Auburn Gymnastics Gears Up for Clash with No. 1 Florida in SEC Showdown
AUBURN, Ala. - It doesn’t get much bigger than this. The No.
11 Auburn Tigers are set to host top-ranked Florida this Friday night in what promises to be one of the marquee matchups of the SEC gymnastics season. First vault goes off at 7:45 p.m.
CT in Neville Arena, and the action will be broadcast live on SEC Network.
This one’s not just a meet-it’s a measuring stick. Florida comes in as the nation’s No. 1 team for good reason.
They’re deep, talented, and capable of putting up big numbers on any apparatus. Auburn knows exactly what they’re up against, and head coach Jeff Graba isn’t sugarcoating it.
“There’s a reason why Florida is the top-ranked team in the country,” Graba said. “They’re going to come in ready to go and ready to make a statement. We need the Auburn fanbase to show up and help us with our home-field advantage.”
Starting Strong Is Key
For Auburn, it all starts with the opening rotation. The Tigers are looking to replicate the kind of fast start they had in their season opener against NC State, where they came out firing and set the tone early.
“We need to start strong to build confidence,” Graba emphasized. “Those first two events are extremely important for this team. If we do that, I like our chances to close the meet strong.”
This is still a young Auburn squad, and they’re in the process of finding their identity. Last week’s performance at Arkansas was a bit of a stumble, but Friday’s matchup is a golden opportunity to bounce back-and do it in front of a packed home crowd.
“We’re inventing ourselves,” Graba said. “We have a very young team.
This Friday is a great opportunity to get back in front of our fans and put ourselves up against one of the best teams in the nation and continue to figure out what kind of team we want to be. What better way to do that than competing against the best.”
Meet Day Details and Fan Experience
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. CT, and fans are encouraged to arrive early to take part in pre-meet festivities.
Friday night’s theme is a throwback-90s Night in Neville. Auburn students will have a shot at scoring Tiger-print pants (while supplies last), and the soundtrack will be loaded with 90s hits to keep the energy high.
Parking is available in the Donahue Dr. and War Eagle Way lots, Coliseum lot, and the Stadium Parking Deck. The Neville Arena lot is reserved for pass holders. ADA parking is available at the corner of Wire Road and Extension Loop, with accessible shuttles running 90 minutes before the meet and continuing 30 minutes after it ends.
Limited tickets are still available at auburntige.rs/GymTickets.
Auburn Lineup: What to Watch For
As the home team, Auburn will follow Olympic order-vault, bars, beam, and floor.
Vault: Power and Precision
The Tigers will open on vault, where they’ve got a strong mix of experience and explosiveness. Sophomore Sophia Bell leads the way, currently ranked among the top five nationally after posting a 9.925 in the season opener and a 9.9 last week. Her Yurchenko double vault is a showstopper.
Joining her are juniors Paige Zancan, Julianne Huff, Olivia Greaves, and Jersie Woolsey. Zancan is already among the top 10 in the country on vault and has a 9.975 under her belt this season. Huff brings consistency with her Yurchenko 1.5, while Greaves and Woolsey are steady with their fulls.
Sophomore Marissa Neal and freshmen Mia Leverton and Brynn Torry round out the top eight. Neal and Leverton have both competed in the event in each of the first two meets.
Bars: Anchored by Experience
In rotation two, Auburn moves to bars, where they’ll lean on a veteran group. Juniors Olivia Greaves, Alex Irvine, and Emma Grace Boyd headline the lineup.
Greaves posted multiple 9.95s and a 9.975 last year, and Irvine has taken the anchor spot early this season. She’s coming off a win on bars at Arkansas with a 9.9.
Also in the mix are Huff, Neal, sophomores Bryn Bartman and Katelyn Jong, and freshman Charlotte Booth. Jong’s return is especially notable after a season-ending injury in 2025. Neal, Huff, and Booth have all been consistent contributors in the early going, and Bartman opened the season in the lineup.
Beam: Steady Hands and Big Scores
Rotation three takes the Tigers to the balance beam, where they’ll showcase a deep and experienced group. Neal, Ahern, Greaves, and Hagle lead the charge.
Ahern has been a steady leadoff presence since last season and continues to thrive in that role. Neal has a 9.975 to her name, and Greaves remains a reliable force.
Booth, Huff, Irvine, and junior Emma Wehry round out the top eight. Irvine made her season debut on beam at Arkansas and responded with a career-best 9.9.
Floor: Closing with Firepower
The final rotation sees Auburn hit the floor, where they’re loaded with potential. Sophia Bell is again a standout, ranked among the top five nationally and fresh off back-to-back event titles, including a 9.95 and 9.925 to start the season.
Greaves and Huff have also delivered strong performances, with Greaves opening the year with a 9.95 and Huff scoring a 9.875 last week.
Joining them are Ahern, Bartman, Neal, Irvine, and Wehry. Ahern, Bartman, and Neal have competed in both meets so far, while Irvine and Wehry are pushing to lock in their spots this week.
What’s Next
After Friday’s high-stakes home meet, Auburn hits the road again next week for another SEC test-this time against Georgia in Athens on February 1. The Tigers and Bulldogs will face off at 5 p.m. CT, with coverage once again on SEC Network.
But first, all eyes are on Neville Arena. Auburn vs.
Florida. No. 11 vs.
No. 1.
A young team looking to make a statement-and maybe start turning some heads.