Experience is the name of the game for the 2019 edition of Auburn gymnastics. The squad returns all routines from the previous season and, with the addition of talented newcomers, the Tigers are shooting for bigger and better things this year.
"It's obvious we have the experience and it's a huge positive for this squad," head coach Jeff Graba said. "However, our lineup is far from predictable because though we have all routines returning, we also have a good group of athletes that have improved greatly throughout the offseason as well as some high-quality talent in our freshmen. It's going to be really exciting to see what happens as we get closer to January."
Most of the experience comes from a group of seniors led by Abby Milliet in her fifth year. The Denton, Texas, product comes back to the program after qualifying for the 2018 NCAA Championship as an individual on beam.
Joining her are a trio of Tigers in Samantha Cerio, Taylor Krippner and A'Miracal Phillips. Cerio is a two-time All-SEC performer on bars, qualifying as an individual to nationals two years in a row. Krippner has been a mainstay on beam, bars and vault over the last three seasons, while Phillips has brought solid scores on vault throughout her career.
"This group brings so much to the table," Graba said. "Abby was on the Super Six team in 2015, while the whole group were members of the 2016 team that won a regional championship. So they've had some big success, but have also experienced a lot of frustration. The good thing is that they have truly embraced their role on driving a team culture focused on success and I'm really proud of how their leadership has developed. We're paying more attention to how we treat and support each other this year and it's really exciting because this group is driving that."
Each event in 2019 has a common theme so far in the preseason and that is depth. Graba, in his ninth season on the Plains, is excited about what this means for practice day in and day out.
"If someone held the fifth spot in the lineup last year, that means they might have the seventh or eighth now," Graba said. "There has been new life in our gym and it's creating competition every day at practice. It's a great thing."
Junior Gracie Day and sophomore Drew Watson are a big part of that competition. The pair each had a break out year in 2018 and are expected to bring it this season. Day was a consistent scorer in three events (vault, bars, floor), while Watson qualified in the All-Around to the national championship as a freshman. Both were All-SEC performers on vault after finishing in a tie for second at the conference meet.
Looking to step into a starting role this year is freshman Derrian Gobourne and redshirt junior Skyler Sheppard.
Gobourne hails from Sarasota, Fla., and has the capability to serve in the all-around this season. She brings power on vault and floor, while skill and finesse on bars and beam.
Sheppard transferred to the Plains in 2018 and saw time in one meet before suffering an injury. The Plano, Texas, product will compete for a slot on vault, beam and floor, bringing big skills to all three events.
With a new format to the postseason, Graba is excited for what this experienced group full of depth could mean for the team at the end of the year.
"Instead of just one day of regionals, there will be two and will require athletes to compete back-to-back days," Graba said. "The teams with the most depth and experience under pressure will have the best chance to reach nationals."
Overall, competition in Auburn's gym has been intense since day one and the anticipation for 2019 is high. The Tigers are gearing up for a big year and are ready to get back to the national scene.
"We are excited to see big things not just from the usual crew, but from all our athletes this year," Graba said. "We have a team full of people capable of serving big roles and it's exciting."
Auburn opens the 2019 season at home, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena. The No. 14 Tigers will host No. 29 Iowa and the meet will serve as Auburn's Pink Meet.
Fans are still able to purchase season tickets through the Auburn Ticket Office. In addition, fans are now able to purchase single meet tickets. For more information, call 855-282-2010 or go online at www.AUBTIX.com.
