AUBURN, Ala. –The No. 6 Auburn gymnastics team will kick off the postseason just up the road in Birmingham at the 2022 Southeastern Conference Championship Saturday, March 19, in the BJCC.
The Tigers are the No. 3 seed this season and will be in Session II with Florida, LSU and Alabama. Action will start at 7 p.m. CT and will air live on SEC Network.
"We start on beam and have been working on that rotation this week," head coach Jeff Graba said. "This is our final road meet that can count towards your postseason ranking and we're trying to keep that in mind, while also wanting to take a shot at a championship."
The Tigers return to the night session for the first time since 2016. Auburn's best finish at the conference championship was third in back-to-back seasons (1992, 1993). The Tigers have finished fourth twice under Graba. (2015, 2016).
"We're capable of being a top team and it all comes down with how we handle our business," Graba said. "Our expectations and standards are high for this team and I'm looking forward to seeing how we handle in the night session against the nation's best.
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn will kick off the meet on beam where it ranks fourth with a 49.485. Leading the way will be freshman Sunisa Lee who is tied for first nationally at 9.980 with two 10.0s. Classmate Sophia Groth is seventh nationally at 9.945.
Sophomores Olivia Hollingsworth and Gabby McLaughlin along juniors Aria Brusch, Morgan Leigh Oldham, Piper Smith and Cassie Stevens will bring big scoring potential to the lineup. Stevens is also among the nation's best with a 9.875 NQS and a 9.95 under her belt.
The Tigers head to floor in rotation two where they rank sixth nationally at 49.460.
Senior Derrian Gobourne and fifth year Drew Watson with Lee and Groth are set to shine for the squad as they are all in the top eight.
Gobourne is sixth nationally at 9.95 with a 10.0 this year. Lee is tied for seventh at 9.945.
Joining the four in the top eight will be Brusch and Stevens as well as Hollingsworth and freshman Sara Hubbard.
Rotation three is vault and the Tigers have been making big moves in the event. The squad is ranked tied for fifth at 49.400.
Watson is coming off her second vault win of the year, capturing the event title at Michigan this past weekend with a 9.925. Gobourne and Lee are also among the nation's best in the event and will be on the team's top eight.
The rest including Stevens, Groth, Hubbard, fifth year Jada Glenn and sophomore Tara Walsh.
Auburn will close out meet on bars, having a handful of experienced bar workers ready to go. Lee is tied for first nationally with a 9.955 NQS and a 10.0 under her belt.
Joining her is Gobourne, who has scored a 9.9 or better in three-straight meets. Brusch, junior Adeline Sabados and Stevens along with Groth, McLaughlin and Watson are in the top eight.
UP NEXT
Auburn will host one of four NCAA Regional Championships, March 30-April 2. Teams and times will be announced on March 22.
Auburn ready for SEC Gymnastics Championship
