March 11, 2011
AUBURN - The 24th-ranked Auburn gymnastics team defeated Southeast Missouri State, 195.625-191.250, Friday night at the Auburn Arena in front of a crowd of 2,439. The Tigers improved to 6-6, 2-4 SEC, while the Redhawks fell to 8-8, 5-2 MIC. The meet marked Auburn's final regular season event before postseason competition begins.
Auburn posted its second-highest total score of the season against SEMO, and it was the second time this season that the Tigers have hit 24-of-24 routines. Auburn also had four gymnasts capture individual titles. The Tigers have now earned 26 individual titles on the year.
"I thought the girls did a really good job tonight," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "We were consistent again. We went 24-for-24, and we brought enough energy to make it work tonight. I'm really excited with where we are at. We are peaking at the right time."
It was also Senior Night at the Auburn Arena, as Lauren Brzostowski, Katie Hurley and Rachel Inniss were each honored for their contributions to Auburn gymnastics over the past four years.
Lauren Brzostowski has competed on vault, beam and floor for Auburn over her four years and holds career highs of 9.775 or better on each event.
"This night was definitely bittersweet," Brzostowski said. "I tried really hard not to focus on it being my last meet here at Auburn. It has been a great four years here, and I have no regrets."
Katie Hurley has also competed on vault, beam and floor for the Tigers and has career highs of 9.800 or better on each event.
"It's been a rollercoaster of a year and very emotional for me," Hurley said. "I've been down with injury. It's definitely not how I wanted to end my career, but I got my act together and got to perform in front of the home crowd. It was fantastic to be at Auburn. I wouldn't have picked anywhere else."
Rachel Inniss has been a competitor on beam and floor for Auburn and holds career highs of 9.925 on both events.
"It hasn't really hit me that tonight was the last time at home," Inniss said. "There is no better feeling. I feel so accomplished this year no matter what the outcomes are. I know I left everything on the floor, and I couldn't ask for anything more."
Graba recognized the importance of having strong senior leadership in a transition year with a new coaching staff.
"I want to thank the seniors for what they have brought to this team," Graba said. "I really think we especially need to remember that Katie Hurley is trying to help this team out. It's been frustrating for her, but I'm still excited that she is still out there. She went on three events tonight and this team recognizes her determination."
The Tigers opened the night on vault with a 48.825, their highest score since their season-high 49.125 against Pittsburgh at the last home meet. All-around sophomore Toi Garcia led Auburn on vault for the fifth-consecutive meet with a 9.850. The score was good enough for Garcia to take her third individual title of the year on vault and fourth overall. Junior Allyson Sandusky followed with a 9.825, tying her season high. With a 9.750 tonight, junior Justine Foster continued to post a 9.750 or better on the event in every meet this season. Senior Lauren Brzostowski earned a 9.725, while sophomore Petrina Yokay and junior Kylie Shields each added scores of 9.675.
Auburn moved to bars on the second rotation and scored a 48.900. Sandusky led the Tigers with a 9.825 and earned her first individual title of the season on bars and third overall. Senior Leah Vining and Yokay each earned scores of 9.800, while Shields added a 9.750. Garcia posted a 9.725, and freshman Abbey Habicht scored a 9.700.
The Tigers competed on beam for the third event and posted a 49.100. It was the Tigers' highest score since they earned a 49.250 at home against Arkansas in the fourth meet of the season. Shields led Auburn and tied her career high for the second time this season with a 9.900. She also took her fourth individual title on beam this season and seventh overall. Senior Rachel Inniss earned her second-highest score of the season with a 9.875. Brzostowski, Habicht and Sandusky each received scores of 9.775, while Garcia scored a 9.575.
Auburn closed out the meet on floor with a 48.800. Inniss led the Tigers with a 9.875. It was the senior's second-highest score of the season, and it earned her a fifth individual title on floor and her seventh overall this year. Brzostowski tied her season high on the event with a 9.775. Foster and Garcia each posted scores of 9.725, while junior Laura Lane added a 9.700. Yokay completed the event for Auburn with a 9.625.
The Tigers return to action next Saturday, March 19, at the 2011 SEC Gymnastics Championship at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala. The meet will be tape delayed and is scheduled to air on Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
For more information, contact Erica Dalton at 334-844-9800.
Vault Petrina Yokay - 9.675 Allyson Sandusky - 9.825 (ties season high) Lauren Brzostowski - 9.725 Kylie Shields - 9.675 Justine Foster - 9.750 Toi Garcia - 9.850 Katie Hurley (Exh.) - 8.950 Total: 48.825
Bars Abbey Habicht - 9.700 Toi Garcia - 9.725 Leah Vining - 9.800 Petrina Yokay - 9.800 Allyson Sandusky - 9.825 Kylie Shields - 9.750 Kendall Swartz (Exh.) - 9.675 Total: 48.900
Beam Lauren Brzostowski - 9.775 Toi Garcia - 9.575 Abbey Habicht - 9.775 Allyson Sandusky - 9.775 Rachel Inniss - 9.875 Kylie Shields - 9.900 (ties career high) Katie Hurley (Exh.) - 8.875 Total: 49.100
Floor Petrina Yokay - 9.625 Lauren Brzostowski - 9.775 (ties season high) Laura Lane - 9.700 Justine Foster - 9.725 Toi Garcia - 9.725 Rachel Inniss - 9.875 Katie Hurley (Exh.) - 9.275 Total: 48.800
All-Around Toi Garcia - 38.875