Impressive floor and beam routines were not enough for No. 14 Auburn gymnastics to overcome No. 20 Georgia on the road. The Tigers fell 197.550-196.900 on Friday night in Athens, Georgia.
“We had some bright spots tonight with big performances in each rotation,” said head coach Jeff Graba. “Being on the road in the SEC is never easy and I thought the team did well in a tough environment.”
The Tigers put up a strong performance on both floor and beam, scoring a 49.350 on floor and a 49.325.
Consistent performances from Auburn’s seniors led to solid scores in the meet’s final two rotations. Junior Sophia Groth and senior Gabby McLaughlin earned the highest scores on the beam of the night with a pair of 9.925s, picking up a season-best for Groth. Senior Olivia Hollingsworth picked up a 9.850 on the balance beam while fifth-year Aria Brusch earned a 9.800. Freshman Paige Zancan, who led off in the event, earned a 9.825.
Hollingsworth, anchoring the Tigers’ floor rotation, picked up a 9.925. It was the senior’s fifth-straight 9.900 or above and seventh overall for Hollingsworth. Groth followed with a 9.875 while Brusch, Cassie Stevens and Hannah Hagle rounded out the rotation with three 9.850s.
Auburn’s floor and beam performances, however, were not enough to defeat the Bulldogs.
The Tigers scored a season-low 49.050 on vault, an apparatus they have struggled with all season. Despite the team’s shaky performance on vault, Zancan picked up a 9.900 on her first-career vault. Stevens followed with a 9.875, and freshman Julianne Huff secured a 9.775. Senior Sydney Schumaker led off with a 9.750, with Hollingsworth adding another 9.750.
Auburn totaled a 49.175 on bars where redshirt freshman Olivia Greaves tied her career-high score of 9.900 in the event’s anchor position. Brusch, freshman Emma Grace Boyd, and Hollingsworth set the tone with three consecutive 9.825s, while Groth earned a 9.8. Boyd's performance marked a career high.
Georgia picked up a 49.300 on vault, a 49.400 on bars and beam and a 49.450 on floor, besting the Tigers in every event of the night.
Looking to bounce back on the road, Auburn heads to the 2024 Podium Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday, March 8. The Tigers will compete against No. 3 LSU, along with Texas Woman's and George Washington at 6 p.m. CST on podium.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Grace Heim is a junior from Enterprise, Alabama, majoring in English Literature. She started with The Plainsman in January 2023.
