March 31, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. -- The No. 21 Auburn gymnastics team is ready for NCAA postseason as the fourth-seeded squad continues the year at the 2017 NCAA Fayetteville Regional, April 1, in Fayetteville, Ark. Action begins at 4 p.m. CT in Barnhill Arena and the top two teams at the conclusion of the meet will advance to the NCAA Championship.
Tickets for the Fayetteville Regional can be purchased here.
"We have a good bit of confidence on the team right now," head coach Jeff Graba said. "However, this is the postseason and at the regional meet, you need to perform in order to move on. If you don't, you go home. This young team needs to learn how to handle that so that we can have a great meet."
Auburn is joined by No. 1 seed and the fourth-ranked team overall Utah. Denver and California will be the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds, while host Arkansas and Central Michigan are also set to compete.
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn will feature 18 routines from sophomores and freshmen Saturday, while the other six will come from the team's four seniors. In addition, 14 routines will come from student-athletes who have never competed in the postseason.
Freshman Katie Becker will once again compete in all four rotations for the Tigers as the Boone, N.C., product is set to make her fifth start in the all-around for Auburn. Becker has competed in all events at Alabama (Feb. 17), at Missouri (March 3), vs. Pittsburgh (March 10), and at the SEC Championship (March 18). She finished with a season-best 38.950 in Tuscaloosa, while taking the all-around title vs. the Panthers with a 38.925.
Auburn kicks things off on a bye before heading to bars where the squad has enjoyed success in the event this season. Making her 54th start in the event will be redshirt senior Kelsey Kopec. Becker will kick things off in the leadoff spot for the Tigers with Kopec following. Sophomore Taylor Krippner and Samantha Cerio and freshman Gracie Day will go in spots 3-5, while sophomore Emma Engler is set to anchor for the fourth-straight meet.
The squad moves on to beam and the team's youth shines through as three spots are held by sophomores (Cerio, Engler, Krippner). Becker and redshirt freshman Emma Slappey are also set to compete. Senior Kullen Hlawek will lead things off for the Tigers.
Auburn goes on one more bye before floor follows and brings the most experience for Auburn as seniors Lucia Scaglione and MJ Rott joins Hlawek in the lineup. A trio of freshmen in Becker, Slappey, and Day will also compete for points for Auburn.
The Tigers close out the regional meet on vault in the final rotation of the day and Rott will guide the youthful lineup as she is set to compete in her 53rd career meet in this event. Sophomores Engler, A'Miracal Phillips, and Krippner join Rott, while Becker and Day are also set to go in the rotation.
UP NEXT
Auburn hopes to secure one of two spots that will advance out of the regional to the NCAA Championship. The two-day meet is slated for April 14-15 and will be held in Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.
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| Auburn's Projected Lineup | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor |
| 1. Katie Becker | 1. Katie Becker | 1. Kullen Hlawek | 1. Katie Becker |
| 2. Emma Engler | 2. Kelsey Kopec | 2. Samantha Cerio | 2. Gracie Day |
| 3. A'Miracal Phillips | 3. Taylor Krippner | 3. Katie Becker | 3. Lucia Scaglione |
| 4. Taylor Krippner | 4. Samantha Cerio | 4. Emma Engler | 4. Emma Slappey |
| 5. MJ Rott | 5. Gracie Day | 5. Emma Slappey | 5. Kullen Hlawek |
| 6. Gracie Day | 6. Emma Engler | 6. Taylor Krippner | 6. MJ Rott |
| Alt: Kelsey Kopec | Alt: Cara Stricklin | Alt: Gracie Day | Alt: Samantha Cerio |