SAN ANTONIO – The No. 7 Auburn gymnastics team traveled to San Antonio for the Lone Star Collegiate Invitation Saturday, winning the five-team meet with a 196.775 in Freeman Coliseum.
“I thought this was a tremendous improvement from our season opener,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “We had a good start to the season, but really left a lot out there. This meet was really fun to see the aggressive mentality of this team take hold. I love the fierce competitiveness that we saw today.”
The Tigers (6-1) bested Penn State (196.100), Maryland (195.400), Arizona State (194.750) and Temple (192.350) and captured at least a share of every event title on the day.
“It was nice to see the consistency of winning every event,” Graba said. “Not only are we doing a really good job, but we are also continuing to improve. There is still a lot of room for growth, but I’m really happy with our progress at this point.”
Freshman Katelyn Jong came away with four wins, including a 39.500 to take the first all-around crown of her career. She was the lone winner of bars (9.9), while also finishing in a tie on vault (9.875) and beam (9.9).
“I’m so happy for Keko winning the all-around,” Graba said. “She is a hard worker, very disciplined and she holds herself to the highest standards. It is starting to pay off and the sky is the limit for her.”
Fifth year Olivia Hollingsworth also competed in the all-around, finishing second with a 39.250.
The Tigers kicked off the day on bars, putting together a 49.100. Jong led the way with a 9.9 to tie a career best, while redshirt freshman Bryn Bartman and senior Sophia Groth each earned a 9.825. That score was a career high for Bartman. Sophomore Olivia Greaves finished with a 9.8 with Hollingsworth and sophomore Emma Grace Boyd each having a 9.75.
Beam followed in rotation two with another 49.100 for the squad. Jong once again led the team with a 9.9, setting a career high. Fifth year Gabby McLaughlin anchored with a 9.825 with freshman Marissa Neal and Hollingsworth having a pair of 9.8s. Freshman Olivia Ahern led off the event with a 9.775.
The Tigers stepped it up in the final two rotations, earning a 49.325 on floor and a 49.250 on vault.
“I’m really glad that vault and floor took a big step forward today,” Graba said. “That’s how we’ve been training so it was sort of a relief to start to look like ourselves on those first two events.”
Freshman Sophia Bell kicked off the third rotation on floor with an amazing routine, winning the event with a career-best 9.925. McLaughlin anchored with a 9.875 with Hollingsworth and Groth chipping in a 9.85 each. Jong added to the team score with a 9.825.
The final event had the squad on vault. Sophomore Julianne Huff led things off with a 9.8 and was followed by a pair of 9.85s from Hollingsworth and sophomore Paige Zancan. Jong and senior Sara Hubbard finished the event with a 9.875 each, sharing the event title.
The Tigers kick off their home schedule with the First Meet on the Plains on Friday, January 17. Auburn will host Arkansas at 6 p.m. CT and the meet will be televised on SEC Network.