No. 17 Auburn gymnastics starts its season in Las Vegas on Saturday, competing against No. 5 UCLA, No. 7 California and No. 8 Alabama in the 2024 Super 16 Challenge.
“We’re just really excited to get the season started,” said head coach Jeff Graba. “We still have a lot of adjustments to get through because we have 10 new people on the team. I know what this team is like in a practice and I’m looking forward to seeing what they are like in competition this weekend.”
The Tigers faced UCLA in the 2023 Super 16 last season where they outscored the Bruins along with in-state rival Alabama. It’s the team’s first meet against California in program history.
UCLA, who advanced all the way to the NCAA Semifinals last season and recorded the highest non-advancing score in NCAA semifinal history, will likely be led by three of its super seniors in Emma Andres, Margzetta Frazier and Chloe Lashbrooke – who all elected to return for a final season with the Bruins.
California also participated in the 2023 Super 16 where the Golden Bears won their quad and recorded the second-highest team score out of all 16 teams with a score of 197.475.
Auburn will be paired with the Crimson Tide in the meet, who finished second in the SEC last season while the Tigers finished fifth. Alabama’s lineup returns three All-Americans from last season in Luisa Blanco, Makarri Doggette and Lilly Hudson.
Auburn, however, will be without some familiar faces from last season.
It’s the Tigers first meet without stars Derrian Goburne and Suni Lee who both competed in their final season with Auburn gymnastics last year, and Auburn will see many new faces as well as some returners like Sophia Groth, Gabby McLaughlin and Cassie Stevens this season.
“We have 10 new people,” Graba said. “I don’t really know what this team is like outside of practice. I’m just excited to get January started and start to figure out our team in a competition venue.”
Among the newcomers for Auburn is five-star freshman Julianne Huff and freshman Paige Zancan.
Auburn begins competition on beam, and its lineup on beam features experience from returners Aria Brusch, Olivia Hollingsworth, Hannah Hagle, Stevens, Groth and McLaughlin.
Rounding out the beam lineup are freshmen Huff and Zancan who will compete in their first collegiate meet on Saturday.
“I’m excited to see everyone, and everyone has proven in the gym that we’re here to work,” Groth said. “Everyone has an equal opportunity to get into the lineup, break into those spots and contribute.”
Groth returns to Auburn this season as a junior, making 10 starts in all-around competition last season.
The meet starts at 8 p.m. CST on Saturday, January 6th and will be paired with Alabama. The 2024 Super 16 Challenge will be streamed live on YouTube.
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Grace Heim is a junior from Enterprise, Alabama, majoring in English Literature. She started with The Plainsman in January 2023.
