AUBURN, Ala. – The 2022 Auburn gymnastics team made history all season, breaking attendance barriers, earning a record number of accolades and setting new program bests.
The Tigers brought in a wealth of awards throughout the season and at the conclusion of the year. Five gymnasts combined for a program record 15 All-America honors, including 11 from the freshmen class.
"We've never had this many All-Americans in one season and for us to have three individuals out of the freshman class is a huge feather in our cap and bodes well for the future of this team," head coach Jeff Graba said. "This group of freshmen were simply amazing. They stepped in and competed at a high level from the very start. This is such a huge part of our success this year and shouldn't be understated. This freshman class helped transform this team into the contender it was as much as the leadership of the upperclassmen."
Freshman Sunisa Lee led the way with eight All-America recognitions. She picked up four regular season honors and four at the NCAA Championships, including two first team finishes in the all-around and beam. She secured first team honors on bars at the end of the regular season and first team on floor at NCAAs.
Senior Derrian Gobourne was first team on floor both in the regular season and at NCAAs. She also secured first team recognition on bars at the national meet. Freshman Sophia Groth earned a pair of All-America honors on beam, while fifth year Drew Watson and freshman Sara Hubbard earned first team on vault at nationals.
In addition, Lee and Gobourne were awarded by the Southeastern Conference at the end of the season as Lee was named Freshman of the Year and Gobourne earned her second-straight Specialist of the Year honor.
Lee, Gobourne, Groth and junior Aria Brusch all were placed on the All-SEC team.
To add to her long list of accolades, Lee was named the WCGA Regional Gymnast of the Year and was a Honda Award finalist.
Lee was named SEC Gymnast of the Week three times and SEC Freshman of the Week twice. Groth earned four weekly awards, while Gobourne secured SEC Specialist of the Week once.
