The Auburn Gymnastics team lost 195.700 to 196.800 to Florida at their meet on Friday, Feb. 26 in the BeardEves Memorial Coliseum. The No. 16 Tigers hosted No. 4 Florida with a large and enthusiastic crowd, composed of students and fans. The Auburn Cheerleaders and Aubie also showed their support as they cheered on the team. Auburn began the meet on the vault, scoring a 48.800 as a team, even though each gymnast jumped after landing. Kylie Shields, Krissy Voss, Allyson Sandusky and Toi Garcia all scored a 9.750 on their vaults, followed by Maya Wickus, who scored a 9.800, and Petrina Yokay, scoring 9.000. In their next rotation, the Tigers scored a 49.150 on the uneven bars, a season high for the team. Three gymnasts, Carmen Nelms, Shields and Yokay, all scored a 9.850. Sandusky scored 9.825, Voss scored a 9.77, and Kendall Swartz scored a 9.700. Garcia also participated in bars as an exhibition, scoring a 9.725. During the third rotation, Auburn performed on the beam, scoring a 48.775. Lauren Brzostowski competed first, gaining a score of 9.650, followed by Katie Hurley with a 9.750, Voss with a 9.825, Sandusky with a 9.800, Rachel Inniss with a 9.600 and Shields with a 9.750. In this event, Voss won third place. The Tigers’ last event was the Floor Exercise, in which they scored a 48.975. Inniss was the team’s highest scorer with a 9.850, followed by Shields and Garcia, scoring 9.825, Voss, scoring 9.750, Hurley, scoring 9.725, and Brzostowski, scoring 9.700. Shields and Garcia went home with third place in the floor exercise, and Inniss took home second.
Shields was the only Auburn Gymnast who placed in all around, with a 39.175, which put her in third place overall. “I’m glad we came even though they lost,” said Brandon Barnes, a sophomore majoring in Busniess. “It was really cool to watch. I wish I could do that stuff.” The crowd was made up of both students and fans, and many young girls watched the gymnasts and imitated their actions. “I brought my wife and two little girls,” said Tim Widows, a resident of Opelika. “They always have fun; it’s a very kidfriendly environment.” Although Auburn Gymnastics is not generally thought of as toptier sport, students came out to show their support. “The gymnasts are awesome, they really deserve our support,” said Erika Merino, a junior majoring in management. “It’s an underappreciated sport, but people that come out and watch understand how hard the competition is.” Auburn Gymnastics will return to BeardEves on March 5, for their final meet in the coliseum against the Denver Pioneers at 7 p.m. The first 300 fans will receive a final event tshirt and, as always, several other promotions will be held throughout the night.