FORT WORTH, Texas – The No. 17 Auburn gymnastics team capped a full weekend away from the Plains at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth Sunday night, scoring a 196.075 and finishing third in the quad meet inside the Fort Worth Convention Center.
“We had a great start tonight and it was really good to see beam rise to the level its capable of,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “I do think replacing our anchor on vault and floor has affected their mentality a little bit. I’m hopeful that we can get that ironed out when we get back to practice this week. And we need to start looking at some probable lineup changes in the future.”
No. 13 North Carolina won the meet with a 196.375, while No. 21 NC State finished second with a 196.1. Boise State came in fourth at 194.825.
Sophomore Marissa Neal won the floor title with a 9.9 and finished second on beam and vault. Junior Julianne Huff came in second in the all-around with a 39.175.
“Marissa has been fantastic and is a true competitor,” Graba said. “I can’t say enough about her drive and determination and we’re hoping to get her back in the all-around soon.”
Auburn opened the meet on its best event, totaling a 49.525 on beam in the first rotation. That score set a season best for the squad.
Neal and junior Alex Irvine led the way as the pair put together two 9.925s for the team at the end of the lineup. That score set a career high for Irvine and a season best for Neal. Junior Emma Wehry set a career high with a 9.9 and senior Hannah Hagle tied her career best with another 9.9 for the Tigers. Huff and sophomore Olivia Ahern each added 9.875s, tying a career score for Huff and a season high for Ahern.
The Tigers moved on to floor in the second rotation and struggled to maintain momentum, scoring a 48.725. Neal had a team-best 9.9 and Huff added a 9.825. Sophomore Bryn Bartman led off the rotation with a 9.8, while the team had to count a 9.65 and a 9.55 from Greaves and Irvine, respectively.
Rotation three was vault for the team and the Tigers finished with a 49.075. Neal once again led things for Auburn and earned a 9.85 on her Yurchenko 1.5. Freshman Mia Leverton scored a 9.825, while three Tigers in Greaves, Huff and junior Paige Zancan added 9.8s.
Bars ended the night with a 48.750. Irvine anchored with a 9.875 and junior Emma Grace Boyd finished with a 9.8. Freshman Charlotte Booth scored a 9.75, while Huff and sophomore Katelyn Jong added a 9.675 and a 9.65.
Auburn returns to the Plains for a big rivalry match up vs. No. 3 Alabama. The Tigers and the Crimson Tide will face off at 7:45 p.m. CT on February 20 in Neville Arena. The meet will be televised on SEC Network.
No. 17 Auburn with a 196.075 at the Metroplex Challenge
The No. 17 Auburn gymnastics team capped a full weekend away from the Plains at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth Sunday night, scoring a 196.075 and finishing third in the quad meet inside the Fort Worth Convention Center.
