Feb. 1, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. - No. 17 Auburn Gymnastics posted an overall score of 196.725 to set a new season best score and equal the fourth-best total in program history behind its top scores of 2013 on all four events.
"Everyone saw tonight what we as coaches feel this team is capable of," Auburn gymnastics head coach Jeff Graba said. "We still aren't at full power, but this is a good night for us. I think we finally actually saw what they do in practice out on the equipment. It was a great environment, chaos, but they handled it perfectly. I don't know that there is anything else we can throw at this team that it hasn't handled in three road meets."
Six Auburn gymnastics recorded career-best marks as it defeated Missouri, which posted a score of 194.575. Auburn's overall score of 196.725 ties for the top road meet score in program history, equaling a 196.725 at Centenary in 2004.
Freshman Caitlin Atkinson was a star in the all-around competition. She posted the first two 9.9 scores of her career on vault and bars, while also adding a 9.85 on floor and a 9.875 on beam. She finished with a total of 39.525 to take her second all-around title of the season.
Auburn opened up with a season high score of 49.200 on uneven bars. That mark is the best for Auburn on any event so far in 2013. Leading the way was Atkinson, who posted her first career score of 9.9 or better.
The Tigers didn't count a score lower than 9.8 and added a 9.85 from Megan Walker.
Auburn backed up its season-best score on bars with a season high vault total of 49.125 in rotation two. Led by another 9.9 from Atkinson and a 9.875 from Bri Guy, Auburn pushed its lead out to more than a full point, 98.325-96.925.
The third rotation proved to be the strongest of all as Auburn posted yet another season-best event score with a 49.225 on floor exercise. That mark erased the score from bars as the top mark of the season on any event.
Leading the charge on floor was senior Toi Garcia with a season-high 9.875. She was aided by Atkinson and Guy with twin score of 9.85. Petrina Yokay added a career-best 9.825 and Missouri native Brittany Webster scored 9.825 as Auburn continued its strong night.
Auburn got two career high scores on balance beam as Caryn Kadous produced a career-best 9.825 and Abbey Habicht recorded a career-high 9.875. Atkinson and Megan Walker then added a 9.875 and 9.850 to wrap up a 49.175 for the Tigers, the top beam score of the season.
Atkinson led the way in the all-around and Guy finished with a season best score of 39.300 in the all-around, while Yokay totaled 39.100 in her second all-around performance of the season.
Auburn is in action next on Friday in Auburn Arena against Arkansas.
RESULTS
Vault: Kait Kluz - 9.750, Brittany Webster - 9.075, Petrina Yokay - 9.775, Toi Garcia - 9.825, Bri Guy - 9.875, Caitlin Atkinson - 9.9, TOTAL - 49.175
Uneven Bars: Kait Kluz - 9.8, Bri Guy - 9.825, Abbey Habicht - 9.75, Megan Walker - 9.85, Caitlin Atkinson - 9.9, Petrina Yokay - 9.825, TOTAL - 49.200
Balance Beam: Petrina Yokay - 9.675, Caryn Kadous - 9.825, Abbey Habicht - 9.875, Bri Guy - 9.75, Megan Walker - 9.85, Caitlin Atkinson - 9.875, TOTAL - 49.175
Floor Exercise: Caryn Kadous - 9.75, Petrina Yokay - 9.825, Toi Garcia - 9.875, Brittany Webster - 9.825, Caitlin Atkinson - 9.85, Bri Guy - 9.85, TOTAL - 49.225
All-Around: Atkinson - 39.525, Guy - 39.300, Yokay - 39.100