Grace Halbert

Sports Story

The No. 16 Auburn Tigers gymnastics team lost to the No. 4 team from the

University of Florida on Friday, Feb. 26 in the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The

team took second in the meet with a final score of 195.700 to 196.800.

Although the team lost the meet, several Tiger gymnasts won individual awards,

including Krissy Voss, who won third place in beam, Kylie Shields and Toi Garcia, who

shared a four-way tie for third in the floor exercise with two UF gymnasts, and Rachel

Inniss, who won second in floor exercise. Shields, at third with an overall score of 39.175,

was the only Auburn gymnast to place in all-around.

“I’m glad we came even though they lost,” said Brandon Barnes, a sophomore

majoring in business. “It was really cool to watch. I wish I could do that stuff.”

Many fans came out to show their support of the gymnastics team. The large

crowd was guided in cheers by the Auburn cheerleaders and Aubie.

“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.”

The crowd was made up of both Auburn 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 kid-friendly environment.”

Auburn began the meet on the vault, scoring a 48.800 as a team, even though each

gymnast jumped after landing. Shields, Voss, Garcia and Allyson Sandusky all scored a

9.750 on their vaults, followed by Maya Wickus, who scored a 9.800 and Petrina Yokay,

scoring 9.000.

Florida’s first event of the evening was the uneven bars, where the Gators’ took

an early lead, scoring 49.150 with five of the gymnasts scoring higher than a 9.85 in this

event.

In their next event, 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 9.770 and Kendall Swartz scored a 9.700. Garcia

also participated in bars as an exhibition, scoring a 9.725.

The Gators’ second event was the vault, where they are ranked No. 3 in the

country. In Friday’s meet, the team received a score of 49.300.

During the third rotation, Auburn performed on the beam, gaining the team a

score of 48.775. Lauren Brzostowski competed first with a 9.650, followed by Katie

Hurley with a 9.750, Voss with a 9.825, Sandusky with a 9.800, Inniss with a 9.600 and

Shields with a 9.750.

Florida’s third rotation was floor exercise, where the team scored 49.075.

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.

UF ended the night performing on the beam, receiving a score of 49.075 in the

event, bringing the Gators’ lead to 196.800 over 195.700.

Auburn Gymnastics will return to Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Friday,

March 5 at 7 p.m. for their final meet in the coliseum against the Denver Pioneers. The

first 300 fans will receive a final event t-shirt and other promotions will be held

throughout the night.