No. 16 Auburn Finishes Season with a 196.525

No. 16 Auburn Finishes Season with a 196.525No. 16 Auburn Finishes Season with a 196.525

April 7, 2018

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SALT LAKE CITY -- The No. 16 Auburn gymnastics team faced a tough test at the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional Saturday, finishing third overall with a 196.525 in the Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah.

The Tigers were just .200 out of second as California edged Auburn with a 196.725. Utah won the meet with a 197.475. BYU finished in fourth (196.3), Stanford fifth (195.6), and Southern Utah was sixth (194.625).

"It was a tight meet all the way through for the top four teams," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We are typically in this type of situation at the end of the season. I thought we did a very good job and fought all the way through it. We have a young team that never buckled under pressure and I'm very proud of them."

Three Tigers advanced to the NCAA Championship in St. Louis (April 20-21) as individuals in redshirt junior Abby Milliet, junior Samantha Cerio, and freshman Drew Watson. Milliet came in a tie for first on beam, Cerio a tie for first on bars, and Watson captured the overall vault title. The Tyler, Texas, product also advanced in the all-around as Watson finished fourth with a career-best 39.425.

"Having three advance is huge for this team," Graba said. "They are going to come back and teach the rest how to go about their business and lay a great foundation for the future."

Auburn opened the meet with a solid performance on floor, scoring a 49.325. That total was the second-highest by an Auburn floor squad at the regional meet in program history. Milliet and sophomore Gracie Day led the team with a pair of 9.9s. Redshirt sophomore Emma Slappey added a 9.875, while Watson put together a 9.85. Freshman Ashley Smith led off with a 9.8.

Watson guided the Tigers in the third rotation as the team earned a 49.025 on vault. Watson's 9.925 came in first overall and tied her career high. Classmate Jada Glenn finished with 9.825, while sophomore A'Miracal Phillips had a 9.775. Sophomore Katie Becker and Day each added a 9.75.

After a bye, the Tigers moved on to bars and finished with a 49.075. Cerio led the team with a 9.9, tying a season best. Watson and Day followed with a pair of 9.85s, while sophomore Kendal Moss opened up with a 9.75. Junior Taylor Krippner added a 9.725 for the team.

Auburn capped the meet on beam with a 49.1. Milliet's 9.925 came in a tie for first and tied her career best, earning a 10.0 from one judge. Freshman Meredith Sylvia tied her career high with a 9.85, while Watson set a career best with a 9.8. Freshman Allie Riddle led off with a 9.775 and Slappey chipped in a 9.75.

Auburn Results

VaultBars
49.02549.075
Katie Becker9.750Kendal Moss9.775
A'Miracal Phillips9.775Taylor Krippner9.750
Taylor Krippner9.600Drew Watson9.850
Drew Watson9.925Gracie Day9.850
Gracie Day9.750Samantha Cerio9.900
Jada Glenn9.825Abby Milliet9.175
BeamFloor
49.10049.325
Allie Riddle9.775Ashley Smith9.800
Drew Watson9.800Samantha Cerio9.600
Meredith Sylvia9.850Drew Watson9.850
Emma Slappey9.750Emma Slappey9.875
Abby Milliet9.925Gracie Day9.900
Taylor Krippner9.050Abby Milliet9.900