April 2, 2011
TUSCALOOSA - The No. 22 Auburn gymnastics team (9-14, 2-4 SEC) placed fourth at the 2011 Tuscaloosa NCAA Regional Saturday night in Coleman Coliseum, notching its third highest team score of the season with a 195.600.
"For us to be at our best at the toughest meet of the year just says volumes about this team," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "We were neck and neck with No. 11 Penn State and No. 14 Illinois the whole time. We pushed them to the final event and almost had it."
Junior Kylie Shields qualified to compete in the all-around at the NCAA Championship in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 16 tallying a score of 39.250.
"It would've been a lot better if the whole team had been with me, but after last year's regional and being so close and tying, then not getting it because the other girl had a 9.850 and I had a 9.800 was really tough," Shields said. "That was my goal for this year. No matter what I wanted to get there. I did it. I accomplished my goal and accomplishing your goal is a great feat.
"Now I'm going to train hard for these next two weeks and try to hit it big when I go to nationals. It's an honor, and I'm just really proud that hard work really does pay off. Never give up because even though I didn't make it last year, I pulled through this year and I'm really excited that I made it. I overcame a lot of things this year, and I'm happy I'm going to Cleveland."
The Tigers began the night on the uneven bars with Abbey Habicht leading off for the fourth consecutive meet scoring a 9.725. Auburn was led in scoring by junior all-arounder Kylie Shields posting a 9.850. Junior Allyson Sandusky followed with a 9.800, while senior Leah Vining and sophomore Petrina Yokay added scores of 9.750. Sophomore Toi Garcia rounded out the event with a 9.650, as they finished their first event with a 48.875.
Auburn then moved on to balance beam for the second rotation. Shields led for the Tigers again with a 9.875, while freshman Abbey Habicht and Sandusky added scores of 9.775. Senior Lauren Brzostowski scored a 9.750 and Garcia added a 9.700. Auburn finished the event with a 48.875 and had a third rotation bye.
Following the bye, the Tigers headed to floor for the fourth rotation. Inniss led Auburn with her fourth 9.900 of the season followed by Shields with a 9.850. Four scores of 9.800 came from Brzostowski, juniors Laura Lane and Justine Foster and sophomore Toi Garcia. The Tigers posted a 49.150 for its second-highest score of the season.
Auburn rotated to vault for their final event in the fifth rotation. Garcia and Foster led the Tigers with a score of 9.800. Sandusky followed with a 9.725 while Brzostowski earned a 9.700. Shields and Yokay both received a scored a 9.675. Auburn scored a 48.700 on vault and had a bye for the sixth and final rotation.
Alabama won the meet with a 197.275, while Illinois finished second with a 195.925. Penn State was third with a 195.850, while Kentucky (195.175) and Central Michigan (195.075) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
Assistant coach Kurt Hettinger was recognized after the meet for being selected as a co-assistant coach of the year for the central regional. This marks Hettinger's third year with the Tigers.
Team Results: Alabama:197.275 Illinois:195.925 Penn State:195.850 Auburn:195.600 Kentucky:195.175 Central Michigan:195.075
Auburn Results
Vault:48.700 Lauren Brzostowski-9.700 Allyson Sandusky-9.725 Justine Foster-9.800 Kylie Shields-9.675 Toi Garcia-9.800 Petrina Yokay-9.675
Bars:48.875 Abbey Habicht-9.725 Toi Garcia-9.650 Leah Vining-9.750 Petrina Yokay-9.750 Allyson Sandusky-9.800 Kylie Shields-9.850
Beam:48.875 Lauren Brzostowski-9.750 Toi Garcia-9.700 Abbey Habicht-9.775 Allyson Sandusky-9.775 Rachel Inniss-8.575 Kylie Shields-9.875
Floor:49.150 Lauren Brzostowski-9.800 (tied career high) Laura Lane-9.800 Justine Foster-9.800 Kylie Shields-9.850 Toi Garcia-9.800 Rachel Inniss-9.900
All-Around: Toi Garcia-38.950 Kylie Shields-39.250