GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 12 Auburn gymnastics team worked through a tough environment Friday night in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, scoring a season-best road score 196.825 in a loss to No. 3 Florida. The Gators won the meet with a 197.625.
“I am very proud of this young team for fighting all the way through despite being down a couple of athletes and dealing with some sickness,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “Getting a season-high road score at this point and in this environment is an accomplishment.”
The Tigers (9-3, 2-2 SEC) saw big moments on vault and beam as the team finished with a season-best 49.3 on vault and ended the meet with a 49.425.
“It was good to see vault start to settle down and be predictable,” Graba said. “Bars was an uncharacteristic performance, but it was great to see vault bounce back for us.”
The squad capped the night on beam and were led by a pair of upperclassmen in Sophia Groth and Gabby McLaughlin. Groth, in the fourth spot, put together her best routine this season as she tied a career high with a 9.95. McLaughlin set a season best in the event in the anchor spot, going 9.925.
“It was really nice to see Sophia and Gabby settle in and perform at such a high level in this tough venue,” Graba said. “They are really showing our young people how to perform under pressure.”
Leading off beam was freshman Olivia Ahern and the Memphis product earned a career-high 9.85. Sophomore Olivia Greaves followed with a 9.825 and classmate Paige Zancan added a 9.875 for the squad.
The second rotation had the team on vault, going 49.3 for a season high. Senior Sarah Zois led the way with a career-high 9.9 in the anchor spot to win a share of the event title. Freshman Katelyn Jong tied a career score with a 9.875, while Zancan and sophomore Julianne Huff added a pair of 9.85s. Senior Sara Hubbard rounded out team scoring with a 9.825.
Auburn kicked off the meet on bars, going 48.925. Groth and sophomore Alex Irvine put together a pair of 9.9s to lead the way and Jong anchored with a 9.875. Sophomore Emma Grace Boyd led off with a 9.8, while the team had to count Bryn Bartman’s 9.45.
The third rotation had the team on floor, scoring a 49.175. Greaves and Groth highlighted the event with a pair of 9.875s, while freshman Sophia Bell chipped in a 9.85. Jong earned a 9.825 and Zancan led off with a 9.75.
Jong was back in the all-around for the team, going 39.350.
Auburn takes to the road once again in the Southeastern Conference, traveling to rival Alabama for Friday Night Heights. The Tigers and the Tide will face off at 7:30 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum and the meet will be televised on SEC Network.