AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 12 Auburn gymnastics team closed out the 2021 regular season on a high note Friday night, earning a season-best 197.125 in Auburn Arena. The No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks won the meet with a 197.425.
"I'm proud of the team," head coach Jeff Graba said. "It was a tight meet with the No. 8 team in the nation and we hung right there with them. We have a couple things to work on, but I think we proved that we're a Top 10 team and we can compete with anyone. It was a great finish to the regular season, and I feel really good about where we are."
The Tigers celebrated senior Meredith Sylvia prior to the meet. The Macungie, Pa., product has been a mainstay in the team's beam lineup throughout her four years on the Plains and led the squad with a season-best 9.9 on the night in the event.
"Meredith has been one of our most steady performers throughout her career," Graba said. "She's brought so much and gave so much to this team, so it was great to see her last night in Auburn Arena be so special."
Junior Derrian Gobourne captured a pair of event titles for the squad, tying her career bests on bars (9.95) and floor (9.975). Her bars title was the third of the season and her floor crown was her fourth.
"Her expectation level is so high that a 9.975 is frustrating to her right now," Graba said. "Derrian is capable of winning a national champion in all events that she competes in. She's a lot of fun to watch and even more fun to coach."
Auburn finished with nine individual season or career highs on the night, while the team put together a season best on vault with a 49.275.
"We haven't had a night where we felt like we were clicking on every event and every routine," Graba said. "However, to have four 197s this year and to still not have fully clicked, it brings confidence and that's what we need in the postseason. I like our chances in what's coming up with this team."
Sophomore Cassie Stevens competed in the all-around and came away with a 39.225 to finish second in the category.
Postseason kicks off in two weeks at the 2021 SEC Championship. Auburn and the other seven Southeastern Conference schools will face off in a two-session format at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala., March 20.
VAULT
The Tigers opened strong on vault in the first rotation, scoring a season-best 49.275. Senior Drew Watson led the way with a 9.9, while Gobourne added a 9.875 for the team. Freshman Olivia Hollingsworth and Stevens each added a 9.85, which was a career best for Hollingsworth. Sophomores Piper Smith and Adeline Sabados closed out scoring with a 9.8. That mark was a career high for Smith.
BARS
Auburn put together another solid bars rotation and finished with a 49.300 at the end of the second. Sabados and Stevens chipped in a 9.825 each with Smith and sophomore Aria Brusch adding a 9.85 apiece. Gobourne won her third bars crown of the season with a 9.95, tying a career high.
BEAM
Rotation three had the Tigers on beam where they earned a 49.325. That score was the second highest of the season in the event for Auburn. Sylvia led the way with her 9.9, tying a season best. Freshman Gabby McLaughlin followed with a 9.875 and a trio of Tigers added 9.85s in sophomore Morgan Leigh Oldham, Hollingsworth and Stevens. That score was a career best for both Oldham and Hollingsworth.
FLOOR
Auburn capped the night with a 49.225 on floor. Gobourne highlighted the event in the anchor position with a 9.975, earning a 10.0 from one judge and taking the event title. Brusch and Watson chipped in a pair of 9.875s, which was a season best for Brusch. Oldham tied her career score with a 9.8 and Stevens finished with a 9.7.
No. 12 Tigers score big with a 197.125 in regular season finale
