AUBURN, Ala - With the 2026 gymnastics season approaching, it is time to meet all the new faces joining the squad this year. Kicking things off is transfer Kaylee Bluffstone!
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Previous School: Florida
Year: Junior
Major: Kinesiology
At Florida: Spent two years at Florida, seeing action as a freshman in 2024 … Competed on floor three times her first year … Reached a career-high 9.875 on two occasions on floor – at Missouri and vs. LSU … Scored a 9.85 in a tri-meet.
Prior to college: Trained at LaFleur’s Tampa prior to college … Finished third on vault and fourth on floor at the 2023 U.S. Development Program National Championships … Picked up fourth on vault and floor at the 2022 national meet.
Q: What was your first visit to Auburn like? What about Auburn made you want to come here?
A: When I was younger, I visited Auburn for camps, but my first real visit to campus was this past year for my official visit. I wanted to come here because the second I stepped on campus, it felt so homey. The team and the coaches were immediately so welcoming and inviting.
Q: Who is your biggest role model, and why?
A: My biggest role model is Trinity Thomas. Not just because she is the best college gymnast, but because of how amazing of a human she is. She is an amazing Christian who I look up to because of how strong she is in her faith. Trinity is the most humble and amazing friend, and just an overall awesome human.
Q: What Auburn traditions are your favorite, and why?
A: Obviously, the Swag Surf tradition is the best. It sends chills every time I experience it, and I can’t wait to do it as an Auburn Tiger in Neville.
Q: What or who keeps you motivated on the hard days?
A: Who keeps me motivated on the hard days is an easy answer. God. He wouldn’t put me where I am unless it was because he has faith in me to keep going, or he knows I can overcome those battles. Also, little me. I’ve been doing this my whole life. I must make little me proud in every way I can!
Q: What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?
A: My favorite home cooked meal is a fat, juicy steak with garlic red potatoes.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of gymnastics?
A: Outside of gymnastics, I love shopping, going to the beach or pool, cooking/baking, and hanging out with my friends and family.
Q: What is your major? Why did you choose it?
A: My major is Kinesiology because I am on the path to nursing. I want to be a pediatric nurse in the future. I've always wanted to work with children, and I also think the medical field is so intriguing.
Q: Do you have any gymnastics superstitions, and why?
A: I do not have any superstitions. I just like to have a steady meet day routine.
Q: If you could eliminate one event, which would you choose and why?
A: Bars. I am absolutely terrified of Bars.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season? What are some of your goals?
A: I am most looking forward to competing with my best friends and winning some championships. Some of my goals for this season are to compete in all three events I train (beam, floor, and bars).
Q: What advice would you give younger students as they work hard to be collegiate gymnasts?
A: I would say to just remember to take every day one day at a time, as well as practice one day at a time. Not all days are going to be perfect. I would say to remember to take the days and practices you didn’t like as learning opportunities to get better.
Q: What is your biggest gymnastics pet peeve? Why?
A: My biggest gymnastics pet peeve is when a leotard is too big on me, and I have extra fabric in my back.
Q: What was your dream job as a kid?
A: My dream job as a kid was to be a teacher or college gymnastics coach.
Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
A: My superpower would be teleportation so that I could get places faster.