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Auburn Gymnastics Faces Tough Test at No.8 Georgia on Sunday
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Auburn gymnastics travels to athens, Georgia, this Sunday to face off against the No. 8 ranked Bulldogs in a key Southeastern Conference matchup. The No. 11 Tigers are looking to build momentum as they navigate a season defined by youth and potential, with the meet scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and broadcast on SEC Network from Stegeman Coliseum.
Building Confidence in a Young Squad
The Auburn team is comprised largely of underclassmen, a fact not lost on head coach Jeff Graba. “We’re a young team that is starting to believe in themselves and build a lot of confidence,” Graba stated. However, he also acknowledged areas for betterment, noting, “We’ve had a lot of little things that are taking tenths away from us right now that is just part of being a young team. We’ve got to get sharper and we’ve got to start fast.” The team has benefited from extra practice time leading up to this contest. “It’s always nice to have a couple extra days of practice,” Graba added, emphasizing the need to embrace the challenge posed by a strong Georgia team.
Lineup Breakdown and Key performers
Auburn will begin the meet on bars, followed by vault, floor, and beam. Several gymnasts are poised to lead the way. Junior Olivia Greaves and sophomore marissa Neal are consistently among the top eight in all four events and are potential all-around competitors. junior Alex Irvine and freshman Charlotte Booth are also expected to contribute across multiple events.
On bars, the Tigers will feature a lineup of one senior, four juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman. Irvine, who recently secured a bars title at Arkansas with a season-best 9.9, is considered an anchor for the team. Greaves also boasts remarkable scores, having achieved 9.95s and 9.975s as a sophomore. Senior Hannah Hagle, sophomores Hill Bartman and Katelyn Young, and freshman Booth will also compete in the event, alongside Jong, who recently returned to the lineup after recovering from an Achilles injury and posted a team-best 9.85.
Vault will see juniors Paige Zancan,Julianne HuffGreaves,and Jersey Woolsey,alongside sophomores Sophia Bell and Neal,and freshmen Mia Leverton and Brynn Torry. Zancan currently ranks in the top 10 nationally with a 9.9 average,and has already recorded a 9.975 this season. Bell’s Yurchenko double has also been a standout, earning her scores of 9.925 and 9.9.
The floor rotation will feature Bell, Greaves, Olivia ahernbartman, Neal, Irvine, Booth, and junior Emma Wehry. Bell has already secured two event titles this season, while Greaves achieved a career-high 9.95 in the season opener. Neal also posted a career-best 9.9 against Florida.
Beam will showcase the experience of Neal, ahern, Greaves, and Hagle, with support from Booth, Irvine, Wehry, and junior Sophia Greaves. Irvine earned a spot in the lineup at Arkansas, achieving a career-best 9.9.
Looking Ahead
following Sunday
