Alabama Gymnastics Fourth in Latest National Rankings

In the first national rankings determined by regional qualifying score this season, the Alabama gymnastics team is No. 4 this week.

The regional qualifying score, or RQS, is determined by taking a team’s top three road scores, its next three highest home or away scores, dropping the high score and averaging the remaining five. The Crimson Tide’s initial RQS of the season is 197.085. Alabama is one of four schools in the nation with a 197-plus RQS this week.

Prior to this week, the ranking have been based on season average. The change in ranking formula didn’t affect the top three schools, with Oklahoma, LSU and Florida maintaining their spots at the top of the rankings. Utah checks in at No. 5, followed by UCLA, Georgia, Denver, Michigan and Oregon State.

Kentucky is at No. 11 and Alabama’s next opponent, Boise State, rounds out the top 12. There are four Southeastern Conference schools in the top 10 and five in the top 12. Alabama has faced four of the top 12, including Nos. 1-3, and is slated to face two more members of the top 12 (No. 7 Georgia and No. 12 Boise State) over the next two weeks.

The Tide is ranked in the top five in all four events, standing third on the balance beam and floor exercise and fifth on the vault and uneven bars.

Junior Kiana Winston is fifth in the all-around, third on the floor exercise and sixth on the balance beam. Junior Nickie Guerrero is fourth on the balance beam. Senior Aja Sims is 10th on the floor exercise. Senior Katie Bailey is 15th on the vault and uneven bars. Senior Amanda Jetter is 23rd on the uneven bars.

Alabama takes on No. 12 Boise State on Friday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to Friday's meet, which will also feature an appearance by Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum and online at RollTide.com.