SEATTLE – The No. 15 Auburn gymnastics team put together a collective effort Friday night inside Alaska Airlines Arena in the second round of the NCAA Washington Regional Championship, finishing second in the night session with a 196.950 to advance to the NCAA Regional Final.
“I’m really proud of this team,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “I could tell this year’s regional was going to be different than the previous two. We’ve talked after bars today and really all season that nothing that’s worth it is easy. You have to fight for what is worth it and that’s what they did tonight.”
Auburn reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 2022 season behind consistent performances in all four rotations.
“The last two years in this meet has shown us that this is a gift and a blessing to work this hard,” Graba said. “It’s a blessing to move on to the next round and you have to appreciate that. It’s a gift to put it all on the line again. We’re really excited that we get one more shot to party together.”
No. 2 Oklahoma took first with a 198.025, while Illinois came in third (195.725). Nebraska rounded out the team scoring with a 195.675.
Auburn will face off with the Sooners as well as Missouri and Arizona, who advanced from the afternoon session. The four-team meet will be Sunday, April 6 at 7 p.m. CT in Alaska Airlines Arena.
Sophomore Olivia Greaves competed in the all-around for the first time this season, putting together a 39.225.
“I was really excited to do the all-around today,” Greaves said. “That has been my goal the whole season and since I stepped foot on campus. Mentally, I was ready and it was an easy switch to turn on and I was really excited.”
In addition, she finished in a tie for first on bars with a 9.95 to share the regional champion crown in the event.
The Tigers started strong on vault and continued to build throughout the night all the way to floor in the final rotation.
Auburn led off on vault, scoring a 49.075 as a team. Three Tigers in freshman Sophia Bell, fifth year Sydney Schumaker and senior Sara Hubbard scored a 9.825 apiece, while sophomore Julianne Huff and Greaves book ended the rotation with 9.8s.
The Tigers followed with a 49.225 on bars with the rotation highlighted by a trio of 9.9s or better. Greaves anchored with her event-winning score, earning a 9.95 for the team. Sophomore Alex Irvine put together a 9.925 and senior Sophia Groth chipped in a 9.9. Sophomore Emma Grace Boyd led off with a career-best 9.85 and senior Caroline Leonard added a 9.6.
The squad moved on to one of its better events this season, earning a 49.350 on beam in rotation three. Fifth year Gabby McLaughlin anchored with a 9.925 and Groth put together a 9.9. Freshmen Olivia Ahern and Marissa Neal each had a 9.85 and sophomore Paige Zancan chipped in a 9.8.
The Tigers closed out the meet on floor, going 49.325 to seal the team’s second-place finish and advancement to Sunday’s session. Bell led the way with a team-high 9.9, while Zancan had a 9.875. Ahern, Greaves and Groth all put together 9.85s for the team score.
