AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 5 Auburn gymnastics team is set to close out the 2022 regular season on the road, traveling to No. 3 Michigan for a tri meet. The Tigers will face off with the Wolverines and West Virginia at 3 p.m. CT in Ann Arbor.
"The goal is to put quality teams on the schedule and Michigan is a veteran team and defending national champion," head coach Jeff Graba said. "This is a good opportunity and a big challenge for us. I think it'll determine our future with how we perform in a new environment."
Auburn is looking to earn another big road score to continue to climb the rankings.
"Obviously a good road score will be beneficial," Graba said. "The goal is to set us up for success as we get closer to the postseason. We just need to go out there and compete."
The meet against the defending national champion Wolverines marks the eighth contest against at least one squad in the top 15.
"This team likes a challenge, and we know being in the SEC is a major challenge," Graba said. "This is just another chance for us to get better and grow together."
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 tri-meet on bars, having a handful of experienced bar workers ready to go. Freshman Sunisa Lee is tied for second nationally with a 9.945 NQS and a 10.0 under her belt.
Joining her is senior Derrian Gobourne, who is coming off a career-best 9.975 at Elevate this past Sunday. Juniors Aria Brusch, Adeline Sabados, Anna Sumner and Cassie Stevens as well as sophomore Gabby McLaughlin and freshman Sophia Groth are among the top eight as well.
The squad heads to beam where it ranks fourth at 49.485. Lee is tied for first in the nation at 9.980 with two 10.0s this season. Groth is also among the top 10 nationally at 9.935.
Sophomore Olivia Hollingsworth along with Brusch, Piper Smith, Stevens and McLaughlin will bring big scoring potential to the lineup. Fifth year Allie Riddle is also among the top eight with an opportunity to compete.
Auburn will head to floor after it put together a program-best 49.800 vs. Florida last Friday. Gobourne and fifth year Drew Watson with Lee and Groth are set to shine for the Tigers as they are all in the top eight.
Joining them are Stevens, Oldham and Sabados. Stevens is coming off a 9.925 vs. Florida, while Sabados competed for the first time this season at Elevate with a 9.825. Freshman Sara Hubbard is also battling for a spot in the lineup.
The Tigers will be on vault in the final rotation where they ranks sixth nationally. Seniors Gobourne and Watson lead the squad. The pair are among the top 20 nationally in the event.
The rest of the top eight include Stevens, Lee, Hubbard, McLaughlin, fifth year Jada Glenn and sophomore Tara Walsh. Stevens recently earned a career-best 9.975 vs. Florida.
UP NEXT
Postseason kicks off next week with the 2022 SEC Championship. The conference meet will be held in Birmingham at the BJCC, March 19.
No. 5 Tigers cap regular season at No. 3 Michigan, vs. West Virginia
