AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 7 Auburn gymnastics team returns to Neville Arena for another big Southeastern Conference meet, hosting rival and No. 14 Georgia on Friday. First vault is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the contest will be televised on SEC Network.
"Georgia is definitely a good team that we need to take seriously," head coach Jeff Graba said. "They'll come in here ready to go and we're fully prepared that we'll get their best shot. This will be a big meet for us as we get closer to postseason."
The Tigers are facing a short week of practice as the squad competed on the road Sunday at Missouri in a meet where the squad rested a handful of gymnasts.
"We mapped out the year to make sure we rested those that will need it and now with a short week, I like where we are," Graba said. "I think we're in a good spot with our depth and this short turnaround should be ok for us."
The team is looking forward to being back home in front of the home crowd this Friday.
"We love being at home," sophomore Sophia Groth said. "There really isn't anything like Neville Arena."
FAN INFORMATION
Friday's meet is SOLD OUT.
You can also purchase from our partner, StubHub, by going HERE. StubHub is the official secondary ticket partner of Auburn Athletics.
PARKING
The Neville Arena Lot is reserved for those with a parking pass beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT until the end of the pre-meet activities. Fans are encouraged to park in the Campus Safety Lot for quick entry to the 100-200 levels as well as the Wire Road lot.
Additional free parking is also available in the Coliseum Lot, Stadium Parking Deck, Athletics Complex Deck (top level), Campus Safety Lot and the Facilities lot located off Samford Ave. Post-meet egress will begin at the start of the fourth rotation.
Accessible parking is available in the Neville Arena lot and in the Wire Road lot on a first come, first serve basis. A state-issued hang tag or license plate is required and strictly enforced. Please display in a visible location. A golf cart shuttle will be available for those parking in the Wire Road ADA lot.
In addition to the Auburn gymnastics meet against Georgia, Auburn Athletics will also be hosting the Plainsman Softball Invitational as well as a baseball series with Southern California. Fans are encouraged to park in the Facilities lot for quick access to Neville Arena. Tiger Transit shuttles will run from the Facilities lot located off of Samford Ave. and the Stadium Deck located on Heisman Drive to the Scholarship Entrance at Neville Arena. All shuttles are free of charge and will begin two hours prior (4:30 p.m. CT) to start of the meet. Shuttles will run for one hour after the meet.
MARKETING
A few reminders for fans during the meet…
- Friday is Auburn's Navy meet so fans are encouraged to wear navy.
- Concessions and team shop are cashless.
- 500 shakers will be available at both the main and scholarship entrances for fans.
- Alabama Power Kid Zone will be open with games and crafts.
- Please arrive to the meet early and give yourself as much time as possible to enter Neville Arena. We advise being in your seats 15 minutes prior to competition to not miss out on any of the pre-game experience.
- Visit your Apple or Google app store and search "Auburn Tigers" to download the free Auburn App, which will allow you to take place in our War Eagle Lights pregame light show during the intro video all season long.
- Autograph cards and posters will be available at both the main scholarship entrances for fans to pick up.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
The 2023 Auburn gymnastics squad brings a wealth of experience to the table this season. The tentative lineup features one fifth year, five seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.
The Tigers will go vault, bars, beam and floor on Friday as the home squad.
The team's top eight will remain the same for vault to start the meet. Fifth year Derrian Gobourne, senior Cassie Stevens and sophomore Sunisa Lee lead the event for the Tigers, all ranking among the top 15 nationally.
Joining the trio in the vault potential lineup is senior Adeline Sabados, junior Olivia Hollingsworth, sophomores Sophia Groth and Sara Hubbard and freshman Hannah Hagle. Hollingsworth, Groth and Hubbard have all been in the lineup this season, while Hubbard kicked off the year with a career-best 9.9.
Hollingsworth recently upgraded to a Yurchenko 1.5 and has scored a 9.85 or better in the last three meets.
Auburn moves on to bars for the second rotation. Lee scored back-to-back perfect 10.0s and followed with a 9.95 on the road last weekend. She leads the country in the event.
Joining her in the top eight will be Gobourne, Brusch, Sabados, Stevens, Hollingsworth, junior Gabby McLaughlin and Groth.
Brusch looks to make her move into the line up for the first time this season, while Gobourne and Stevens are among the team's most consistent performers in the event.
Groth put together a big score against LSU two weeks ago, tying her career high with a 9.925.
Rotation three will send the squad to beam.
Lee leads the team with a 9.915 NQS and two 10.0s so far this year.
Stevens captured the beam title on the road at Missouri last week, while Groth and Brusch earned a pair of 9.875s.
McLaughlin and Hollingsworth also look to hold their spot in the lineup, while Hagle and senior Morgan Leigh Oldham are both in the top eight.
Auburn heads to floor for the for the final rotation.
Gobourne headlines the floor lineup after finishing second nationally and earning two All-America honors in the event last year. She ranks tied for fifth nationally with a 9.940 NQS and has scored a 9.95 or better four times already this season, including a pair of 9.975s.
Joining Gobourne in the top eight is Brusch, Lee, Stevens, Hollingsworth and Groth. Lee also has two 9.975s on the season, while Groth has earned three-straight 9.9s.
Hollingsworth has two 9.9s this season, while Stevens has earned a 9.925.
Also battling for a spot in the lineup this week will be Hubbard and McLaughlin.
UP NEXT
Auburn hits the road one last time during the regular season, traveling to nationally-ranked Kentucky. The Tigers and the Wildcats will face off at 6 p.m. CT and it will be streamed on SEC Network+.