As we enter week two of the 2025 season, we’re in for an exciting season opener for both of these squads! Tonight, the Alabama Crimson Tide will host the North Carolina Tar Heels at Coleman Coliseum. The evening will feature a special tribute to Alabama gymnastics alumna Luisa Blanco, along with a birthday celebration for the Tide’s beloved mascot, Big Al.
Alabama comes into the season having been ranked sixth in the WCGA preseason coaches poll after finishing eighth overall last year. The Crimson Tide were runners-up at the SEC championship and broke the 198 mark three times, fueling their hunger for even more success this year. With talented freshmen Faye Rodio, Ryan Fuller, Paityn Walker, and Kylie Kvamme impressing at the Crimson and White Intrasquad, and veterans Cam Machado and Shania Adams returning for their fifth and final seasons, Alabama is ready to make a statement. However, note that Machado will be out this week due to an unspecified injury, according to head coach Ashley Johnston.
On the other side, North Carolina is looking to bounce back after missing regionals last season. The Tar Heels were ranked No. 36 in the WCGA preseason poll and are in a rebuilding phase following the graduation of four key lineup contributors, including Hallie Thompson and Jamie Shearer. However, they added new talent with four- and three-star recruits TaeLyn Canty, JoJo Valahovic, and Regan McBride, respectively, along with Kentucky transfer Claire Stippich, who will be vital as the team looks to regain momentum.
This will be the first ACC-SEC showdown of the season, and with a mix of fresh faces and high-energy gymnastics, it’s shaping up to be an exciting meet you won’t want to miss!
Rotation 1: Alabama Vault, North Carolina Bars
German (Bama): Yurchenko 1.5, solid just a small step back. 9.725
Knower (UNC): Small rhythm break but nice handstands and releases throughout. Stuck double layout dismount. 9.45
Bunagan (Bama): Yurchenko 1.5, undercooked it a little and stumbled backward. 9.425
Stippich (UNC): Huge Jaeger to start, misses the bar. Does the release again, beautiful. Nice bail to handstand. Double layout to close, almost stuck. 9.20
Kvamme (Bama): Huge Yurchenko 1.5, takes a step forward. 9.775
Forbes (UNC): Nice Maloney bail to handstand. Pretty handstands throughout. Great full twisting double back dismount. A great routine to put the Tar Heels back on track. 9.75
Jordyn Paradise (Bama): Beautiful Yurchenko 1.5, small step. 9.775
Fink (UNC): Huge Jaeger to open. Nice bail to handstand. Great lines all the way through. Beautiful double layout dismount. 9.85
Hudson (Bama): Yurchenko 1.5, fights for the stick but takes a small hop. Best vault I’ve seen tonight:) 9.875
Isabelle Schaefer (UNC): Gorgeous straddle Jaeger. Nice bail to handstands. I love love love her lines in every routine she does. Huge full twisting double back, almost gets the stick. 9.85
Gladieux (Bama): Huge and clean Yurchenko 1.5, the smallest of hops forward. 9.925
Dekanoidze (UNC): Pretty Maloney to bail to open. Nice steady swing. Double layout, stuck cold! 9.85
EX- Adams (Bama): Huge Yurchenko 1.5, not quite enough sauce and sits it down. 9.175
EX- N. King (UNC): Pretty Pak. Nice blind back to high bar. Great height in double back dismount. 9.75
A rocky start for both teams but they quickly got back on track and put out some great routines. Once the Tar Heels worked the first meet jitters out, they had some of the best bars I’ve seen them do! Alabama has 6 great Yurchenko 1.5s, excited to see how they improve as the season progresses.
After 1: Alabama 49.075, North Carolina 48.750
Rotation 2: Alabama Bars, North Carolina Vault
Knower (UNC): Solid Yurchenko full, stuck. 9.75
LaCoursiere (Bama): Maloney to Pak, pretty lines. A little short on last handstand. Huge full-twisting double back, pretty in the air and nice landing. 9.825
N. King (UNC): Yurchenko full, chest a little low on landing and slightly shuffles her feet. 9.6
Paradise (Bama): Nice straddle Jaeger to bail. Great lines. Double layout, small slide backward. 9.8
E. King (UNC): Solid Yurchenko full. 9.75
Hudson (Bama): Great lines. Nice bail to handstand. Huge full-twisting double back, stuck. 9.875
Valahovic (UNC): Yurchenko 1.5, slight leg separation in the air but nice landing. 9.775
Fuller (Bama): Beautiful Pak. Nice Maloney. Huge double layout, fights for the stick but slides a little. 9.85
Forbes (UNC): Yurchenko full, love the flair out before she lands. 9.825
Gladieux (Bama): HUGE straddle Jaeger to bail. Great lines. Blind full to double back dismount, small step. 9.85
Dekanoidze (UNC): Beautiful Yurchenko full, small hop in place. 9.8
Walker (Bama): Nice Pak. Maloney to Gienger, I LOVE this connection omg. Huge full-twisting double back, stuck. 9.9
EX- Schaefer (UNC): Pretty Yurchenko full, love to see this upgrade from the tuck position. 9.625
EX- German (Bama): Nice Ray to bail. Love the aggressive handstands. Great double layout, small step forward. 9.725
The gymnastics this rotation was so fun to watch. There was a small intermission as the meet was temporarily suspended due to a fan emergency but all is well now. Excited to see what both teams have left to show us!
After 2: Alabama 98.375, North Carolina 97.650
Rotation 3: Alabama Beam, North Carolina Floor
LaCoursiere (Bama): Beautiful front aerial to bhs. Nice full turn. I missed her leaps. Solid front full dismount. 9.8
Naranjo (UNC): Huge ro bhs double pike. Nice switch side straddle full. Fhs front full front layout, great lines. 9.725
Bunagan (Bama): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, solid. Split jump double stag jump, great control. Great lines throughout. Bhs side gainer full, stuck.
Miller (UNC): Front through ro bhs double back, so so close to the line. Nice switch half straddle full, just a wee bit short on straddle full. Ro bhs double pike, slightly undercooked but hides it well. Switch ring half, love this leap!
Hudson (Bama):
Valahovic (UNC):
Ladanyi (Bama):
Fink (UNC):
Kvamme (Bama):
Forbes (UNC):
Gladieux (Bama):
Knower (UNC):
EX- Fuller (Bama):
EX- Stippich (UNC):
Rotation 4: Alabama Floor, North Carolina Beam
Naranjo (UNC):
Walker (Bama):
Stippich (UNC):
Fuller (Bama):
Valahovic (UNC):
Rybicki (Bama):
Schulze (UNC):
Adams (Bama):
Fink (UNC):
Hudson (Bama):
Knower (UNC):
Gladieux (Bama):
Final:
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Live blog by Jessica Brock
