Erin Cavanaugh, Auburn Athletics Communications Intern
AUBURN, Ala. - With the 2025 gymnastics season approaching, it is time to meet all the new faces joining the squad this year. Up next is Sophia Bell!
Hometown: Blue Springs, Missouri
Club: Xtreme Gymnastics
Prior to Auburn: Four-time Development Program National Championship qualifier … Finished third on vault at the national meet, scoring a 9.9 … Four-time Region 4 Floor Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and three-time Bars Champion (2021, 2022, 2023) … Three-time Region 4 Vault and All-Around Champion (2022, 2023, 2024) … Four-time Missouri State Floor Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) … Two-time Missouri State All-Around Champion (2021, 2023) … Captured the 2024 state title on vault.
Q: How was the first semester of college? What has been the most significant adjustment?
A: “The first semester has been so amazing, especially after I really got settled in. The most significant adjustment has been the number of hours I have had to put into studying and exams.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about your hometown? How does it compare to Auburn?
A: “There is not a lot to do in a small town in Missouri, so my favorite thing (being a huge Chiefs fan) would have to be that we are so close to the Chiefs stadium. My hometown and Auburn are very similar, they both are super safe and full of kind and friendly people.”
Q: What was your first visit to Auburn like? What about Auburn made you want to come here?
A: “My first visit to Auburn was a summer camp after sophomore year of high school, and I was immediately in love with it! I have wanted to go to Auburn since I was 11 years old. After my first Level 9 Westerns, they were the first college to ever send me mail and I just knew that's where I wanted to be. Then when I actually got to campus, it immediately felt like home after meeting all the coaches and girls on the team.”
Q: Who's your biggest role model, and why?
A: “My biggest role model is my mom. She is strong, confident, and works for everything she has, and that's the type of person I strive to be. When I fall, she has always picked me back up, dusted me off, and pushed me to keep going and I can only hope to do the same things for others as she has done for me.”
Q: What or who keeps you motivated on the hard days?
A: “The ‘little girls’ at my club gym, specifically Elaina Montgomery. When I see how much she looks up to me it makes me want to be the best role model in and out of the gym. Knowing I have little girls trying to follow in my footsteps pushes me to keep going even when it's hard because I would never want to let them down.”
Q: What Auburn traditions are your favorite?
A: “It’s 100 percent the swag surf on floor before the final rotation! I love that it shows the team’s personalities and lets us relax and have fun.”
Q: What's your favorite home cooked meal?
A: “My favorite home cooked meal is my mom's potato soup. It's so, so yummy.”
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of gymnastics?
A: “I do a ton of reading outside of gymnastics so I think it would definitely have to be that.
Q: What is your major? Why did you choose it?
A: “My major is aviation management because I hope to be a commercial pilot one day.”
Q: Do you have any gymnastics superstitions and why?
A: “Honestly, I'm not very superstitious but one that I do have is I listen to the same playlist before every meet.”
Q: If you could eliminate one event, which one would you choose and why?
A: “Beam. For one, it is definitely not a strong event of mine, and for another it just doesn't make sense in my brain why anyone would flip on a four-inch piece of wood and actually enjoy it.”