AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn Gymnastics looks to bounce back in Neville Arena as the 12th-ranked Tigers take on the 11th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Coming off a 196.60 to 197.05 loss to a strong Kentucky team in Lexington, the 8-2 Tigers have another opportunity for a strong win.
Georgia is coming into Neville after a narrow victory in Athens against Alabama, a contest in which they won by 0.4 points.
Both teams will look to play into their strengths, as each squad boasts a top-ten ranking in at least one event. The Bulldogs rank 7th and 9th in the vault and bars, respectively, while Auburn has the 6th-best roster for the beam.
Tiger freshman Katelyn Jong looks to continue her elite performance. Despite the loss against Kentucky, she scored 39.325 in the all-around column. Fifth-year senior Gabby McLaughlin will also be a key factor in Friday’s matchup, as McLaughlin holds the team-high in points for the floor, an area where Georgia tends to struggle. Auburn’s ability to close the gap in those weak spots for Georgia will be the biggest factor if they are to come out with a win.
On the opposing side, Georgia’s most valuable gymnast this season has been sophomore Ady Wahl. Wahl has scored the most points for the team so far and holds team highs in both the vault and floor events. Wahl is also exceptional in the UB event, supported by Naya Howard and Holly Snyder, who are just behind Wahl in total points for the event.
Georgia will look to excel in the vault and bars, as they have done all season, in order to push past Auburn.
Both teams struggle in events in which the other tends to excel, meaning a win for the Tigers will require an all-around effort and few mistakes. This high-level SEC matchup will begin at 7 pm CT in Neville Arena and can be streamed on SEC+ Network.
