Jan. 27, 2017
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The No. 16 Auburn gymnastics team put together its best performance of the season, finishing with a 196.4 on the road at No. 3 Florida. The Gators won the meet with a 197.7 in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Friday night in Gainesville.
A total of 12 individual career or season-best scores were met, while 19 of the 24 routines came from sophomores and freshmen.
"This team has been facing challenges all year and are getting really good at taking them on," head coach Jeff Graba said. "That showed tonight. This is a group that wants to do it for each other and it was fun to watch one of their best performances on a tough night. I'm just really proud of the team. We finally put the energy together and focused on all four events."
Auburn opened the evening on bars and totaled a 49.05, having four Tigers reach season-best scores. Sophomore Samantha Cerio tied a season high with a 9.8 to kick things off. Freshman Kendal Moss appeared in her first collegiate meet and came away with a 9.7. Sophomore Taylor Krippner earned a 9.825 in the fourth slot and was followed by a season-tying score of 9.85 from classmate Emma Engler. Freshman Gracie Day anchored the event and after just a small step on her double Arabian dismount, she finished with a career high, 9.875.
The Tigers concluded the second rotation with a team-best 49.025 on vault. Opening up the event was freshman Katie Becker with a season-best 9.8, while sophomore A'Miracal Phillips added a season-high 9.725. Auburn earned a pair of 9.825s from Krippner (season best) and Day and senior MJ Rott finished with a 9.85 for another season best in the event. Engler's 9.7 was not added to the team score, but was her best of the year so far.
Auburn's youthful squad moved on to floor and had three Tigers come away with personal bests. Florida natives Lucia Scaglione and Emma Slappey highlighted the event with a pair of career-high scores in a 9.825 and a 9.9, respectively. Day's 9.85 was also a career best. Becker and Rott chipped in 9.8s each as Auburn finished with a 49.175.
The Tigers closed out the meet with a season-best 49.15 on beam as Engler and Krippner finished with a pair of career highs on the evening. Engler, in the third slot, highlighted the evening with a 9.9, while Krippner anchored the event with a 9.875. Senior Kullen Hlawek's 9.775 was her best of the season as she led off the rotation. Cerio and Slappey each earned 9.8s for season highs.
Junior Abby Milliet was not in the lineup this evening as she injured her lower right leg during warm ups prior to the start of the meet.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround, heading to Birmingham for the annual Elevate the Stage meet Sunday, Jan. 29. Auburn will face No. 4 Alabama in a non-conference meet at 4 p.m. CT in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
Auburn Results
| Vault | Bars | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 49.025 | 49.050 | ||
| Katie Becker | 9.800 | Samantha Cerio | 9.800 |
| A'Miracal Phillips | 9.725 | Kendal Moss | 9.700 |
| Emma Engler | 9.700 | Kelsey Kopec | 8.800 |
| Taylor Krippner | 9.825 | Taylor Krippner | 9.825 |
| MJ Rott | 9.850 | Emma Engler | 9.850 |
| Gracie Day | 9.825 | Gracie Day | 9.875 |
| Beam | Floor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 49.150 | 49.175 | ||
| Kullen Hlawek | 9.775 | Samantha Cerio | 9.775 |
| Samantha Cerio | 9.800 | Katie Becker | 9.800 |
| Emma Engler | 9.900 | Lucia Scaglion | 9.825 |
| Katie Becker | 9.250 | Gracie Day | 9.850 |
| Emma Slappey | 9.800 | Emma Slappey | 9.900 |
| Taylor Krippner | 9.875 | MJ Rott | 9.800 |