Ashley Priess was born to Mel and Linda in Wheaton, Illinois, on March 8, 1990. She has one sister, Courtney, who is a former elite gymnast. She is currently at the University of Alabama. Ashley began gymnastics at the age of two at Midwest Academy in 1994. They eventually moved to Cincinnati Gymnastics to train elite. Ashley was a TOPS National Team Member in 1996. In 2000, she finished tenth all-around at the Level 9 Eastern Championships. As a level ten in 2001, she finished third on bars at the JO National Championships.

In 2002, Ashley qualified to junior international elite! She competed at the US Classic. She continued competing as a junior international elite in 2003. At the USA v. Japan meet, she finished third all-around. Ashley also finished in the top ten at the National Podium Meet. At the American Classic, she finished third all-around! This qualified her for the US National Championships. Ashley also placed fourth all-around at the USA v. Belgium Meet. Shortly before Nationals she won the all-around bronze medal at the US Classic. At the US National Championships, Ashley finished third all-around. She made her first US National Team!

Her third season as an international elite was in 2004. She began the season by placing second all-around at the USA v. Japan. Ashley competed at a few open invitationals. She won the Coaches Cup and placed third all-around at the Excalibur Cup. Her next elite meet was the National Elite Podium Meet! She finished first all-around. Ashley competed at the US Classic but fell a few times on beam. However, she was still selected for the Pacific Alliance Championships. She finished third all-around and second on bars! A month before Nationals Ashley won the all-around title at the US Classic. She then took home fourth place at the US National Championships. Ashley finished her last year as a junior international elite in 2005. She finished second at the Coaches Cup. Ashley then travelled to Europe for the USA v. GB and USA vs. SUI. She did well at both of those meets. Ashley won her second US Classic title in July. At Nationals, she unfortunately hit her leg on the bars cables and had to scratch. She came back for the Massilia Cup in the fall. Ashley won a silver on beam!

Ashley moved up to senior international elite in 2005. Her first competition was the French International. Ashley won beam and finished second on bars! Her next meet was the World Cup in Ghent. Ashley finished third on floor and second on beam! After a few months off from competitions, she won the US Classic for the third year in a row! At the US National Championships, she finished sixth all-around. In October, Ashley was named to the US World Team! The competition was held in Denmark. Ashley helped the team to a silver medal. She also finished in the top ten in the all-around finals.

She spent most of 2007 injured. She returned in 2008 to place second on bars, beam and in the all-around at the Friendship International Exchange. Shortly before US Nationals, she decided to forego making the Olympics and prepare for Alabama. As a freshman in 2009, she was the SEC Freshman of the Week five times. This was a league record. She was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. She was a second-team All-SEC member on vault and floor. At the Regional Championships, she won the all-around and beam. At the NCAA Championships, Ashley finished third on beam and 12th on bars. She earned first-team All-American honors on both events.

Fast Facts Name: Ashley Priess Birthday: March 8, 1990 Club: Cincinnati College: Alabama Alabama Booster Club

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Full Scholarship to Alabama US National Team (2003-2008) 2006: Worlds- 2nd TM, 10th AA 2006: US Classic Champion 2005: US Classic Champion 2004: US Classic Champion 2004: Podium Meet Champion 2003: US Nationals- 3rd AA 2001: JO Nationals- 3rd UB

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Photos © Phillip Morton & Lloyd Smith