All-American Cassie Stevens 'always rises to the occasion' for Auburn gymnastics

AUBURN, Ala. – Cassie Stevens did not hesitate when Auburn gymnastics coach Jeff Graba asked Stevens to name her goal for her senior season.

“I came up with something on the spot,” Stevens recalled. “An All-American, that sounds good. The more it started resonating with me, the more you work toward it.”

Stevens’ spoke, trained and competed it into existence, joining teammates Derrian Gobourne and Sunisa Lee as Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-Americans.

“That was the most meaningful accolade I’ve gotten in the past few weeks,” she said. “Because All-American has the history and the heart behind it, it means a lot more.”

Stevens has accumulated accolades quickly this spring. All-America, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, SEC vault champion, only the third conference title winner in Auburn gymnastics history.

The steady string of honors comes as no surprise to Graba.

“This year it was refreshing to see that she gets a little bit of the spotlight,” he said. “This is who she’s always been. She always rises to the occasion for us. It’s been fun to see that she actually gets recognized for that.” 

Stevens saved her best for last, finishing third in the all-around at the SEC Championship with a season-high 39.65, scoring 9.9 or better in all four events, exemplifying the consistent production she delivered all season for the Tigers.

“I take a lot of pride in that,” she said. “I love that role of being someone toward the end of the lineup who you can always count on, and who sets up the Derrians and Gabbys at the end to get those even bigger scores.”

Competing in the first event of the afternoon session at the SEC Championship, Stevens scored a 9.95 on vault, sticking the landing on the Yurchenko 1.5 she has worked tirelessly to perfect throughout her Auburn career, a process that was not without struggles.

“If you would have told me my freshman year that I would be the SEC vault champion, I probably would have laughed in your face,” said Stevens, whose upgrade to the one-and-a-half last season helped Auburn reach the Final Four. “Trusting my training. I have a lot of confidence going into the latter part of this season from all that I’ve been through all four years. Knowing that I’ve put in the work, I’m prepared and I’m capable.”

While soaring in the gym, Stevens shines in the classroom, earning a 4.0 GPA in information systems management in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.

“Everything I do, I do 100 percent,” she said. “That includes both athletics and academics.”

As a senior, Stevens has become a more vocal leader.

“I’ve enjoyed the growth from who I was as a gymnast and a person to now, as both an athlete and a leader,” she said. “I never pictured myself as a leader my freshman year, I was more keep my head down and work. Growing into that leadership role and embracing it has been really rewarding. That’s something I’ll take with me into my next journey as well.”

About that.

With the option to return in 2024 for a fifth season or begin her business career after graduation, Stevens will decide after the season. For now, she’s focused fully on helping Auburn advance in this week’s NCAA Regional in Los Angeles.

“Recently I’ve switched directions,” said Stevens about her career plans. “I think I want to pursue something in the athletic world. I like thinking analytically and business analytics but I don’t think I could sit at a desk all day every day. Athletics has played such an important role in my life and all the people who have helped me get to where I am today. I want to be able to be that for someone else.” 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer