The anticipation is building as the 2024 Auburn gymnastics season is set to launch on Saturday, January 6, with the No. 17 Tigers competing in the Mean Girls Super 16 Gymnastics Championships in Las Vegas. Hosted at Orleans Arena, the quad meet featuring Auburn, No. 5 UCLA, No. 7 Cal, and No. 8 Alabama will commence at 8 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on YouTube.
Auburn head coach Jeff Graba expressed his excitement about kicking off the season, acknowledging the challenges that come with integrating 10 new team members.
"I know what this team is like in practice, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they are like in competition this weekend," Graba said.
Auburn's gymnasts are gearing up for a formidable start, facing off against perennial powerhouses UCLA, Cal, and Alabama.
"We're starting the season off with a postseason meet. We will get to see a lot of different levels of competition, and that will push us to be better," Auburn junior Sophia Groth emphasized the unique opportunity this meet provides
This marks the second consecutive year that Auburn initiates its season in Las Vegas, participating in the 16-team event that spans Friday and Saturday. Auburn will compete in the final session of the weekend on the podium, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the competition.
Coach Graba highlighted the motivational aspect of facing such strong opponents right from the start. He mentioned, "You don't have to motivate your athletes to get ready when they're going up against UCLA, Cal, and Alabama on a podium in Las Vegas, and we're considered the underdog."
The potential lineup for Auburn is packed with experienced gymnasts, starting with the beam rotation. Fifth-year athletes Aria Brusch and Cassie Stevens, along with seniors Olivia Hollingsworth and Gabby McLaughlin and junior Sophia Groth, lead the way. Stevens, with 45 starts on beam, was All-SEC last year, while McLaughlin secured All-SEC honors in 2023, and Groth earned a pair of All-America honors in 2022.
Moving on to the floor exercise, Hollingsworth and Stevens, both All-SEC performers last season, are joined by Brusch, McLaughlin, Groth, and potential additions like freshmen Julianne Huff and Paige Zancan. The Tigers will then showcase their prowess on the vault, with Stevens and other skilled gymnasts aiming for 10.0 vaults. Sydney Schumaker, a senior transfer with NCGA All-America honors, will add depth to the lineup.
The meet will conclude with the bars rotation, where All-SEC performers Brusch and Stevens will guide the team alongside Groth, Hollingsworth, and McLaughlin. Freshmen Bryn Bartman and Emma Grace Boyd, along with sophomore Hannah Hagle, are also vying for a spot in the lineup.
