AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 8 Auburn gymnastics team opens Southeastern Conference action Friday, January 14 at No. 15 Arkansas. The Tigers and the Razorbacks will face off in Bud Walton Arena at 7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
"It's going to be all hands-on deck this week for us," head coach Jeff Graba said. "Arkansas is a really good team that is really good at home. They moved us to the big arena and with it being a dual meet on national television, the pressure is intensified."
This will be the first gymnastics meet ever held in Bud Walton Arena and Auburn's first televised meet of the season.
"This is another great test for our team to get out there and see what they are capable of," Graba added. "It's another good test for the upperclassmen to lead us."
Auburn will look to its experienced gymnasts to lead under the spotlight. Among those include seniors Drew Watson and Derrian Gobourne as well as junior Aria Brusch and Cassie Stevens. Watson is third nationally on vault, while Gobourne has top scores on vault and floor. Stevens is among the nation's best in the all-around and Brusch has valued experience on bars, beam and floor.
"We built up so much confidence over the preseason and I think we showed that last week," junior Aria Brusch said. "We're approaching Friday as just another meet and another opportunity. There is a lot of experience on this team right now and we are looking forward to leading the way on the road."
"I'm really excited for the opportunity we have this weekend," senior Derrian Gobourne said. "We didn't have the best meet last week, but we pulled it together so I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do at Arkansas."
AUBURN LINEUP
Depth and experience with a mix of new talent is what the Tigers will bring to the table in 2022.
Auburn will kick off the meet on bars in rotation one. Auburn's top eight in the event heading into the meet include a wealth of experience for the squad.
Seniors Derrian Gobourne and Drew Watson are among the potential competitors as are juniors Aria Brusch, Adeline Sabados, Piper Smith and Cassie Stevens. Gobourne led the team at North Carolina with a 9.825, while Brusch chipped in an 9.8.
Freshmen Sunisa Lee and Sophia Groth are also on the tentative list for bars.
The squad heads to vault for the second rotation after putting together a 49.350 last week. Watson and Gobourne will guide the crew after going 9.95 and 9.875, respectively.
Joining the pair in the top eight with extensive experience is fifth year Jada Glenn and Stevens. Sophomore Tara Walsh earned a start for the first time in her career last week, scoring a 9.8. Freshman Sara Hubbard secured a 9.875 against UNC and classmate Caroline Leonard also is among the top on the team.
Floor is up next in rotation three and the top eight include Gobourne and Watson as well as Brusch and Stevens. Groth, Lee, Hubbard and freshman Ananda Brown are all potential competitors for the Tigers.
Auburn's final rotation will have the team on beam. Brusch and Stevens are expected to lead the youthful crew with help from sophomores Olivia Hollingsworth and Gabby McLaughlin. Junior Morgan Leigh Oldham also earned a spot in the top eight as well as Groth, Lee and Hubbard.
UP NEXT
Auburn opens its home slate Friday, January 21, hosting No. 23 Iowa State in Auburn Arena. The meet is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Conference action awaits No. 8 Auburn at No. 15 Arkansas
