Auburn’s No. 17 gymnastics team kicked off their 2025 season with a strong performance at the American Gold Collegiate Classic in Nashville, securing second place with a solid 195.950 score. The event, held at the Nashville Memorial Auditorium, featured top-tier teams, with No. 1 Oklahoma taking the win at 197.550, followed by No. 27 BYU in third (194.625) and No. 23 Nebraska in fourth (194.475).
Despite a few growing pains, Auburn head coach Jeff Graba was pleased with the team’s effort. “There’s a lot of room for improvement, but we also had a lot of bright spots,” he said. “I’m happy with how the weekend went, but we’ve got work to do.”
The Tigers showcased all four freshmen in the lineup, with newcomer Katelyn Jong impressing in the all-around. The Texas native posted a 39.175 and contributed significantly to the team score, highlighting the value of the freshmen’s early involvement. “Having so many routines from newcomers is a big deal,” Graba noted. “It’s a new game for them, but they handled it well.”
The meet began with Auburn on bars, where they earned a strong 49.1. Fifth-year Olivia Hollingsworth set the tone with a 9.825, followed by senior Sophia Groth’s 9.775. Sophomores Emma Grace Boyd and Olivia Greaves added solid 9.8s, and Jong anchored with a flawless routine, earning a 9.9, which tied her for third.
Auburn’s best rotation came on beam, where they scored 49.250. Freshman Marissa Neal led the way with a 9.9, tying for third, while Hollingsworth contributed a 9.875 and Groth posted a 9.85. Freshmen Olivia Ahern and Jong also made key contributions with scores of 9.825 and 9.8, respectively.
On floor, Auburn posted a 48.825, with fifth-year Gabby McLaughlin leading the team with a 9.85, finishing second individually. Groth and Jong followed with 9.825 and 9.8, while Greaves and freshman Sophia Bell chipped in 9.675s.
The Tigers closed out the evening on vault with a score of 48.775, where senior Sara Hubbard anchored with a 9.825. Sydney Schumaker and transfer Sarah Zois earned 9.775s, and sophomore Julianne Huff added a 9.725. Jong rounded off her all-around performance with a 9.675.
Next up for the Tigers is another road competition in San Antonio on January 11, where they will face No. 20 Arizona State, No. 21 Penn State, No. 24 Maryland, and Temple at 12 p.m. CT. Auburn is primed to continue building on their promising start to the season.
