AUBURN, Ala. – Katelyn Jong returned triumphantly less than a year after an Achilles tear and No. 11 Auburn battled No. 1 Florida to the final rotation before falling 197.1-196.7 Friday at Neville Arena.
“It looks like we’ve started to figure out our potential and we’re struggling to realize it,” said Auburn coach Jeff Graba, whose team competed for the second time in six days following a Sunday road meet. “I was happy they tried to reach their potential tonight. We gave it a shot. A young team has to learn somehow, and I thought we did a pretty good job tonight.”
Paige Zancan continued her vault mastery, earning a 9.9 to lead the Tigers in the opening rotation. Mia Leverton added a 9.875 while Marissa Neal and Julianne Huff each scored 9.825s. Leadoff gymnast Olivia Greaves and anchor Sophia Bell scored matching 9.75s.
Florida raced out to an early lead with three 9.925s on bars and Riley McCusker’s 9.975, giving the top-ranked Gators an early 49.625-49.175 lead.
Auburn grabbed the lead in the second rotation, scoring 49.125 on bars while the Gators struggled with three consecutive vault landings while scoring 48.6.
Making her 2026 debut less than a year after an Achilles tear, Katelyn Jong tied for the team high with a 9.85, matching Greaves and Alex Irvine.
“It was so fun,” Jong said. “A lot of gratitude and I’m happy to be back out there. Everything I do is for the team. It felt fulfilling and the recovery wasn’t super easy. I’m here now and so excited to be back.”
Charlotte Booth scored a 9.8 and Bryn Bartman added a 9.775 to propel the Tigers to a 98.3-98.225 advantage at the meet’s midpoint.
Needing a big anchor score from Marissa Neal in the third rotation, the sophomore delivered, earning a 9.9 to give Auburn a team beam score of 49.1.
“I want to do everything I can for the team,” said Neal, the all-around winner with a 39.375. “It was good to go up there and hit like normal.”
Olivia Ahern led off with a 9.875 before Hannah Hagle followed with a 9.85. Alex Irvine contributed a 9.8 and Julianne Huff contributed a 9.675.
Fueled by Skye Blakely’s 9.925 on floor, the Gators scored 49.425 in the third rotation to take a .25 lead to the final rotation.
Neal and Huff powered Auburn’s floor scores with 9.9s in the middle of the lineup, keeping the pressure on the Gators.
“Floor was a party today. Everyone showed up and showed out,” said Neal, whose score marked a career high. “I love floor. The team supported me. It was amazing.”
Leading off, Bartman scored 9.85, a total Greaves matched in the fifth spot. Ahern and Bell each scored 9.8s to give Auburn a 49.3, its highest score of the meet, in the final rotation.
Florida equaled the challenge, managing the pressure of finishing on beam by stacking scores with three straight 9.9s or better, scoring 49.45 in the last event to secure the victory.
The Tigers compete again in 10 days, heading to Athens, Georgia, for a Sunday meet vs. Georgia on Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. CT before returning to Neville Arena for Country Night against Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 6.
“We were learning on the job tonight,” Graba said. “I’m really happy. I can’t teach fight, I can’t teach energy, I can’t teach desire, and they have that so the team is capable. We just have to settle down and perform at our average.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer
Jong returns, No. 11 Auburn scores 196.7 vs. No. 1 Florida
Katelyn Jong returned triumphantly less than a year after an Achilles tear and No. 11 Auburn battled No. 1 Florida to the final rotation before falling 197.1-196.7 Friday at Neville Arena.
