Gymnastics from No. 14 Auburn upsets No. 7 Alabama at home with a season-best score of 197.725
On Friday night, the No. 14 Auburn gymnastics team defeated the No. 7 Alabama team, 197.725-197.050, setting a new season high. The floor, beam, and vault events saw the Tigers win with season-high scores.
Head coach Jeff Graba of Auburn said, “That was fun.” Our goal was to focus on improving ourselves rather than becoming sidetracked by the arrival of guests. And I think we actually accomplished that.
Cassie Stevens scored a career-high 39.700 to win the all-around competition. Stevens received a perfect 10 from one judge for his career-high 9.975 on beam, two 9.9s for bars and floor, and a 9.925 for vault. Gymnastics from No. 14 Auburn upsets No. 7 Alabama at home with a season-best score of 197.725
Graba remarked of Stevens’ performance, “I’m just proud.” “She’s genuinely investing in other people when you watch, and I believe it teaches people how to compete.” I’m speechless about her performance, therefore.
In the first apparatus of the meet, the Tigers set the tone for the evening with a season-high 49.500. Sydney Schumaker had the best score of the day with a 9.875, while Sophia Groth led Auburn with a 9.875. Stevens and Julianne Huff secured two 9.925s, while Olivia Hollingsworth secured a 9.900.
But in the meet’s opening rotation, the Crimson Tide got off to a shaky start. Beginning with beam, where Alabama is ranked fourth in the country, the Tide recorded a season-low score of 49.175 there. For the remainder of the meet, Alabama was unable to overcome its slow start.
On bars, Auburn scored 49.225, led by two 9.9s from Stevens and Hollingsworth. Olivia Greaves, who competed in her first meet as a college student last week, led the way with a 9.825 score.
With a 49.475, the Tigers surpassed their prior season-high of 49.425 to continue their winning ways for the evening on beam. With her nearly flawless 9.975, Stevens took first place in the competition. Paige Zancan and Groth both scored 9.9s. Zancan, a new student
Auburn’s freshman Zancan set a season high on the apparatus and will start the event.
Graba remarked, “Paige did an amazing job of taking the leadoff position and setting the bar really high.” And because that is who she is, we had a great deal of faith in her. She is nothing more than a rock.
After a strong beam performance, Auburn led going into the night’s final event, floor, where the Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide by their greatest margin.
Starting on the floor for Auburn, Aria Brusch scored a 9.875, which was followed by four consecutive 9.9s from sophomores Groth, Hagle, McLaughlin, and Stevens. Hollingsworth anchored the floor to end the game, recording a season-high 9.925 and giving the Tigers their highest score of the season.
