AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn gymnastics is excited to welcome a top-ranked signing class to 2022 as four signed with the Tigers, head coach Jeff Graba announced.
Joining the squad next season will be Sophia Groth (West Des Moines, Iowa), Sara Hubbard (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sunisa Lee (St. Paul, Minn.) and Caroline Leonard (Birmingham, Ala.).
The 2022 freshman class ranks No. 7 according to College Gym News and includes a world champion in Lee as well as a Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier in Groth and state champion in Hubbard. This is Auburn's highest class ranking since 2011 and that group of freshmen went on to help the Tigers reach the Super Six in 2015.
SOPHIA GROTH
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa
High School: Valley
Event: All-Around
Gym: Emerge Academy
HIGHLIGHTS: Three-time JO National Championship qualifier … Finished second on floor and third on bars at the 2018 JO National meet … 2017 Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier … Captured the all-around title at the 2016 Hopes Championship … JO National Champion on beam.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Sophia could very easily be one of the cleanest all-around performers to come to Auburn in quite a long time. She is a tremendous blend of power and grace and I think the Auburn Family will love to watch her on any event."
SARA HUBBARD
Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
High School: Arcadia
Event: All-Around
Gym: Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics
HIGHLIGHTS: Scored a 10.0 on vault at the 2020 Fiesta Bowl … Multiple first-place finishes on vault and floor throughout her career … 2018 state champion on beam and runner-up on floor … 2018 vault and floor winner at Classic Rock … Region 1 beam champion and vault state champion in 2016.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Sara has a long list of accolades and brings a ton of power to the table. Sarah will be fun to watch and I expect she'll be competing for us very early on."
SUNISA LEE
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
High School: South St. Paul Secondary
Event: All-Around
Gym: Midwest Gymnastics
HIGHLIGHTS: Six-time U.S. National Team Member … Won team gold at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany … Took home the silver medal on floor and the bronze on bars at the World Championships … 2019 U.S. National bars champion, all-around silver medalist and floor exercise bronze medalist … 2019 Jesolo Trophy team champion … Finished first in the all-around, bars and floor at the Jesolo Trophy … 2018 U.S. junior champion on bars and runner up on beam.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Sunisa is most likely the most decorated gymnast to ever sign with Auburn. She has a wealth of international experience and success and is throwing some of the most dynamic skills in the world. The Auburn Family will absolutely love to watch Suni compete in the Orange and Blue."
CAROLINE LEONARD
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
High School: Evangel Christian
Event: All-Around
Gym: Mountain Brook Gymnastics
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-time Regional qualifier (2016, 2019) … Vault champion at 2020 Everest Classic … 2019 bars and all-around runner up at the Alabama state meet … Vault, bars, beam and all-around runner up at the 2016 state meet … Senior Elite Compulsory Qualifier on vault and floor.
GRABA THOUGHTS: "Caroline is a home-grown talent and has been on our radar for quite some time. She is a very well-rounded gymnast and could easily contribute on all the events."