The Auburn Tigers’ gymnastics team continued its slow start to the 2026 season, dropping its fourth straight meet against the unranked Kentucky Wildcats, 197.325-196.275, in Neville Arena on Friday night.
The Tigers have scored an overall total of 197 or higher just once this entire season.
Although all three of Auburn’s other losses this year have come against ranked opponents, this result could very easily be the toughest pill head coach Jeff Graba and the Tigers have had to swallow all year.
Despite the Tigers having a strong bounce-back performance on the floor exercise, Auburn experienced a season-low score of 48.650 on the uneven bars.
With Kentucky outscoring the Tigers by more than seven-tenths of a point in that event alone, it more than secured a Wildcats road victory.
If the Tigers hope to make a breakthrough in the SEC standings, they will need to focus on greater consistency in their performances.
While Auburn recorded double the number of scores of 9.9 or higher compared to its meet against Georgia last week, it also posted six combined scores of 9.75 or lower.
Marissa Neal continued to be outstanding for the Tigers despite a shaky performance on the uneven bars. She bounced back strong, scoring 9.9 and 9.925 on the balance beam and floor exercise, respectively.
Paige Zancan also showcased her skills on the vault, earning an impressive 9.875.
Sophia Bell stood out in her lone event, scoring a 9.9 on the floor exercise.
Junior Julianne Huff led the Tigers in the all-around, posting a combined score of 39.4. Huff also recorded Auburn’s highest individual score of the night, earning a 9.925 on the uneven bars.
Kentucky won all four events, including a dominant floor performance in which all Wildcats gymnasts scored a 9.850 or better.
Junior Delaynee Rodriguez had an incredible night, leading the Wildcats in the all-around and scoring a 9.9 or better in three of her four events, including a 9.95 on the uneven bars.
Junior Creslyn Brose also recorded a near-perfect 9.95 on the floor exercise.
Auburn will have one more matchup next Friday against unranked LSU before heading to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against three different teams next Sunday at 7:15 p.m. CST.
The road meet in Baton Rouge will be critical for the Tigers as they look to get back on track and make up for a slow start to the season.
Be sure to catch the Tigers next Friday as they take on LSU at 7:45 p.m. CST on SEC Network!
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
