All-American gymnast Sophia Groth: 'I want to leave a legacy at Auburn'

AUBURN, Ala. – Sophia Groth’s arrival at Auburn in the summer of 2021 coincided with a new era in college athletics.

That summer, the NCAA reversed course, allowing student-athletes for the first time to profit from their name, image and likeness.

“It was new to everyone,” Groth said. “I was navigating it as I went.”

Groth excelled instantly, earning All-SEC and All-America honors while helping Auburn gymnastics reach the Final Four for the time in program history.

“As I got more messages and more attention throughout the season, I thought I want to do this the right way,” said Groth, seeking to maximize her NIL opportunities beyond merely a payday. “I wanted to be so much more than that. Gymnastics is a passion. It’s not just a business.

“I wanted to work with local people I trusted and formed relationships and connections with and created a community rather than just a business deal.”

During practice, Auburn gymnastics coach Jeff Graba occasionally questions gymnasts in front of their peers, a team-building exercise that allows student-athletes to connect on a deeper level.  

“’Why are you here?’” Groth recalls Graba asking one day. “Immediately my response was I want to leave a legacy at Auburn, and I want that to be more than just my accolades, more than just my name on the wall.

“I want to be remembered for how I treated people, how I loved people and how I left my mark at Auburn. That’s my mission: to create community and leave an impact bigger than just my gymnastics.” 

“That’s who she is,” Graba said. “That’s who she comes from. That’s who we recruit here. We recruit people who lead and care and want to invest, not just in ourselves but back into the community. Sophia is a huge asset to our program and a great leader in our program.”

Groth partnered with Baby Steps, an Auburn-based non-profit that provides housing, support and community to pregnant and parenting college students.

“Growing up with my story of adoption and how that was a miracle, it’s always been embedded in me to have a void of giving back to organizations,” Groth said.

“When I was approached with the opportunity to work with Baby Steps, it was a no-brainer for me. I really wanted to use my NIL to be part of something bigger than myself and work with mission-based organizations and people who were giving back to the community.

“Baby Steps is an amazing organization because it gives back to families and students who are going through difficult times. A lot of times their pregnancies are unplanned so it’s really hard for them to choose their family and their education. Having that support from Baby Steps makes it a miraculous organization.”

Part of Groth’s support for Baby Steps includes photo shoots with children whose mothers are college students.

“There were toddlers there, and one mom handed me her six-week-old baby and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the real deal,’” Groth said. “It’s so awesome to see the community supporting them. They’re in a very different stage of life than most college students, so having Baby Steps and that community aspect is really big. They’re able to choose their families and their educations.”

At a recent Baby Steps event, Groth heard from a speaker who years earlier had to drop out of college because of an unplanned pregnancy.

“It was a really sad story,” Groth said. “That would be the reality for a lot of these moms if Baby Steps weren’t there.”

With each stellar routine and each fundraising social media post, Sophia Groth leaves her mark on Auburn, in the arena and in the community. At the same time, Auburn leaves its mark on her.

“It’s given me an amazing platform and opportunity to be myself and share the resources I’ve been given,” Groth said. “All people see is us in pretty leotards doing gymnastics but there’s so much that leads up to that.

“Auburn, with its fans, alumni and resources, I could not have imagined a better experience. I’m so grateful for Auburn and all it’s done for me so I want to do as much as I can to give back.”

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