BATON ROUGE, La. – On the season's biggest stage, the No. 13 Auburn gymnastics team delivered with one of its top performances of the year Friday night.
The Tigers posted a 197.075, the highest NCAA Regional score in program history, to finish second in the night session of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional and advance to Saturday's Regional Final where they will be part of the first Sweet 16 in college gymnastics history.
"We've been preparing for this night," sophomore Drew Watson said. "This is where we're supposed to peak. This is where we shine. It's postseason. This is the time. And I think we did an awesome job the first night."
"This is what we've been waiting for," added Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. "I think we had a little lull at the end of the season and I think the girls were getting ahead of themselves mentally and emotionally, but it was nice to see them pull it together tonight. This is the team we thought we were the whole last month of the year. And we're back to who we are. We're doing it for each other. We're building on each other's routines. It's a heck of a score."
Auburn was solid on all four events, but vault and bars led the way as the team earned a 49.350 on each event. It was a season-high score on vault, and freshman Derrian Gobourne also won the individual title on the event with a career-high 9.950.
The Tigers finished second in Friday's night session behind host LSU, who won the meet with a 197.200. Arizona State finished third (195.425), and George Washington was fourth (194.675).
It will be a quick turnaround for Auburn as the Tigers will join LSU and the top two teams from Friday's afternoon session, Utah and Minnesota, in the Regional Final on Saturday night at 7 p.m. CT. The top two finishers will advance to the NCAA championship in Fort Worth, Texas.
Beam: It was a rock solid start for the Tigers, who opened with a 49.250 on beam. Led by Abby Milliet's 9.900, five of the six gymnasts scored a 9.800 or higher on the event. Watson set the tone in the lead spot with a 9.825 while some of the other top scores included a 9.875 from Meredith Sylvia, a 9.850 from Skyler Sheppard and a 9.800 from Allie Riddle.
Floor: Auburn moved to floor next where Sheppard posted another solid score, leading the team with a 9.875. It matched her career high. Gobourne and junior Emma Slappey each earned a 9.850 on the event while Watson added a 9.800. Senior Samantha Cerio, the last to go, was injured on her first pass. As a team, the Tigers finished with a 49.125.
Vault: After two strong performances to start the meet, the Tigers kept the momentum going on vault with a season-high score of 49.350. Gobourne won the individual title with a career-high 9.950, and Watson followed with a 9.900 to place second at the meet. The trio of Gracie Day (9.875), Taylor Krippner (9.825) and A'Miracal Phillips (9.800) also earned a 9.800 or higher.
Bars: Not to be outdone be vault, Auburn threw up another 49.350 on bars to close out the meet. The team was led by two seniors, Krippner and Milliet, who each posted a 9.900. For Krippner, it matched her career high. Watson was next with a 9.875, followed by Gobourne's 9.850, and then the two bookends, Day and junior Katie Becker, each added a 9.825.