AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 17 Auburn gymnastics team closes out its homestand with a contest vs. No. 2 Florida Friday, Feb. 14. The Tigers and the Gators will face off at 7:30 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena on SEC Network.
"We have to get better at staying focused on what we can do," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We've been able to rest this week so we'll have the energy this Friday. We really need to hit four events because we know we are capable of competing with anyone in the country."
After a busy start to the season, the Tigers took some time to rest and regroup and are looking forward to big things this Friday.
"We really wanted to focus on getting the little details and coming together as a team this week," freshman Adeline Sabados said. "We're excited to compete at home this weekend against a big opponent like Florida."
"We've hit the reset button this week and really focused on ourselves as a team," junior Meredith Sylvia added. "This team really thrives when we come together and show our full potential so we're really looking forward to putting that into action in front of our crowd."
For the first time this year, the Tigers are in Auburn Arena in back-to-back meets and took advantage of the comforts of home.
"This is the first time we've been able to stay in the same place for more than a week and we're definitely benefiting from it," Graba said. "We're excited to have another big crowd at home because we love to really show in front of them."
EVENT INFORMATION
Friday is Superhero Day in Auburn Arena! Kids are welcomed to dress up as their favorite superhero and coloring books will be given out to the young fans when they arrive.
To celebrate Valentine's Day, Auburn will be giving out a Diamonds Direct $500 gift card to one lucky couple in attendance. Couples can enter by submitting their names at the marketing table in the Scholarship Entrance or Main Entrance. Two couples will be drawn and they'll have a chance to win midway through the meet.
In addition, it's the team's End Childhood Hunger initiative and fans are encouraged to bring canned goods for donation.
New to the meet production is that fans can help light up Auburn Arena using War Eagle Lights through the Auburn Athletics App. More information can be found HERE.
In addition, seating has changed this season as the entire 100 level is now reserved. Fans who buy a general admission ticket may sit in the 200 level or can be in the Standing Room Only locations.
More information on seating and parking can be found at the Auburn Gymnastics Meet Day website by clicking HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Tigers are making a couple changes this week in the lineup as the squad prepares for a big test in No. 2 Florida in Auburn Arena.
Junior Drew Watson and freshman Cassie Stevens are once again in the all-around. The pair rank in the Top 15 regionally in the category with Watson leading the way with a 39.135 average.
Senior Katie Becker earned a spot in the vault lineup this weekend and will lead things off in the first rotation. The Boone, N.C., product has 33 starts in the event under her belt. She's followed by classmates Skyler Sheppard and Gracie Day. Day is coming off a career-high 9.925 vs. Kentucky last week. Stevens is slated to go fourth with Watson and sophomore Derrian Gobourne closing things out. The three each earned a 9.9 last week to help the Tigers go 49.425 in the event.
The Tigers head to bars for rotation two and the lineup will remain the same from last meet. Stevens will go first with classmates Adeline Sabados and Aria Brusch second and third. Watson is down in the fourth spot, while Day and Gobourne are slated to closed things out. Gobourne has exceled in the event the last five meets, scoring a 9.875 or better.
Auburn moves to beam where it has seen a wealth of success so far this year. The squad ranks 12th nationally with a 49.071 average. Brusch moved up to the leadoff spot and is followed by senior Emma Slappey. Stevens is next and junior Meredith Sylvia is fourth. Sylvia has a team-best 9.837 average in the event, including three 9.9s this season. Watson will got fifth and has been steady on the event all year and holds a 9.8 average. Sheppard anchors the event with a 9.821 average.
The final rotation will have Auburn on floor. Stevens jumped up to the top spot with Slappey going second. Earning a spot in the lineup this week is Day, making her second start in the event this season. Brusch is fourth and Watson follows in fifth. Watson leads the team with a 9.84 average. Gobourne will anchor with her energetic routine. The sophomore has a pair of 9.95s under her belt this season.