AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 15 Auburn gymnastics team is set to close out its home schedule Friday, hosting Texas Woman's University in Auburn Arena at 7 p.m. CT. The contest will be streamed on SEC Network+.
The meet is the team's 'Flip for a Cure' meet, bringing awareness to and honoring those who have battled breast cancer. In addition, Auburn will honor its five seniors prior to the meet - Katie Becker, Gracie Day, Kendal Moss, Skyler Sheppard, Emma Slappey.
Auburn is hoping to build off the momentum from last week where the squad picked up a season-high road score to win at Arkansas, 196.500-196.025. The victory was the first since 2014 and second overall in Fayetteville.
"We're doing better each week so this is a meet where we are hoping to just go out there and perform," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We've got things left to accomplish so we can't let all the emotion get in the way. We're looking forward to celebrating our seniors, but we're most looking forward to hitting our routines and finishing our home schedule strong."
"Last week was a step in the right direction for us," junior Drew Watson added. "I think we can carry that on this week and keep pushing that fun, loose mentality and that we're all in this together."
EVENT INFORMATION
Friday is another busy day on campus and a busy night in Auburn Arena. First, the team will be celebrating their five seniors prior to the meet and fans are encouraged to arrive early so they do not miss it.
The contest vs. TWU is also the program's 'Flip for a Cure' meet. The Tigers will don their pink leotards in honor of those fighting breast cancer, those who have beaten it and in memory of those who have fought the good fight. In addition, 700 fleece blankets with pink decals will be given out to fans as they arrive.
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.
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 Auburn lineup remains mostly the same with a few placement changes this week vs. TWU. The squad will also have a handful of exhibitions throughout the night.
Junior Drew Watson and freshman Cassie Stevens are once again in the all-around. The pair rank in the Top 10 regionally in the category.
A trio of seniors will open up the meet on vault in rotation one, starting with Skyler Sheppard. She is followed by Katie Becker and Gracie Day. Day has had an outstanding handful of meets, scoring three-straight 9.925s. Stevens is fourth and Watson will go fifth. Watson is coming off a career-high 9.975 and ranks sixth nationally in the event. Sophomore Derrian Gobourne will anchor and is also among the nation's Top 15 on vault
Auburn moves on to bars where a trio of freshmen kick things off in the second rotation. Stevens is slated first with classmates Adeline Sabados and Aria Brusch following. Brusch is among the Top 15 in the Central Region in the event. Watson is fourth and is coming off a season-best 9.85 at Arkansas. Day will go fifth and leads the team with a 9.855 NQS, while Gobourne will once again anchor.
Rotation three has the Tigers on beam where all six competitors are among the Top 25 in the Central Region. Senior Emma Slappey will lead things off with Brusch and Stevens going second and third. Junior and beam specialist Meredith Sylvia is down for fourth and has a team-best 9.865 NQS to rank sixth regionally. Watson is set for fifth with Sheppard anchoring. Sheppard is second on the team at 9.830 so far this season.
The Tigers will cap their home season on floor and Stevens is set to lead off. Sheppard is back in the lineup and will go second, while Brusch is third. Day and Watson are fourth and fifth and Gobourne will anchor once again for the squad.
With the meet being streamed, Auburn is allowed to have exhibitions throughout the night. Junior Jada Glenn will go on vault, while senior Kendal Moss and junior Ashley Smith as set to compete on bars.
Freshmen Morgan Leigh Oldham and Piper Smith are down to go in exhibition on beam. Sophomore Sabrina Cheney and Sabados set to exhibition on floor to close out the night.