Auburn gymnasts conclude season at NCAA Championship
FORT WORTH, Texas (auburntigers.com) – The No. 7 Auburn gymnastics team closed out the season with a fifth-place finish in the first session of the 2016 NCAA Championship. The Tigers concluded the day with a 195.100 overall score at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
“We knew we were beat up since we were down three main vaulters. That’s tough to start on an event like that,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “We were definitely tentative on all events today and I think we performed like we thought we had to be perfect. But I couldn’t be more proud of this team. In my estimation, they over-performed all the way to the national championship this season.”
Florida, LSU and Georgia each advanced to the Super Six after finishing in the top three in this afternoon’s session. Stanford, Auburn and Minnesota rounded out places 4-6. The second session will feature Oklahoma, Alabama, UCLA, California, Nebraska and Utah and will begin at 7 p.m. CT. The NCAA Super Six takes place Saturday at 8 p.m. CT.
Auburn opened up the meet on vault, finishing with a 48.9625. Senior Caitlin Atkinson led the way with a 9.8625, while redshirt senior Lexus Demers scored a 9.825. Junior MJ Rott earned a 9.8 and classmate Kelsey Kopec finished with a 9.775. Sophomore Sarah Garcia closed out scoring for the Tigers with a 9.7.
Following the team’s first bye of the day, Auburn finished bars with a 49.0875. Atkinson and fellow senior Kait Kluz scored a 9.85 and a 9.8375, respectively, while sophomore Abby Milliet chipped in a 9.8125. Freshman Taylor Krippner added a 9.8 for the Tigers and both freshman Samantha Cerio and Kopec totaled a 9.7875.
On beam, the team had to count a fall and totaled a 48.150 in the fourth rotation. Highlighting beam for the Tigers were the performances by Atkinson and Cerio. Atkinson once again anchored the apparatus with a 9.8375, while Cerio finished second on the team with a 9.7875. Demers had a 9.775 with Milliet following with a 9.7625.
Auburn capped the day on floor, putting together a 48.900 as a team. Demers led the way with a 9.8625 and Kluz followed with a 9.8125. Milliet added a 9.8 and Hlawek followed with a 9.7625. Atkinson closed out scoring with a 9.6625.
