Can Auburn Make The Super Six Again?
Can Auburn Make The Super Six Again?
Last year was a historic year for the Auburn Tigers, with the women’s gymnastics team making it to the Super Six Finals for the first time since 1993. The t
Last year was a historic year for the Auburn Tigers, with the womenÂ’s gymnastics team making it to the Super Six Finals for the first time since 1993. The team had improved drastically all season, particularly on bars, beam and floor, and they turned out a stellar performance at Semifinals to clinch their spot in the final six. The question is: will they be able to maintain this momentum going into the 2016 season and do it again, and beyond that, perhaps do it better?
One of the reasons why Auburn improved so much in 2015 is simply counting less falls. The gymnasts really tightened up their routines and became much more consistent during competition, allowing them to score higher. One of the gymnasts who has improved the most is senior Lexus Demers, who last year competed vault, beam and floor for the Tigers. In her freshman season (after redshirting the 2012 season), Demers only competed a handful of times for the team, mainly on floor where she had a fairly low average. In her sophomore year, she competed consistently for the Tigers on vault, beam and floor and was an especially high scorer on vault. Fast forward to 2015, and her scores continued to rise. She was an important contributor in the Semifinals and Finals, scoring 9.8 or above on all three apparatus. Fortunately for the Tigers, Demers will be back in action this year for her final season.
One thing to keep in mind is the departure of the seniors, notably Megan Walker, Brittany Webster, Caryn Kadous, and Bri Guy. Walker has been one of AuburnÂ’s best competitors, especially on beam, where she more often than not scored a 9.9. Walker was also a big contributor on floor, an event that she picked up toward the end of her junior season and improved upon vastly in her senior year - she bagged a 9.8 on the event for the team during Super Six Finals. Lastly, she was an important part of the bar lineup, scoring no lower than a 9.8 all season and contributing a huge 9.925 in Super Six Finals.
Another explanation for the TigersÂ’ improvement in 2015 is the return of Guy, who tore both her Achilles on floor in 2014 and had to sit out the rest of the season. Prior to that, Guy always contributed very high scores for the team on all four events, but especially on vault and floor. Guy returned in 2015 and helped the team to Finals with superb performances on vault, bars and beam.
Despite the loss of the seniors, Auburn has some big talent on their team to help them get to Finals in 2016. In addition to Demers, Caitlin Atkinson and Kait Kluz round out the senior class. Atkinson is perhaps the strongest competitor on the team and has been competing all-around since her freshman season. ItÂ’s actually tough to say which event is her best, because she truly excels at all four. Last season, she scored at least a 9.9 or higher on every single event. In addition to helping her team to Super Six Finals, she also competed in the beam event final, tying for 8th place with a 9.825. Check out one of Atkinson's dynamite beam routines below from a meet last season against Florida:
Kluz is also strong component of the Auburn team, regularly competing on vault, bars and floor. Kluz is another gymnast who has continued to improve with each year. In her freshman year, she only competed floor a few times and her best score was a 9.725. Compare that to her junior season in 2015, where her season high was a 9.9.
AuburnÂ’s junior class includes MJ Rott, Kelsey Kopec and Kullen Hlawek, all of whom contributed to the teamÂ’s success last year. Rott is particularly strong on vault, where her scores often hovered around 9.9. Kopec is one of AuburnÂ’s best bar workers, and Hlawek can dazzle on floor (just check out her moonwalk). Also returning this year is sophomore Abby Milliet, a former elite who had an impressive breakout season last year with the Tigers. She proved to be a very consistent competitor on bars and beam.
Clearly, the Tigers have a strong team going into the 2016 season. Beyond their already strong lineup, they also have six freshmen joining the team who could potentially contribute and help fill the gaps left by last yearÂ’s seniors - Telah Black, Samantha Cerio, Emma Engler, Taylor Krippner, A'Miracal Phillips, and Emma Slappey. The team has a great chance of making it to finals again this year, provided they can continue to improve on form and keep their cool under pressure. Fortunately, they have highly talented and experienced upperclassmen as well as lots of fresh faces who have joined the team this year - a winning combination for a great season.
