Sunday Sports Brunch: Alabama gymnastics 2021 schedule set with 8 SEC-only meets

It’s a schedule with a double twist for the Crimson Tide gymnastics team in 2021.

Earlier this week, the SEC released the league-only schedule—teams will only compete against fellow conference teams because of COVID-19 safety measures. Alabama will compete in eight meets and in the second twist of the schedule will have a home-and-home series with Kentucky.

Alabama opens at home against Kentucky on Jan. 8 and will travel to Lexington for a Jan. 29 meet. Alabama’s home meets also include Auburn (Jan. 22), LSU (Feb. 19) and Florida (March 5). The Crimson Tide will also travel to Georgia (Feb. 12) and Arkansas (Feb. 26).

Each team has been assigned open dates on Feb. 5 and March 12 in case any of the regular-season meets have to be rescheduled.

The SEC Championships are in New Orleans on March 20. The NCAA has not announced its championship plan.

Alabama women's basketball has 7 SEC Network dates

The SEC Network will air seven Crimson Tide women’s basketball games this season. The Dec. 17 home game against Southern Miss begins that slate at 8 p.m.

The others are South Carolina at Alabama on Jan. 4 at 6 p.m.; Alabama at Vanderbilt on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m.; Alabama at Kentucky on Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m.; Alabama at South Carolina at 2 p.m. on Jan. 31; Georgia at Alabama at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4; and Alabama at Auburn on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.

Swimmers set school records

The Alabama swimming and diving team competed against Virginia and meet host Tennessee last weekend and set two school records. Rhyan White, who already owned the school record, bettered that when she swam the 200 butterfly in the preliminaries with a time of 1:55.07. She swam the school’s second-fastest women’s time in 1:55.26 to place second in the finals.

Morgan Scott, Kensey McMahon, Ashley Voelkerding and Gracie Felner also became women’s school record-holders, bettering the previous best by two seconds, when they swam the 800 freestyle relay in 7:05.69.

As for team finishes, the men fell to Virginia, 189-182, and to Tennessee, 208-180. The women lost 235-147 to Virginia and 231-158 to Tennessee.

Signees: gymnastics, volleyball, track and more

Autographs on the dotted line continued to pour in for prospective student-athletes on Tide teams.

Audrey Evans will join the gymnastics team. Evans was a 2017 USA Junior Olympic National Team member. She’s from Hickory, N.C., and is a senior at Southlake Christian Academy.

Three Under Armour All-American honorees are among the six volleyball players who signed National Letters of Intent. Outside hitter Shaye Eggleston is a 2020 third-team Under Armour All-American out of Brentwood, Tenn., and was the 2019 Tennessee Gatorade player of the year. Under Armour honorable mention All-Americans Sami Jacobs, an outside hitter from Prosper, Texas, and setter Brooke Slusser of Denton, Texas, signed with UA.

Also signing were libero/defensive specialist Sydney Gholson of Keller, Texas; setter Malia Moore of Mills River, N.C., and middle blocker Laila Smith of New Castle, Ind.

Ten rowing team signees were announced. The list includes Bridget Barnett of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Sophie Coutant of Winter Park, Fla.; Kiki Greeley of Buffalo, N.Y.; Ryan Hendrzak of Norristown, Pa., Peyton Hulsewe of Tomball, Texas; Reagan Lewis of Maryville, Tenn.; Lauren Lowe of Cornelius, N.C.; Riley Minor of Asheville, N.C.; Lauren Schneiderman of Johns Creek, Ga.; and Taylor Vander Horn of St. Charles, Ill.

Coach Dan Waters announced 16 signees for the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams. Headed to Tuscaloosa will be sprinters Na’Taja Ballard of Chesapeake, Va.; Milan Fields of Huntersville, N.C.; Birmingham’s Jekovan Rhetta; Montgomery’s Chanice Spicer; and Ayla Stanisclaus of Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago. Ten distance runners signed were Flomena Asekol of Eldoret, Kenya; Helena’s Brady Barton; Carson Burian of Salt Lake City; Kaylie Crews of Papillion, Neb.; Collin Jones of Carrollton, Ga.; Keaton Morrison of Lewisville, Texas; Campbell Petersen of Naperville, Ill.; Gavin Saacke of Katy, Texas; Macy Schelp of Kirkwood, Mo.; and Randy Smith of Cypress, Texas. Trussville’s Julian Collins specializes in the jumps and has signed with Alabama.

What’s up, Doc? Major recognition

The best of the best when it comes to orthopedic care in the SEC can be found in Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Lyle Cain, Alabama's team orthopedic surgeon, was named SEC Team Physician of the Year, and Jeff Allen and the University of Alabama Sports Medicine team are the SEC Orthopedic Team of the Year.

The award is given by the Southern Orthopaedic Association. They will be honored at the Southern Orthopaedic Association SEC Sports Medicine meeting in Birmingham in late May.

Former UWA wrangler makes nationals

Nelson Wyatt, a University of West Alabama graduate, has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The event is held Dec. 3-12 in Arlington, Texas. He’ll compete as a team roping header with Levi Lord of South Dakota.

Wyatt, who is from Clanton, was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 2017 Team Roping Header Rookie of the Year.

Holy Spirit girls win tournament

The Holy Spirit girl’s basketball team defeated Gordo  52-13 and Northside 31-28 to win its Thanksgiving tournament.

Ziona Pruitt led the championship game win with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and seven steals. Olivia Watkins had 10 points, nine rebounds and seven steals.

The Gordo game was not only the tournament opener but the Saints’ season opener. Pruitt had 16 points, Michiah Gill 13 and Bella Guynes 11.

Northside defeated University Charter School, 46-33, to advance to the championship game. Karley Michaels had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Bo Clark had 11 rebounds and Shelby McBride 10 boards.

Saints boys defeat Oak Grove

On Monday, Holy Spirit (2-0) took a 65-37 road win at Oak Grove behind Garrett Wilson’s game-leading 21 points. Evan Jones scored 15 and Will Collins 13.

Knights undefeated after lopsided win

Tuscaloosa Academy remains undefeated at 5-0 going into Monday’s home game against Morgan Academy. The latest win was 52-29 against Macon-East on Tuesday. Sam Rowley led the scoring with 15 points. Walter McKee had 11.

Feltman drops 25 points for Winfield

Logan Feltman scored 25 points in less than 24 minutes in Winfield’s 63-57 home win against Helena. He made 12 of 14 free throws and was 6 of 11 from the field. Feltman coupled that with 12 rebounds.

Also key in the win for Winfield (2-2) was Brady Franks with 17 points in 12 minutes of play. Franks was 8 of 12 from the field.

To submit items for Sunday Sports Brunch, including high school athletics results with scores, records and leaders, email sports@tuscaloosanews.com.