AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn gymnastics program will welcome four student-athletes in 2020 as they all signed National Letters of Intent last week, head coach Jeff Graba announced Monday.
Joining the Tigers next year will be Aria Brusch (Cincinnati, Ohio), Addie Sabados (Denver, Colo.), Piper Smith (Cherrysville, N.C.) and Cassie Stevens (Phoenix, Ariz.).
ARIA BRUSCH
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Ohio Connections Academy
Event: All-Around
Gym: Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy
HIGHLIGHTS: Three-time U.S. Championship qualifier … Finished third on floor and seventh in the all-around at the 2016 U.S. GK Classic … Three-time qualifier to JO Nationals … Finished fifth in the all-around at the 2017 meet … 2018 Region 5 Dream Team.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Aria comes from a tremendous club program and has competed at the highest levels of our sport for years. We are excited to have her join our program and bring her hard work, talent and experience to our team."
ADDIE SABADOS
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
High School: Rock Canyon
Event: All-Around
Gym: Colorado Aerials
HIGHLIGHTS: 2018 Region 3 All-Around Champion … 2018 Colorado state champion – all-around, vault, beam and bars … 2017 Colorado state champion – all-around and vault.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Addie comes to us from Colorado and her grace and beautiful technique will help her compete right away for spots in our lineups."
PIPER SMITH
Hometown: Cherrysville, N.C.
High School: Home schooled
Event: All-Around
Gym: First in Flight Gymnastics
HIGHLIGHTS: 2018 JO Nationals Qualifier … 2018 Region 8 bars champion … 2017 North Carolina state champion on vault … 2016 Region 8 vault champion …Tenth-place finish in all-around at 2015 JO Nationals.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Piper is a very powerful gymnast and we have been following her career for quite a few years now. She should immediately be able to impact our squad with her power and spirit."
CASSIE STEVENS
Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
High School: Sunnyslope
Event: All-Around
Gym: Arizona Sunrays
HIGHLIGHTS: Three-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier … Four-time Arizona state champion in the all-around … Four-time JO Nationals qualifier … 2017 JO National Vault Champion … Finished second in the all-around at the 2016 JO meet … 2016 JO National Team Member … Has scored a 10.0 on vault.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "I am so excited to have Cassie join the Auburn Gymnastics family. She will immediately be a force in the gym with her work ethic and her amazing talents. I think she combines the beauty of the sport as well as the power this sport required in a tremendous way and I believe our fans will appreciate this.