AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 14 Auburn gymnastics team will close out the 2025 regular season Friday, March 14, hosting No. 2 and defending national champion LSU in Neville Arena at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
"We've got to come out strong and come out of the locker room with a good mindset," head coach Jeff Graba said. "This conference creates champions, but it is not pleasant to go through. Friday is just another big test for our youthful team."
The Tigers will honor a big class of seniors following the meet. This group has been a part of the 2022 Final Four team, multiple NCAA regional meets and more. Auburn will honor the following - Sophia Groth, Anna Hill, Olivia Hollingsworth, Sara Hubbard, Caroline Leonard, Gabby McLaughlin, Sydney Schumaker and Sarah Zois.
"This class has been fantastic," Graba said. "I don't think we're where we're at without their leadership all season. This is a tough game to figure out quickly and our senior leadership has been there to help our youthful team to get up to speed.
"Looking back, this class has seen all aspects of this program," Graba added. "They were a part of the Final Four team and have been through some trying times. But, they have definitely left a mark and Friday will be a celebration."
Auburn is looking to sellout Neville Arena once again as the team is approaching its 20th-straight sellout.
"These seniors have never competed in front of a less than sellout crowd in Neville Arena," Graba said. "Celebrate this group. This group is going to leave a legacy on this program. That is something special about Auburn because these fans show up to celebrate."
FAN INFORMATION
It’s our Senior Night and Alumni Night celebration Friday. The Tigers will honor eight seniors and three managers as well as celebrate all alumni in attendance, including the 2015 team that reached the Super Six 10 years ago.
Auburn students will be given Tiger Tote as part of a giveaway and free Chick-fil-A while supplies last.
TICKET INFORMATION
Limited standing room only tickets are available for purchase and can be found HERE.
PARKING
A couple of notes on parking as you prepare for Friday’s meet.
- The arena lot is reserved and requires an arena parking pass for access.
- Free and recommended parking is available in the Campus Safety lot located off War Eagle Way. This lot provides easy access to the main entry of Neville Arena. Additional free parking is available in the Stadium Parking Deck, Athletics Complex Parking Deck and the Coliseum Lot.
- Two ADA golf carts will be available starting 90 minutes prior to first vault and one hour post meet. Carts will run from the ADA lot on Wire Road to the Scholarship Entry and North Entry of Neville Arena. An ADA transit will also be available.
- Doors to Neville Arena open 90 minutes prior to each meet. Please plan to arrive early for quick access to parking and entry.
AUBURN LINEUP
It's the final home meet for the Auburn Tigers in 2025 and the order will go as follows - vault, bars, beam, floor.
Auburn kicks things off on vault in the first rotation where the team ranks 10th nationally at 49.245.
Leading the way will be sophomores Julianne Huff and Paige Zancan and experienced Tigers Sydney Schumaker, Sara Hubbard and Sarah Zois.
Huff and Hubbard each stuck their Yurchenko 1.5 last week at Missouri, earning a 9.9 apiece. Schumaker, Zancan and Zois each have a 9.9 to their credit this year.
Also among the top eight is freshman Sophia Bell, sophomore Alex Irvine and senior Anna Hill. Bell has six starts this year in the event and earned a career-high 9.9 vs. Oklahoma two weeks ago.
The Tigers follow on bars in the second rotation where they rank 18th nationally with a 49.205 NQS.
Highlighting the top eight is Irvine and Olivia Greaves. Greaves had an outstanding meet vs. Missouri last week, anchoring the team with a career-high 9.95 to win a share of the event title.
Irvine has an NQS of 9.890 and has scored a 9.95 this season with four scores of 9.9 or better this year.
Joining the pair in the top eight will be redshirt freshman Bryn Bartman, sophomores Emma Grace Boyd and Julianne Huff, seniors Caroline Leonard and Sophia Groth and freshman Marissa Neal.
Groth has a handful of 9.9s to her credit this season and it will be Neal's second appearance in the top eight on bars this year.
The next event is beam in the third rotation where the Tigers have exceled all season. The team ranks sixth nationally with a 49.385 NQS, going 49.400 at Missouri last week.
Usual suspects like Groth, fifth year Gabby McLaughlin and Neal highlight the top eight. McLaughlin has 60 starts in the event, while Groth has 49.
McLaughlin and Neal have a team-best 9.975 in the event this year.
Freshman Olivia Ahern and Zancan have been consistent contributors for the team. Ahern earned a career-best 9.9 at Alabama, while Zancan has two scores of 9.925 on the year.
Greaves has six starts on beam this season and has a 9.875 to her name.
Zois and sophomore Sophia Greaves have each solidified spots in the top eight. This is the first appearance in the top eight for the younger Greaves.
Floor is next as the team continues to improve in the event, going 49.4 last week at Missouri.
Leading the charge are seniors Groth and McLaughlin. Groth has won four titles this season, including a pair of 9.95s against rivals Georgia and Alabama. McLaughlin is coming off a 9.9 against Mizzou.
Zancan and Greaves each have 9.9s to their credit, while Bell tied her career high last week, scoring a 9.925.
Hubbard, freshman Olivia Ahern and Zois are also among the top eight. Ahern made her first start on Sunday, earning a 9.85.
UP NEXT
Auburn awaits its fate in the postseason as four teams are vying for the final three spots at the 2025 SEC Championship. The conference meet is set for March 22 in Birmingham at the BJCC.