AUBURN, Ala. -- The No. 14 Auburn gymnastics team kicks off the 2022 season on the road, traveling to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a tri meet. The Tigers take on host North Carolina and Bowling Green Friday at 6 p.m. CT in Carmichael Arena.
"It feels like we've been preparing for this week for a long time," head coach Jeff Graba said. "I think everyone is ready for competition and this team has done a great job getting ready for what this season might bring.
"We typically love to start on the road," Graba added. "With school not in session, this allows us time to do more team activities and help the squad get ready for what the season will look like. We're excited to see what we can put together this week."
"We're so ready to get going," junior Cassie Stevens said. "The offseason went really well and our freshmen are really talented. Our team chemistry is really good this year and we can't wait to get things started Friday."
AUBURN LINEUP
Depth and experience with a mix of new talent is what the Tigers will bring to the table in 2022 as the squad lost just one routine from last season. The tentative lineup features two seniors, four juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen.
"We have a lot of depth right now and selecting lineups will be difficult," Graba said. "We have a lot of experience returning, but also a lot of talented freshmen coming in that have to get opportunities. It will be a balance game to start the year. The depth is only really good if you develop it and that is what the month of January is about for us."
Juniors Aria Brusch and Cassie Stevens are slated to compete in the all-around for the Tigers, while senior Derrian Gobourne and freshman Sophia Groth will go in three events.
The Tigers kick things off on bars in the first rotation. Junior Adeline Sabados will lead things off, marking her 20th start in the event. Stevens will go second with fifth-year senior Drew Watson going third. Freshman Sunisa Lee will go fourth and Brusch is set for fifth. Gobourne is down in the anchor slot, making her 34th start for the Tigers in the event.
Auburn will head to beam next with Brusch leading off rotation two. Junior Morgan Leigh Oldham is down for second with sophomore Olivia Hollingsworth going third. Lee is slated for fourth and Groth is set to go fifth. Stevens will anchor the event for the Tigers following a solid finish in 2021. She earned All-SEC on beam for her performance at the conference postseason meet.
Rotation three will have Auburn compete on floor and freshman Sara Hubbard will make her collegiate debut in the lead off slot. Oldham will be second with Groth going third. Stevens and Brusch will follow with Gobourne anchoring the Tigers. Gobourne secured first team All-America honors in the event last season, reaching a 9.975 on two occasions.
Auburn will close out the final rotation on vault. Brusch and Groth will kick things off with Stevens going third to close out their busy evenings. Hubbard is set for fourth with Watson and Gobourne finishing off the meet.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues its road swing and will kick of Southeastern Conference competition at Arkansas, Jan. 14. The Tigers and the Razorbacks will face off at 7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network in Fayetteville.
No. 14 Tigers open season in North Carolina
