Dec. 6, 2015
 | ||||||
| ||||||
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Auburn Gymnastics coaches and gymnasts were excited about their performance Sunday after the team practiced their 2016 routines in front of fans at Auburn Arena.
Head coach Jeff Graba was pleased with his team's overall performance, as the Tigers will now shift thier focus to the season opener at Oregon State on Jan. 10.
"I thought we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish," Graba said. "We wanted to get out here and let the young people get used to the equipment. We wanted to reacclimate the juniors and seniors not only to the equipment but the crowd and the environment as well, and I feel like we did that. We stayed safe, which was a top priority for us today. At the end of the day, we got everything done that we wanted to."
Senior Lexus Demers agreed.
"We are definitely making a lot of progress," Demers said. "We really need to work on the little things like finishing and showing off. We are really coming together. We have a lot of depth, which is really beneficial for the team this year. We are stronger overall, but we need to get ready for the season."
The meet provided an opportunity for the younger gymnasts to experience a competitive atmosphere within Auburn Arena.
"From a coaching perspective, it is immensely important," Graba added. "Not only just getting used to the equipment, but the meet itself with how fast it runs and how tired you are at the end of the meet. You can't do that in a practice facility. You have to do that in the arena."
Freshman Emma Engler was able to use the experience of competing at Auburn Arena to help get her ready for the season.
"I think it was great for everyone to get out there, because it is different than just practicing at the gym," Engler said. "Being able to be out there with my teammates and coaches, because everything is so new right now, was very helpful. It is a different kind of pressure, but I think it was beneficial for all of the freshmen."
The preview meet is a chance for the team to practice on the competitive equipment in the Auburn Arena atmosphere and Demers says the team, especially the freshmen, took advantage of the opportunity.
"We are dependent on the freshmen," Demers said. "They all came in ready to go and they are in the lineup and competing for their spot, so it is a competition within the gym which is great. That is why we have so much depth."
The Tigers open the season at Oregon State on January 10 and hosts its season opener on Jan. 15 against Kentucky. Season tickets are still available as reserved chairback premium seats for the 2016 season are available for $40 in section 105. General admission seats are available in sections 106-118 for $20. Auburn faculty and staff tickets are $32 and are available in section 105 while "Family Four Packs", which include 4 reserved tickets, are priced at $120 and are also available in section 105.
For the latest on Auburn gymnastics, follow @Auburn_Gym on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AUGymnastics.