AUBURN, Ala. – Coming off a season-high 197.100 in Friday's win over Arkansas, the Auburn gymnastics team is holding steady at No. 11 in this week's national rankings.
The Tigers have now earned a 196.700 or higher in three of their last four meets, and they will try to post another high score this weekend when they travel to Texas Woman's University. The meet is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.
"We are excited to compete in Texas this weekend against the defending Division II national champions," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "Many of our girls are from Texas, and they always look forward to this meet as a homecoming of sorts."
The highlight of Friday's meet came on bars where Auburn finished with a 49.600 – the highest score on the event in program history. The Tigers are now ranked fifth in the country on bars with an average of 49.325, and the trio of Abby Milliet, Samantha Cerio and Gracie Day are all in the top 25 nationally. Day won the individual title against Arkansas with a career-high 9.975.
Auburn is also in the top 15 nationally on both vault (11) and beam (15) after Friday's performance. Sophomore Drew Watson, who led the way on vault with a 9.950, moved up into a tie for 10th on the event this week with a season average of 9.879.
The only movement in the top five came from UCLA, who jumped Florida for the No. 2 spot. Oklahoma is still No. 1 followed by UCLA, Florida, Utah and LSU.
Though Auburn just missed this week, the SEC still has four teams ranked in the top 10 with Florida (No. 2), LSU (No. 5), Georgia (No. 7) and Alabama (No. 9). The Tigers are next at No. 11 followed by Kentucky (No. 13), Missouri (No. 19) and Arkansas (No. 21).