rachel Rybicki found a spot in the beam lineup a few weeks into the season and Karis German, Lauren Little and Lillian Lewis got a few appearances in the lineups. 

Junior Shania Adams came on strong at the end of the season and will be a key piece and leader for Alabama next season. Cam Machado was a steady fixture in the bars lineup for the Crimson Tide and a reliable scorer on the event. 

Lilly Hudson built on her impressive freshman season with a strong sophomore campaign. Hudson was the only Crimson Tide gymnast to compete in the all-around every meet this season. She was one of three, alongside Blanco and Doggette, to compete in the all-around at all. It takes a lot of strength, stamina and talent to compete on all four events with that consistency week after week. Fellow sophomore Jordyn Paradise was a consistent scorer in the vault lineup. 

All four of Alabama's regular seniors have the opportunity to come back for one more season because of the COVID waiver. Johnston said she's had conversations with them throughout the season, but no decision would be made until after the season. 

Whether or not any of the four choose to come back, Johnston has a solid core of gymnasts returning in Adams, Machado, Hudson, Paradise and the young freshman group that will be entering their sophomore seasons. 

Alabama's season as a team has come to a close, but the Crimson Tide will still be represented at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas with Blanco competing as an individual on the uneven bars after scoring a 9.975 in the first round of the regionals. 

"I’m really proud of Luisa for stepping up and having a great performance on Thursday night to have the opportunity to go to Fort Worth in a couple weeks," Johnston said. "And we're going to just really celebrate that and stay in the moment, and I know the team will have her back and be supporting her through every step of the way as well.”

Despite the earlier-than-expected exit from NCAAs, Johnston showed she has this program moving in the right direction. She was a gymnast on the last Alabama team to win a national title and knows what it takes to win. She's building trust with the gymnasts and excitement with the fans as evidenced by some of the big crowds back inside Coleman Coliseum. 

The theme for the team this season was "meeting the moment." The ultimate goal was not met and Johnston and the team were disappointed with the way things ended, but the future is bright for Alabama gymnastics. 

"It's times like these where we have to come together and remind each other that we're a family, and we're here for each other through the highs and the lows," Johnston said. "And it's important to be able to turn the page and trust that the best is still yet to come.”

See also:

Season Ends in Sweet 16 for Alabama Gymnastics

Assessing Alabama Gymnastics' First Season Under Ashley Johnston: Just a Minute

An Alabama Gymnastics Bond Formed in a Snap