Alabama gymnastics ranked No. 8 in preseason poll

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama gymnastics is ranked No. 8 in the Women's College Gymnastics Association's (WCGA) preseason poll released Friday.

The Crimson Tide is slated for a challenging regular-season schedule that includes road meets against each of the top three teams in the preseason poll: No. 1 Oklahoma on March 17, No. 2 Florida on Jan. 26 and No. 3 LSU on March 1.

Alabama gymnastics has tough home schedule

Alabama will also host a plethora of talented teams in Coleman Coliseum this season. Six squads that are also ranked in the preseason poll will make trips to Tuscaloosa this year: No. 12 Missouri (Jan. 12), No. 15 Arkansas (Jan. 19), No. 9 Kentucky (Feb. 2) and No. 16 Georgia (Feb. 23) from the SEC, as well as No. 18 Minnesota and No. 26 Illinois for the Crimson Tide's quad meet to close out the home portion of the season March 8.

Meet the Alabama gymnastics coach

Second-year coach Ashley Johnston brings a winning pedigree to the table as she won two NCAA titles (2011, 2012) and two SEC championships (2009, 2011) as an Alabama gymnast. In her debut season last year, the Tide finished 7-5 (4-4 SEC) and came in second at the SEC Championships. It ended the season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA regional championships finals in Norman, Oklahoma.

Alabama will open the season Jan. 6 in Las Vegas at the Super 16 event. Alabama's first home meet against No. 12 Missouri will be Friday, Jan. 12.

Alabama gymnastics 2023 schedule

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama gymnastics ranked eighth in preseason poll