Competing in the annual Perfect 10 Challenge against No. 1 Oklahoma, the No. 16 Auburn gymnastics team competed on podium for the second time this season with a score of 195.725. Oklahoma came away with the win with a score of 198.075.
Freshman Gracie Day and sophomore Samantha Cerio opened the night on bars with a pair of 9.85s, senior Kelsey Kopec being the final highlight with a 9.775.
“We would have liked to start off a little bit better than we did, but I think the team did a really great job on the next three events by coming back and fighting hard,” said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba.
The Tigers would have three individual best scores in a season-best 49.150 on vault in the second rotation. Day and sophomore Taylor Krippner would each have a career-best 9.5, senior M.J. Rott joining them with an additional 9.5. Freshman Katie Becker tied a career-high score of 9.825 with sophomore Emma Engler opening with a 9.775.
Rotation three had Auburn on floor with a score of 49.100, Becker got things started with a 9.8. Senior Lucia Scaglione tied a career-best 9.85 with fellow senior Kullen Hlawek debuting on the night for a season-high score of 9.825. Freshman Emma Slappey would add on 9.8, followed up with Rott anchoring the event with a 9.825.
Auburn closed the night on beams with a score of 49.050. Slappey earned a 9.825 as Cerio tallied on a score of 9.8. Becker and Hlawek added on scores of 9.775 and 9.75, respectively, as Krippner anchored to tie a career-best score of 9.9.
“It was a good night if you’re looking at progress," Graba said. "Also, being on the podium is really great for this team. We are one of the youngest teams in the country with the toughest schedule and so we’re asking a lot of our team. We just need to continue to progress.”
This road swing continues for Auburn in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 17, where the Tigers face No. 6 Alabama. It will be live on the SEC Network at 7:30 p.m. CST.
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