AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 11 Auburn gymnastics team kicks off its home schedule Friday, January 12 as the Tigers host No. 9 Kentucky in Neville Arena. The meet is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
"We have a really big match up this Friday against a really good Kentucky team," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We're just really excited to get in Neville Arena. This is what they all sign up for. I hope the fans show up, bring excitement, and give us an edge. And that they get to know the team because this is going to be a fun team to follow."
Auburn is looking forward to exploring its depth in the lineup this week. With 10 new faces, the Tigers have a great opportunity to move people around and give opportunities to others to make a lineup.
"It's important to have depth and we don't get a lot of opportunities to explore that depth throughout the year," Graba said. "I'm really trying to be cognizant to not deviate from learning my team in January. We added a lot of people to our team on purpose and are carrying a bigger roster just so that we don't run down that road of running out of people at the most critical moment. That just means that in January, you have to test them."
FAN INFORMATION
With the threat of weather on Friday afternoon, fans are encouraged to arrive at Neville Arena after 6 p.m. CT. Doors will open at that time. For up-to-date information on our meet in regard to the weather, please follow our Auburn gymnastics social accounts.
PARKING
The Neville Arena Lot is reserved for those with a parking pass.
Free and recommended parking is available in the Campus Safety Lot located off of War Eagle Way. This lot provides easy access to the main entrance of Neville Arena. Additional free parking is also available in the Stadium Parking Deck, Athletics Complex Parking Deck and the Coliseum Lot.
ADA parking is available in the Wire Road lot and a golf cart shuttle will begin running 90 minutes prior to each meet. The shuttle will run for one-hour post-meet.
FAN EXPERIENCE
A few reminders for fans during the meet…
- It's Disney Night in Neville Arena! There will be Auburn Disney Ears available while supplies last and princesses Tiana and Cinderella as well as Spider-Man will be in the Alabama Power Kid Zone.
- Concessions and team shops are cashless.
- The first series of five autograph cards as well as posters will be available at both the main and scholarship entrances for fans to pick up. This week's autograph card will feature junior Caroline Leonard, sophomore Madelynn Crow and freshmen Julianne Huff and Paige Zancan.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
Auburn returns to Neville Arena Friday and hopes to give a handful of newcomers a chance to compete under the bright lights.
The Tigers will kick off the meet on vault, hoping to see a handful of 10.0 vaults from the top eight.
Leading the way is fifth year Cassie Stevens, who has a pair of 9.975s under her belt and was SEC Co-Champion in the event last year.
Joining her in the top eight are seniors Olivia Hollingsworth and Sydney Schumaker. Both earned 9.8s last week in the season opener on their 10.0 vaults.
Junior Sara Hubbard led the Tigers at the Super 16, scoring a team-best 9.875 on her Yurchenko 1.5. Juniors Sophia Groth and Caroline Leonard along with freshmen Julianne Huff and Jersie Woolsey are also among the team's top eight.
Huff earned a 9.8 last week in the first meet of her career.
Rotation two will see the Tigers on bars. Stevens will be expected to lead the charge once again for the top eight following a career-tying 9.925 last week in the event.
Hollingsworth and Groth each earned a 9.9 in the season opener, which was a career high for Hollingsworth.
Joining the trio in the top eight will be fifth year Aria Brusch, senior Gabby McLaughlin, sophomore Hannah Hagle and freshmen Bryn Bartman and Emma Grace Boyd.
Brusch and McLaughlin each added a 9.8 last week for the Tigers.
Auburn moves on to beam for the third rotation and the team's top eight is once again heavy in experience.
Stevens, Brusch, Hollingsworth, McLaughlin and Groth have all been consistent contributors for the team throughout their careers.
Joining them in the top eight will be Hagle, Huff and redshirt freshman Hailey John.
The squad will cap the night on floor. Stevens and Hollingsworth each have a 9.9 under their belts this season, while Huff earned a 9.85 in her first experience last week.
Brusch, McLaughlin, Groth, Hubbard and Hagle are all among the top eight for the Tigers on floor and are looking to contribute this Friday.
UP NEXT
Auburn will welcome nationally-ranked Florida to Neville Arena on January 19. The two teams will face off at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network.