AUBURN, Ala. – With a share of the SEC championship on the line, No. 6 Auburn soared to a program record, equaling the nation's highest score this season with a 198.575 behind 10.0s from Sunisa Lee and Derrian Gobourne Friday in the first meet at newly christened Neville Arena.
No. 3 Florida was equally dazzling, scoring two 10.0s to claim the outright conference championship by equaling Auburn's 198.575, denying the Tigers the victory Auburn needed to earn a share of the crown.
"To finally get the 198 off your back and tie what I believe is one of the best teams in the country, I felt like it was a national championship caliber meet tonight," Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. "I felt like our young team held up really well. A lot of fun to see it and it's sort of a relief that we're starting to click."
Auburn scored a program record 49.725 on beam, highlighted by Lee's second consecutive 10.0 and 9.95s for Gabby McLaughlin and Sophia Groth, equaling the latter's career high. Aria Brusch's 9.925 and Olivia Hollingsworth's 9.9 also represented career bests.
Lee, the Olympic all-around gold medalist, won the all-around with 39.8 while Cassie Stevens earned a 39.675, including a career-high 9.975 on vault, 9.925 on floor and 9.9 on bars.
"It's really rewarding, especially on vault," said Stevens of her Yurchenko one and half. "It's been a lot of hard work and it's great when it finally pays off. It was honestly the best feeling in the world. Top three happiest moments of my life. There's so much behind it and for it to finally happen was an incredible feeling. The best part was my team. They know I've been putting the work into it. For them to celebrate with me was really special."
Sara Hubbard also scored a career-high 9.9 on vault, as did Gobourne, helping the Tigers tie the program vault record of 49.5 to start on a 198 pace after the first rotation.
Lee shared the bars title with a 9.95, with Groth adding a 9.925 and Stevens and Gobourne each scoring 9.9s.
"It's so amped up this year," Stevens said. "There's nothing like nailing your routine and the whole arena erupting. It's truly one of the greatest feelings."
Heading into the final rotation, the Gators led 149.0-148.775 and kept the pressure on by scoring four 9.9s or better on beam.
In her home finale, Drew Watson scored a 9.925 on floor, followed by Stevens' 9.925, and 9.975s from Groth and Lee.
When Florida's anchor gymnast fell on beam, it opened the door for Auburn to tie, but only if Gobourne could score a 10.0.
Against that nearly impossible backdrop, the senior delivered a riveting routine, bringing the sellout crowd to its feet with her first 10.0 after several close calls. The noise only intensified as each judge displayed 10.0 scores.
"'Derrian, just do you,'" Gobourne said of her pre-routine self-talk. "There was pressure, but I just wanted to go out and be me. It finally happened. To see the 10.0, I was so shocked.
"It's so cool to have everyone here to support us. I felt like I had everyone's support, including the other team. I think that's great sportsmanship."
"It was the best exclamation point to the night," Stevens said. "We've been wanting it for her because we know she's so deserving."
"She's really good when she has fun," Graba said. "We'd already broken a 198 and crushed our team record. All she could do was crush it more.
"It nice to see her get the 10.0 that I believe she's performed quite a few times and get it on a night when you needed it.
"Nobody we'd rather have in that position. When you need the best of the best, look what she's done for this program for four years, and she just did it tonight, and we tie possibly the national champion this year.
"That was a national championship caliber meet tonight. We held up and didn't just do a good job. We rallied from behind to tie one of the best teams in the country. She put the exclamation point on one heck of a night."
The Tigers smashed the previous program record of 197.925 set last week vs. Kentucky, closing the meet with an all-time high of 49.8 on floor.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Tigers, who compete Sunday at 1 p.m. CT in Huntsville in the Elevate the Stage quad meet against Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas.
Several members of Auburn's SEC champion men's basketball team showed their support throughout the meet on the eve of their regular season finale Saturday.
"What an atmosphere in this arena," Graba said. "I've never felt it like that and I've been to some pretty big events here. It's been amazing. It's the reason for our success.
"We are a big family here. That group showed up and supported all five meets this year. It's the loudest I've ever heard it. There's a connection right now between some of the teams on campus. It's almost like we're trying to one-up each other. That's a really good place to be. There's a lot of respect for these athletes for what the other athletes are going through. It's great to see the support from the athletes and the fan base."
198.575! No. 6 Auburn smashes program record; Lee, Gobourne score 10.0s
