Perfection is a rare concept in sports, but five Alabama seniors have the chance to keep several perfect streaks intact when the gymnastics team faces No. 11 Auburn on Friday.
The seniors will look to extend a 20-0 regular season home record, part of an overall 30-0 home record.
Seniors Kim Jacob, Diandra Milliner, Ria Domier, Lindsey Fowler and Sarah DeMeo will also be looking to finish a perfect 5-0 against Auburn, the last five in a streak of 108 Alabama victories against its in-state rival.
(See also “Alabama sets school record in win over No. 10 Stanford“)
Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said she knew this group was special in its first season on campus, particularly remembering the 2011 NCAA Championship, which Alabama won in Cleveland, Ohio. It was the beginning of a run that team members hope will end in a third championship in four years this April.
“That first year, we were dependent upon them,” Patterson said. “Sometimes you have a freshman class come in, and you’re not dependent on them to compete. Without them, we wouldn’t have been successful. Not only did they compete, but they dominated our lineup. I just knew it would be a great run, and throughout their career they would be a great group of ladies. When they won their second year, we had never done that in our coaching career. We had never won back to back, so that was pretty special. I think it was difficult when they finished third last year. We were right in contention, but everything they’ve done over the past three years has put us in position to be there.”
(See also “Milliner vital leader for Alabama gymnastics team“)
This senior class might have been some of the top athletes on the team four years ago, but that hasn’t held the athletes back from growing in ways both measurable and intangible.
“This is Sarah DeMeo’s best year,” Patterson said. “Kim Jacob went from not really competing on bars to being a staple in our bar line up. Lindsey [Fowler] and Ria [Domier] have not competed as much, but they’ve been such great team ambassadors. In terms of leadership and helping somebody if they needed it, they’ve been great.”
Last time Alabama faced Auburn, the Crimson Tide narrowly edged the Tigers 197.5 to 197.1. In the final event of that meet, Auburn lost their best gymnast, Bri Guy, to an ankle injury. Even without their top athlete, however, Patterson and the gymnasts are not taking their rivals lightly. The gymnasts are looking forward to taking on their neighbors at home.
“I don’t think it’s ever comfortable to face Auburn, just because they’re so good and they’re getting so much better,” Patterson said. “But I think they are glad that we’re here at home. There’s no place they’d rather be, and I think they’ll be inspired to perform well. It’s the Iron Bowl II.”
Milliner said the team won’t take motivation from any distaste for Auburn or their athletes. To the senior, who holds Alabama’s only perfect 10 of the season, this group’s motivation has always been much simpler.
“There’s not really that spite against other teams,” Milliner said. “We just like to win.”
(See also “Gymnastics team takes down defending national champion Gators“)