Related:
Auburn University - Preview Meet Videos
Auburn Attacks December Intrasquad
One of the reasons why Auburn improved so much in 2015 is simply counting less falls. The gymnasts really tightened up their routines and became much more consistent during competition, allowing them to score higher. One of the gymnasts who has improved the most is senior Lexus Demers, who last year competed vault, beam and floor for the Tigers. In her freshman season (after redshirting the 2012 season), Demers only competed a handful of times for the team, mainly on floor where she had a fairly low average. In her sophomore year, she competed consistently for the Tigers on vault, beam and floor and was an especially high scorer on vault. Fast forward to 2015, and her scores continued to rise. She was an important contributor in the Semifinals and Finals, scoring 9.8 or above on all three apparatus. Fortunately for the Tigers, Demers will be back in action this year for her final season.
One thing to keep in mind is the departure of the seniors, notably Megan Walker, Brittany Webster, Caryn Kadous, and Bri Guy. Walker has been one of AuburnÂ’s best competitors, especially on beam, where she more often than not scored a 9.9. Walker was also a big contributor on floor, an event that she picked up toward the end of her junior season and improved upon vastly in her senior year - she bagged a 9.8 on the event for the team during Super Six Finals. Lastly, she was an important part of the bar lineup, scoring no lower than a 9.8 all season and contributing a huge 9.925 in Super Six Finals.
Another explanation for the TigersÂ’ improvement in 2015 is the return of Guy, who tore both her Achilles on floor in 2014 and had to sit out the rest of the season. Prior to that, Guy always contributed very high scores for the team on all four events, but especially on vault and floor. Guy returned in 2015 and helped the team to Finals with superb performances on vault, bars and beam.
Despite the loss of the seniors, Auburn has some big talent on their team to help them get to Finals in 2016. In addition to Demers, Caitlin Atkinson and Kait Kluz round out the senior class. Atkinson is perhaps the strongest competitor on the team and has been competing all-around since her freshman season. ItÂ’s actually tough to say which event is her best, because she truly excels at all four. Last season, she scored at least a 9.9 or higher on every single event. In addition to helping her team to Super Six Finals, she also competed in the beam event final, tying for 8th place with a 9.825. Check out one of Atkinson's dynamite beam routines below from a meet last season against Florida:
Kluz is also strong component of the Auburn team, regularly competing on vault, bars and floor. Kluz is another gymnast who has continued to improve with each year. In her freshman year, she only competed floor a few times and her best score was a 9.725. Compare that to her junior season in 2015, where her season high was a 9.9.
AuburnÂ’s junior class includes MJ Rott, Kelsey Kopec and Kullen Hlawek, all of whom contributed to the teamÂ’s success last year. Rott is particularly strong on vault, where her scores often hovered around 9.9. Kopec is one of AuburnÂ’s best bar workers, and Hlawek can dazzle on floor (just check out her moonwalk). Also returning this year is sophomore Abby Milliet, a former elite who had an impressive breakout season last year with the Tigers. She proved to be a very consistent competitor on bars and beam.
Clearly, the Tigers have a strong team going into the 2016 season. Beyond their already strong lineup, they also have six freshmen joining the team who could potentially contribute and help fill the gaps left by last yearÂ’s seniors - Telah Black, Samantha Cerio, Emma Engler, Taylor Krippner, A'Miracal Phillips, and Emma Slappey. The team has a great chance of making it to finals again this year, provided they can continue to improve on form and keep their cool under pressure. Fortunately, they have highly talented and experienced upperclassmen as well as lots of fresh faces who have joined the team this year - a winning combination for a great season.
Related:
Auburn University - Preview Meet Videos
Auburn Attacks December Intrasquad