Freshman Suni Lee and senior Derrian Gobourne were both honored by the SEC Wednesday, as each garnered awards voted on by league head coaches.
Lee was named Freshman of the Year and Gobourne was named Co-Specialist of the Year.
The awards did not stop there for Lee as she was also placed on the All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman teams.
Gobourne, junior Aria Brusch and freshman Sophia Groth also earned All-SEC honors.
This is the first time in Auburn program history that two gymnasts were honored with one of three SEC postseason awards in the same season. Since 2012, Auburn has had at least one All-SEC performer each year.
"Having two major conference awards at the end of the year is such a phenomenal accomplishment for Auburn gymnastics," said head coach Jeff Graba. "I'm so proud of this team and of Suni and Derrian. This just shows how far this program has come and gives us a glimpse of the bright future it has as well."
Lee is Auburn’s first SEC champion since 1994, nine years before the Minnesotan was even born.
The freshman won the conference bars title with a perfect 10.0 last Saturday, earning her spot on the All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman teams. In total, Lee has won seven all-around titles, as well as 10 bars titles, six beam titles, three floor titles and one vault title.
"For Suni to get this award after only 12 weeks on campus is simply amazing," Graba said. "She has had an enormous impact on our program in this short amount of time and obviously the rest of the conference noticed this as well. I'm very proud of Suni and am excited for what the future holds for her and this team."
Lee became the first Auburn gymnast to record a 10.0 since 2004, and already has four on the season, with two on bars and two on beams.
She ranks first in the SEC and second nationally in the all-around category at 39.750. Lee is also first nationally on bars at 9.970 and beam at 9.980. She currently ranks in the top 10 on floor nationally with a 9.950.
Six of Lee’s all-around scores rank top 10 in program history as well as holding the all-around record for Auburn with a 39.825.
To add to her growing list of accolades, Lee has been named SEC Gymnast of the Week three times and SEC Freshman of the Week twice.
Lee’s senior running mate in Gobourne also keeps her awards list growing, with her recent recognition of SEC Co-Specialist of the Year. This is the second straight season Gobourne has received this honor.
"This award for Derrian is absolutely well deserved," Graba said. "I'm so proud of Derrian and this award is just confirmation for what she has been bringing to our program for years in the toughest conference in the country."
Gobourne earned All-SEC recognition after a pair of runner-up placements at the conference championship. Gobourne finished with a tie for second on bars at 9.95 and floor at 9.95.
The senior Florida native has competed on vault, bars and floor in every meet for Auburn this season. She has earned nine scores of 9.9 or better, ranking third in the SEC and seventh nationally with a 9.955 NQS.
Gobourne also earned the first 10.0 of her career against Florida, helping the Tigers tie the SEC champions at a score of 198.575.
It has been a tremendous year for Gobourne, as she has won six floor titles and three bars titles on the season. She also has six scores of 9.9 or better on bars, including a career-high of 9.975.
Gobourne also tied her career best on vault this year against LSU with a 9.95.
Brusch and Goth are not to be forgotten, earning their first All-SEC recognitions of their careers.
Brusch earned her first All-SEC recognition after finishing tied for second on bars at the SEC Championship with a career-best 9.95.
Groth earned her first All-SEC honor, after being the four-time SEC Freshman of the Week, tying her career high on beam with a 9.95 at the SEC Championship and finishing that meet tied for second overall.
The Tigers will host the 2022 NCAA Regional in Neville Arena. Auburn’s first competition will be in the afternoon session on March 31.
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