ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 14 Auburn gymnastics team used strong performances on floor and beam to finish with a 196.9 at No. 20 Georgia Friday night. The Bulldogs took the meet with a 197.55 in front of their home crowd in Stegeman Coliseum.
"We had some bright spots tonight with big performances in each rotation," head coach Jeff Graba. "Being on the road in the SEC is never easy and I thought the team did well in a tough environment."
Auburn scored a 49.35 on floor and a 49.325 on beam with a handful of solid scores from upperclassmen in the final rotations.
Senior Olivia Hollingsworth anchored floor in rotation three with a 9.925, earning her fifth-straight 9.9+ and seventh overall. Junior Sophia Groth added a 9.875 for the squad, while fifth years Aria Brusch and Cassie Stevens as well as sophomore Hannah Hagle had 9.85s.
Groth and senior Gabby McLaughlin earned a share of the beam title with 9.925s. That score tied a season-best for Groth. Hollingsworth earned a 9.85 and freshman Paige Zancan led off with a 9.825. Brusch chipped in a 9.8 for the team.
The Tigers led off the meet with a 49.175 on bars, seeing redshirt freshman Olivia Greaves anchor with a 9.9 to tie her career high. Brusch, freshman Emma Grace Boyd and Hollingsworth opened up the rotation with three-straight 9.825s and Groth earned a 9.8. Boyd's 9.825 was a career high.
Vault put together a 49.05 with Zancan anchoring with a 9.9 on the first vault of her career. Stevens chipped in a 9.875 and freshman Julianne Huff had a 9.775. Senior Sydney Schumaker led off with a 9.75 with Hollingsworth adding a 9.75.
Auburn stays on the road, going to 2024 Podium Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers will face No. 3 LSU along with Texas Women's and George Washington on March 8th at 6 p.m. CT. The podium meet will be held in the Raising Cane's River Center.
