AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 17 Auburn gymnastics team stays on the Plains for two-straight weeks, starting with a 6 p.m. CT contest vs. No. 13 Kentucky Friday, Feb. 7 in Auburn Arena. The meet will be televised on SEC Network.
"We hope to see a big home crowd because we need that energy," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We're obviously really good at home right now and we've done a good job in front of our own fans. We still have some kinks to work out so I would like to see the team string four events together."
The Tigers are looking forward to working on the small things to put together a complete meet in front of the Auburn faithful.
"I'm really excited to be back in front of our crowd and to use the positive energy they bring to our team," senior Gracie Day said. "We're working on the little things like straight legs and pointed toes and our body positions so that we can really get the most out of our routines."
"We need to all stay focused and compete how we practice," freshman Cassie Stevens said. "We practice very well and we just want to simulate that in front of our fans this Friday."
EVENT INFORMATION
It's a busy evening in Auburn Arena Friday has a handful of events are planned in conjunction with the meet.
Friday is the annual Alumni Meet for Auburn gymnastics. More than 40 gymnastics alums will be in attendance.
Auburn Athletics will also be continuing its celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day as student-athletes from track and field, soccer, women's tennis, volleyball and women's swimming and diving will be signing autographs on the Scholarship Terrace from 5-6 p.m. CT. The entire gymnastics team will also be signing autographs on the concourse following the meet.
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
Auburn is remaining consistent in its lineup choices, making a couple changes to floor only from last week.
Junior Drew Watson and freshman Cassie Stevens will once again go in the all-around. It'll be the fifth time for both in the category. Watson is among the Top 25 nationally with a 39.262 average, while Stevens picked up the first all-around win of her career at Georgia with a 39.250.
As always, the Tigers will open the night on vault as the home team. The squad is coming off a season-high 49.300 at Georgia last week and looks to build on that. Junior Jada Glenn is down in the leadoff spot with seniors Skyler Sheppard and Gracie Day going next. Stevens is fourth with Watson fifth. Watson has reached a 9.9 or higher in four of five meets this season. Sophomore Derrian Gobourne will anchor for the sixth-straight meet, ranking in the Top 20 nationally with a 9.865 average.
Rotation two puts Auburn on bars and Stevens is slated to lead off. Classmates Adeline Sabados and Aria Brusch make their debuts on the night in spots two and three. Watson and Day follow and Gobourne is down to close out the rotation. Brusch and Day rank in the Top 15 regionally with a 9.84 average, while Gobourne has scored a 9.875 or better four times this year.
Auburn heads to beam in the third rotation and looks to continue building on its consistency in the event. The squad is ranked tied for seventh nationally with a 49.105 average and all six competitors are among the Top 25 regionally. Stead senior Emma Slappey is back in the lead spot with Brusch and Stevens following. Beam queen Meredith Sylvia is fourth and is coming off her third 9.9 of the season at Georgia. Watson looks to continue her recent success on the event in the fifth spot and Sheppard is down to anchor.
The meet finale has Auburn on floor and Slappey will once again kick things off. Stevens will once again be second and then this is where Auburn is expected to switch things up. Sheppard and Gobourne moved up a couple of spots to third and fourth on floor and Brusch is down for the fifth slot. Watson is set to anchor the event for the first time this season.