COLUMBIA, Mo. – It was the first road meet of the season. It was an unfamiliar environment. And still, the No. 13 Auburn gymnastics team pushed through for a 195.825-194.975 victory over No. 10 Missouri on Saturday.
With the win, the Tigers are now 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2002.
"Everything we wanted to accomplish, we got done today," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "We changed some routines up, and all the ones that we changed were successful. We wanted new kids in the lineup and in the exhibition spots, and everybody was successful. And we came on the road – this was a tough environment with the wrestling match going on at the same time, it's an afternoon meet, it's cold – and I thought the girls handled it really well."
Sophomore Drew Watson (39.200) narrowly edged teammate Derrian Gobourne (39.100) for the all-around title. Though she didn't win any individual event titles, Watson scored a 9.750 or better on all four events, including a 9.850 on vault and a 9.800 on bars and floor.
"I think this meet was really good for us," Watson said. "We fought like no other, and that's what Auburn gymnastics is about."
"I was glad Drew had the meet that she did because she wasn't happy with her performance last week, and she wanted to redeem herself in her eyes," added Graba. "I was happy with her performance. She's starting to hit her stride right now, and it's going to be fun to watch her and Derrian fight between themselves every week."
Gobourne won the individual event title on floor for the second straight week with a 9.875, and she posted another 9.875 on vault to share the individual title with teammate Gracie Day. The freshman also added a 9.800 on her bars routine.
For the second straight week, bars was the top event for Auburn. The Tigers, who ranked No. 4 nationally coming in, posted a team score of 49.275. Senior Samantha Cerio won the individual title with a 9.900, and then it was Day (9.875), Abby Milliet (9.875), Taylor Krippner (9.825) and the all-around duo of Watson and Gobourne who both scored a 9.800.
After bars, Auburn moved to vault and finished with another solid score (49.025) behind strong performances from Day, Gobourne and Watson.
Junior Emma Slappey made her season debut on floor, Auburn's third rotation of the night, and posted a 9.775 to start things off. All six gymnasts – Slappey, Skyler Sheppard (9.750), Watson (9.800), Gobourne (9.875), Milliet (9825) and Cerio (9.775) – scored a 9.750 or higher on the event as the team finished with a 49.050.
The Tigers closed the meet on beam with a 48.475. Krippner earned a team-high 9.775.
Auburn will return home this Friday to host No. 10 Georgia in the "All Auburn, All Orange" meet, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network. Fans are encouraged to wear orange.
