Auburn capped off its regular season with a 197.600-197.025 Senior Night win over Penn State on Friday night.
The Tigers managed to pull off this win even without star Suni Lee. The sophomore sat out the meet due to a non-gymnastics related injury.
“We, probably a week ago, just decided to quit talking time tables, we’re talking day-to-day," said head coach Jeff Graba. "Putting a lot of trust in our medical staff. I feel like if we just stay focused getting a couple of days under our belt and taking a breath of fresh air, that’s the best way to approach it.”
Tonight, the seniors Adeline Sabados, Aria Brusch, Cassie Stevens and Derrian Gobourne all competed. Other seniors were given exhibition in events so they would be able to perform one last time in Neville Arena.
“I was just sad because I didn’t want it to be the last time and like it just means so much to me. Having to leave them was really really sad,” Gobourne said.
Stevens was the only senior to compete in the all-around. Gobourne competed in vault, bars and floor. Brusch competed in three of the four events as well: bars, beam and floor. Sabados only competed in vault.
Auburn started on vault. Stevens and Gobourne posted the highest scores, tying with a 9.900.
“We’ve just been focusing on the little things in the gym and just trying to let things be, not competing scared or trying too hard,” Stevens said.
After the first rotation, Auburn was behind by .050.
In the bar rotation, Auburn saw two straight scores of 9.900 from Sophia Groth and Brush. Stevens and Gobourne followed that, both landing a 9.925.
This score from Stevens ties her career high. Brush landed a season high with the 9.900.
Gabby McLaughlin also landed a career high with a 9.800. Her high before this was a 9.550 in 2021.
“We were just having so much fun out there, and that’s when we do our best gymnastics, when we are letting loose and having fun,” Stevens said.
Auburn was able to make a comeback, taking the lead by .400.
On beam, the Tigers had a few bobbles.
Brush landed another career high on beam with her second 9.900 of the night. McLaughlin capped off the beam performance by landing a 9.950.
Heading into the final rotation, floor, Auburn pulled ahead by .475.
Stevens and Gobourne tied for the win on both the vault and bars.
On floor, Brush tied her career high, landing her third 9.900 of the night. McLaughlin also landed a career high with a 9.875. Adding to the highs was Olivia Hollingsworth who landed a 9.950.
“I think we did [make a statement]. Just knowing with these people that’s what we’re capable of and even more so honestly and I think we just came together as a team tonight,” Stevens said.
Hollingsworth won the floor competition and Stevens won the all-around.
“I think this shows that we can compete with anyone in the nation when we’re on,” Graba said.
The Tigers will be at the SEC Championships next on March 18 in Duluth, Georgia. It will be broadcasted on SEC Network.
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Lily has been with The Plainsman for three years and started out as a Sports Writer before becoming the Operations Editor. She graduates in May of 2024 and is from Washington, D.C.
