AUBURN, Ala. – The first National Qualifying Score rankings were released this week and the Auburn gymnastics team moved up two spots to No. 5 with a 197.375.
"We currently hold the highest NQS in the history of our program," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We have had a really good run these last few weeks, but we still need to improve in quite a few areas as well as develop our depth. This Friday will be a significant test and we will definitely need to come prepared to compete."
Auburn is set to host another top 10 match up as Kentucky comes to town Friday, Feb. 26. The Wildcats do not have enough meets to be ranked in the NQS, but were No. 10 last week. The Tigers and Kentucky will face off at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network in Auburn Arena.
Michigan, Oklahoma and Florida are all in the top spots with Utah and Auburn rounding out the top five. LSU and Alabama are in a close sixth and seventh, while Minnesota, Missouri and Michigan State are among the top 10. Georgia ranks No. 26 as Kentucky and Arkansas are one meet shy each from an NQS ranking.
Auburn's beam squad continues to hold strong to No. 2 nationally with a 49.390. Freshman Sunisa Lee is fifth in the event at 9.920, while classmate Sophia Groth is tied for 10th at 9.895.
The team is sixth on vault (49.300), seventh on floor (49.375) and eighth on bars (49.290).
Fifth year Drew Watson is tied for ninth on vault at 9.885, while senior Derrian Gobourne is tied for 13th (9.880). Lee is third on bars (9.920) and Gobourne is 11th on floor (9.910).