Alabama Crimson Tide: UA quest for National Championship begins today

Eight teams remain to vie for the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championship. The Alabama Crimson Tide begins its semi-final competition on Thursday afternoon. The three teams in the Crimson Tide’s sem-final bracket are Oklahoma, Utah and Minnesota.

In the other semi-final, the four teams are Michigan, Missouri Auburn and Florida. To advance to the National Championship Finals, the Crimson Tide must finish in the top two of the sem-final. Among the semi-final competitors, Oklahoma is ranked No. 1; Michigan is No. 4 and Minnesota is ranked No. 8 in the nation. The Alabama Crimson Tide is ranked No. 5.

On the other side of the championship format, Florida is No. 2, Michigan, No. 3, Auburn, No. 7, and Missouri is ranked No. 11.

Oklahoma has won three of the last five NCAA National Championships, going back to 2016. Michigan was the 2020 champion. The 2019 event was canceled due to COVID.

Going back to 1988, the Alabama Crimson Tide has either won or has been the runner-up, 13 times. The National Championships came in 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011 and 2012. The runner-up finishes were in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005 and 2009.

Crimson Tide coach, Dana Duckworth described her team’s season,

"All season this team has been about intensity passion and heart. They are at their best when being free, fierce and having fun and that’s why we’ve enjoyed so much success. This team has been grateful and excited to compete week in and week out with one another in a sport they are all passionate about. We are humble but hungry and have a unique bond. We now head to Fort Worth as one team with one goal. I believe in this team and their resilience as they will fight to the very end with everything they have."

Hungry and humble is a valuable mindset in winning any championship. The Crimson Tide ladies are good enough to win, despite not being the favorite.

The Tide opened its season with three consecutive losses to Oklahoma, Florida and Auburn. In late February, the Tide beat Missouri in Tuscaloosa. A rematch with Auburn took place at the Elevate The Stage event in Huntsville, AL. The Crimson Tide beat the Auburn Tigers 198.000 – 197.750.

Going into the SEC Tournament, the Crimson Tide was ranked No. 6 nationally and finished as the runner-up to Florida,

The semi-final begins at 12:00 PM CST in Fort Worth, TX. Both sem-final sessions will be live on ESPN2.