Compete in the night session of SECs. Qualify to NCAA Nationals. Earn a spot in Super Six. It’s a rare feat for a team to achieve every goal they set in a season, because some of them are often lofty, but the Auburn Tigers did just that. They peaked at the perfect time, boasting a program-record nationals score of a 197.075—the sixth-highest score in school history. It was the first Super Six qualification for the Tigers in 22 years, with their only other appearance being in 1993.

Rising senior Caitlin Atkinson described it as a “season to remember,” and a total team effort. She noted that they didn’t perform their best gymnastics in the Super Six final, “but as far as the experience as a team, I don’t think it could’ve been any better. We learned a lot from it. We embraced every moment.” 

For the upperclassmen, this spectacular season didn’t come before experiencing defeat. Atkinson vividly remembers regionals from her freshman year. Auburn and Minnesota were tied for second going into the last event, but the Tigers ended up third and missed the bid to nationals. After all the hours of hard work put into the season, “it was a heartbreak to be that close,” Atkinson said. The Tigers battled several injuries during her sophomore year, but the team continued to fight and build. “Handling all the adversity we had in the years before and coming out with the season we had—meeting all of those goals—it’s incredible.”

Atkinson knows that last year’s phenomenal finish will help the team earn respect and let people know that Auburn is a true contender for the national title. She explained that the Tigers have looked toward the top teams “to see how to polish and get the form…to get those few extra tenths or even half tenths that make a difference.” Atkinson believes Auburn has always had the talent, but over the last few years, they’ve nailed down a culture of excellence and found their groove as a team. “We had that drive to help each other out and be successful together instead of individually.”

Not surprisingly, the Auburn community has taken note of the team’s exciting upswing, selling out the Auburn Arena for the first time last year. The Tigers had a send-off from other sports teams and invested fans before Nationals and were greeted off the plane upon their return. For Atkinson and the team, it was a truly special moment. “Honestly one of the best feelings in the world is having those little girls come up to you and just marvel…for me, I’m just doing what I love and I’m being an inspiration to them and to the community.”

So, the goals of 2015 were achieved. But a new year is here and with that comes the pressure to do it again and “to prove that we weren’t a one-time deal,” Atkinson said. “Yes we are remembering last year and feeding off that motivation, but we aren’t relying on that to carry us through.” A new year brings lots of changes, as six freshman have arrived oncampus and are participating in the voluntary summer workouts with the team. Auburn also has a new assistant beam coach, Mary McDaniel, who Atkinson said is fitting in and clicking well with the girls. McDaniel brings a fresh perspective and the team has embraced it. “We are welcoming her into the Auburn family just like she’s been here forever.”

With one year left as a gymnast, Atkinson describes being a senior as surreal. “Senior year is scary, exciting, fun, nerve-racking—it’s kind of every emotion because at the end of this season gymnastics is done.” Different responsibilities and more leadership opportunities come with her senior status. She said she has always been a leader by example, but is now starting to embrace leading with her voice. She wants to embrace every moment of her final year and help the other girls grow inside and outside of the gym. “Although ma king nationals is great and super exciting, there is more to it than that. It’s about who you become and how you interact as a family.” Atkinson knows that these four years are something she will never get back, so she plans to cherish every moment she has left to do the sport that she dearly loves.

Related:
SEC Senior Saturday: Mary Beth Box - UGA
SEC Senior Saturday: Marissa Beucler - UK
SEC Senior Saturday: Blair Elmore - Mizzou