No. 14 Tigers score a 195.725 in 2021 season opener

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 14 Auburn gymnastics team opened the 2021 season Friday night in Auburn Arena, scoring a 195.725 in a loss to No. 1 Florida. The Gators won the meet with a 197.500.
 
"It was a pretty good opening meet for us," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We used quite a few people who didn't compete last year on a handful of events. We got our feet wet and I felt like the team did a good job of handling some of the first-meet jitters."
 
A total of 16 of the team's 24 routines came from sophomores or freshmen.
 
"It was our third-highest opening meet score in the history of Auburn," Graba said. "And we gave away a little bit throughout the meet. I think we're on track to compete with pretty much anyone in the country, but we definitely have some things to work on. I'm really excited to see what this season brings."
 
Junior Derrian Gobourne competed in the all-around for the first time since the start of 2020 and came away with a 39.425. That included a bars title and a runner-up finish on floor.
 
"I just felt super grateful to be out there," Gobourne said. "We didn't even know if we were going to have a season or what it would look like. I was just really grateful to be out there doing the sport that we love."
 
Sophomore Cassie Stevens also competed in the all-around, finishing with a 39.225.
 
The Tigers take to the road for two-straight meets, starting at No. 12 Kentucky. Auburn and the Wildcats will face off Friday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. CT in Lexington. The meet will be televised on SEC Network.
 
VAULT
Auburn kicked off the night with a 49.100 on vault, picking up where it left off last season. Gobourne led the way for the squad with a 9.875. Sophomore Adeline Sabados, competing in the event for the first time in her career, notched a 9.85. Stevens and sophomore Piper Smith put together a pair of 9.8s, while senior Drew Watson had a 9.775.
 
BARS
The second rotation had the Tigers on bars, finishing with a 49.000. Gobourne, a 2020 All-American in the event, captured the bars title with a 9.9. Sophomore Aria Brusch put together a 9.825 and Stevens earned a 9.775. Sophomore Anna Sumner and Sabados each added a 9.75.  
 
BEAM
The Tigers went 48.975 on beam in rotation three, seeing a trio of Tigers score a 9.825. Highlighting the event for Auburn was the performance from freshman Gabby McLaughlin as she earned a 9.825. Brusch and Stevens were also awarded that score. Watson led off with a 9.775 and Gobourne finished with a 9.75.
 
FLOOR
Gobourne shined in the anchor spot for Auburn on floor, leading the squad with a 9.925. Watson put together a solid routine to start the season, scoring a 9.85. Stevens earned a 9.825 and freshman Olivia Hollingsworth led off with a 9.75. The Tigers had to count a fall in the rotation and finished with a 48.650.