ANAHEIM, Calif. – The No. 13 Auburn gymnastics team kicked off the 2020 season with a 194.375 in the first session of the Collegiate Challenge held in the Anaheim Convention Center Arena Saturday afternoon.
"We got a lot accomplished today," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We have a young team and it was great to get them on the road and get a meet under their belt to start the year. For the most part, we did a good job competing at a decent level. We just made a lot of silly mistakes, which is normal for the first meet. So we're excited to get back in the gym and prepare for next week."
Auburn saw big scores from a trio of freshmen competing in their first collegiate meet. Aria Brusch represented the Tigers in three events, while Cassie Stevens competed in two. Adeline Sabados contributed in one event on the day.
"I was impressed with our freshmen today," Graba said. "They handled the atmosphere and pace well."
In addition, Auburn's big-time vaulters in junior Drew Watson and sophomore Derrian Gobourne picked up where they left off last season as the pair finished in a tie for first in the event during the first session.
"It's good to have an event like vault where we know we're going to excel," Graba said. "I'm really happy to see Drew and Derrian anchoring vault like we know they can and getting solid scores to start the year."
The Tigers open up their home slate Friday, Jan. 10, hosting in-state rival Alabama. Auburn and the Crimson Tide will go head-to-head at 8 p.m. CT and it will be televised live on SEC Network. Tickets can be purchased
BARS
Auburn kicked off the season on bars and put together a 48.400. The squad saw big routines from a pair of freshmen in Sabados and Brusch as the duo scored a 9.8 and a 9.85, respectively. Senior Gracie Day added a 9.825 and classmates Katie Becker and Kendal Moss chipped in a 9.5 and a 9.425.
BEAM
A pair of seniors in Emma Slappey and Skyler Sheppard led the Tigers in the second rotation, guiding the squad to a 48.650. Slappey opened up the event with a 9.8, while Sheppard anchored with another 9.8. Brusch continued to excel for Auburn and earned a 9.775 and juniors Watson and Meredith Sylvia added a 9.65 and 9.625, respectively.
FLOOR
Slappey and Sheppard continued to lead Auburn in the next rotation, scoring a pair of 9.775s for the Tigers on floor. Gobourne followed with a 9.75. Auburn's freshmen continued to contribute in their first collegiate meet as Brusch scored a 9.575 and Stevens finished with a 9.525.
VAULT
The Tigers saw big scores from their big vaulters in the final rotation as Watson and Gobourne earned a pair of 9.9s. Stevens anchored the event with another solid vault, scoring a 9.8. Day's vault was a 9.675 and junior Jada Glenn was awarded a 9.65.