AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 7 Auburn gymnastics team kicks off its home schedule this Friday, hosting No. 25 Arkansas in Neville Arena. The 7:30 p.m. CT contest will be televised on SEC Network.
"It'll be a lot of fun to be home in Neville Arena," head coach Jeff Graba said. "It's the best environment in NCAA gymnastics. We are excited to kick off our home schedule against a really tough conference opponent and to have fun with the fans."
The Tigers hold a 22-19-1 overall series record vs. the Razorbacks, but the series is tied at 5-5 in meets held in Auburn.
"Arkansas is under ranked and is a really good team," Graba said. "I think we have our hands full this Friday because Arkansas is full of talent and experience with really good coaches. We have to be on our game, which is going to be good for us. We've already had a few heavy match-ups this season so just because we're at home, doesn't mean we can take a breath."
Auburn is coming off back-to-back meets against four of the current top five teams in the country. The squad opened the season against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 UCLA in Las Vegas, while traveling to No. 2 Florida last week.
"I've been pretty happy with our performances," Graba said. "We've been on the road the first two weeks and they were tough trips with little practice. I feel like we've tested ourselves well and we did well so I'm happy with where we are heading into our home schedule."
FAN INFORMATION
Tickets are sold out for Friday's meet vs. Arkansas. You can purchase still from our partner, StubHub, by going HERE. StubHub is the official secondary ticket partner of Auburn Athletics.
The Neville Arena Lot is reserved for those with a parking pass until the end of the first rotation. This is new for the 2023 season.
Fans are encouraged to park in the Campus Safety Lot for quick entry to the 100-200 levels. Additional free parking is also available in the Neville Arena lot, Coliseum lot, Stadium Parking Deck, and Athletics Complex Deck (top level). Please refer to the parking map for parking lot locations and post-meet traffic flow information located HERE.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
The 2023 Auburn gymnastics squad brings a wealth of experience to the table this season as the team lost just two routines from 2022. The tentative lineup features one fifth year, five seniors, two juniors and four sophomores.
Auburn will finally get to start things off on vault in the first rotation. The team leads the SEC and is third nationally with a 49.363 average so far this season.
Fifth year Derrian Gobourne, sophomore Sunisa Lee and senior Cassie Stevens lead the top eight as all three rank among the nation's best in the event. Gobourne has a 9.950 under her belt this season with a 9.925 average so far. Lee has scored back-to-back 9.9s, while Stevens has a 9.888 average through two meets.
Joining the trio in the vault potential lineup is senior Adeline Sabados, junior Olivia Hollingsworth and sophomores Ananda Brown, Sophia Groth and Sara Hubbard. Hollingsworth, Groth and Hubbard have all been in the lineup this season.
The Tigers move on to bars where they have a 49.325 average. Lee and Gobourne lead the way for the team with Stevens, Hollingsworth, Groth and Sabados also vying for a spot in the lineup. Lee and Gobourne have both scored above a 9.9 this season, while Stevens has back-to-back 9.85s.
Joining them all in the top eight is senior Anna Sumner and junior Gabby McLaughlin. McLaughlin earned a spot in the lineup in the season opener in Las Vegas, scoring a career-high 9.85.
The squad will move on to beam in rotation three after scoring a season-best 49.375 on the road at Florida last week.
The squad will be led by All-Americans Lee and Groth. Lee is the NCAA champion in the event, earning a 10.0 to start the season in Las Vegas (Jan. 7). She ranks third nationally with a 9.938 average.
Groth is a two-time All-American and All-SEC performer on beam. McLaughlin, Hollingsworth, Stevens and senior Aria Brusch all return from last year's lineup with big scoring potential, while Oldham and Hubbard have earned a spot in the top eight.
Auburn heads to floor for the for the final rotation and return all but one routine from the previous season. Gobourne headlines the floor lineup after finishing second nationally and earning two All-America honors in the event last year. She's currently coming off a 9.95 at Florida and is among the nation's best with a 9.925 average.
Joining Gobourne in the top eight are Brusch, Lee, Stevens, Hollingsworth and McLaughlin. Stevens picked up a season-best 9.9 at Florida last week, while McLaughlin set a career best with a 9.8.
Also battling for a spot in the lineup this week is senior Morgan Leigh Oldham, while Groth has moved up for the squad in the top eight.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues its homestand, hosting No. 24 NC State on Friday, January 27. The Tigers and the Wolfpack will face off at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ in Neville Arena.
No. 7 Auburn hosts No. 25 Arkansas Friday in home opener
