Nov. 25, 2014
Auburn Gymnastics ready for Preview Meet on Monday
By Ethan Brady
The Auburn gymnastics team has been working hard this offseason and is excited to show fans its 2015 routines in a Preview Meet on Monday in Auburn Arena at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is free, the team will sign autographs following the meet and fans that have not yet purchased season tickets will be able to select their seats for the upcoming year.
Two-time SEC Coach of the Year Jeff Graba says the team is further along in their routines at this point than they were last year, which means more action for fans at this year's Preview Meet.
"The fans will see more actual, true routines on bars and beam this year," Graba said. "We want to develop our depth and let the fans see more action during the Preview Meet than they have in the past. They could see up to 10 girls on each event and see a lot more quality gymnastics than they're used to at this time of year."
Graba stressed the importance of the Preview Meet for the team's preseason practice schedule. "Our girls need to be on our competitive equipment before our competitors are or that first home meet becomes an away meet for us," Graba said. "In the arena with the lights and fans, when you're flipping in the air, our visual cues are very important. We want to make sure the team is ready for that environment this season."
The meet will be run with two teams of five participating in each of the events, giving the athletes a chance to become comfortable with their lineup positions for the upcoming season.
"The teams aren't balanced and it's not about winning or losing," Graba said. "It's about showing our fans our routines and getting the girls used to their lineup in a high pressure environment."
After adding some young talent to supplement the returning starters, Graba says Auburn gymnastics is off to a great start heading into the season.
"We're further along this year than we were last year with our routines," Graba said. "We didn't lose any starters from last season, and we added some really talented freshmen. We're going to be a better team."
The Tigers return two All-Americans in junior Caitlin Atkinson and sophomore MJ Rott along with four All-SEC selections in Atkinson, Rott, Megan Walker and Brittany Webster.
Returning starters include Atkinson, junior Kait Kluz and seniors Bri Guy and Walker.
The scholarship gates will open for the Preview Meet to season ticket holders at 5:30 p.m., while general admission and students will be allowed to enter Auburn Arena at 6 p.m.
Season ticket prices for five home meets vs. Arkansas on Jan. 23, Air Force on Jan. 30, LSU on Feb. 13, Georgia on Feb. 27 and North Carolina on March 13 are as follows:
Reserved Chairback Floor: $50
Reserved Chairback Premium: $40
Family Four Packs: $120
Faculty/Staff: $20
Auburn opens the season at North Carolina on Jan. 9 at 6 pm CT while its meet at Florida on Jan. 16 at 6 pm CT will be on the SEC Network, the first live televised Southeastern Conference meet in history.
For the latest updates on Auburn Gymnastics, follow the Tigers on Twitter, @Auburn_Gym or like https://www.facebook.com/AUGymnastics