Tide Picked No. 1 In Gymnastics Poll

Conversation around The University of Alabama these days is about the National Championship. In fact, about winning a second consecutive national title in football. But there is a task even more difficult than that for Gymnastics Coach Sarah Patterson. And the nation's gymnastics coaches think Patterson and Bama are up to the task of winning a third consecutive national crown.

Last school year, Alabama won the national championship in football for the 14th time. The Crimson Tide women's golf and softball teams won their first national championships.

And Crimson Tide Gymnastics Coach Sarah Patterson and her ladies won their second consecutive national championship, the sixth Bama has won under Patterson.

The preseason poll of national gymnastics coaches is out and Alabama is picked to win the title in 2013. The Crimson Tide was ranked second in the preseason poll the last two years.

The preseason top 25 also includes all nine of Alabama’s 2013 opponents, including the remaining three of the top four, with UCLA at No. 2, Florida at No. 3 and Oklahoma at No. 4. The Gators and Bruins, which finished second and third respectively last season in the tightest championship finish in gymnastics history, are separated by a single point in the preseason poll. Utah rounds out the top-5.

“I had the same four teams at the top on my ballot,” UA head coach Sarah Patterson said. “Although I had Florida at No. 1, and I feel they are the most talented team in the country and have been for the last several years.”

The Tide will face No. 8 LSU twice this season and will take on No. 11 Georgia and No. 12 Arkansas on the road. Alabama will also face off with No. 13 Auburn at midseason and will open on the road with No. 21 Missouri. This year’s Power of Pink meet will see the Tide take on No. 25 Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum.

“The addition of Missouri to the Southeastern Conference this season does nothing but strengthen the nation’s premiere gymnastics conference,” Patterson said. “All eight of our schools are in the top-25 with seven in the top-15 and two in the top three.”

Season tickets are on sale now through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum or online at RollTide.com.

“Our home schedule is incredible and will showcase college gymnastics at its best,” Patterson said. “We welcome three teams that are in the top 10 to Coleman Coliseum while all five of our home opponents are in the top 25. Overall, our schedule is probably the toughest in the nation, but one that I feel will give us the experience necessary to be on the floor the last night of the season with a chance to win another championship.”