Auburn gymnastics is ascending to new heights.
The program scored the highest score in program history Friday against Kentucky, hitting a 197.925 to beat the Wildcats in Auburn Arena.
The team was led by superstar Suni Lee who recorded a perfect 10 and two 9.975’s
The 10 was the second of her career and first at home, and the fans made sure she knew it. The crowd erupted as her teammates celebrated with her. With her 10 she became the first Auburn gymnast since Becky Erwin in 1993 to score more than one 10 in a season. Those two are the only Auburn gymnast to have more than one 10 in their careers.
That wasn’t the only history she made either. She became the first collegiate gymnast to perform the Nabieva skill on bars. The skill was a staple of her Olympic routine and one of the hardest skills in the sport. She nailed the routine, earning a 9.975 that set the stage for her perfect 10 on beam.
Lee may have won her fifth straight all-around and scored a 39.775 but it took more than her to set the record.
After a 49.275 on vault to start the night Auburn bounced back on bars in a major way.
Aria Brush made a triumphant return to the lineup, scoring a near perfect 9.95 and Cassie Stevens set her first career record of the night with a 9.925.
This set the stage for Suni to close with her 9.975 and push Auburn to a 49.575, their highest score this season.
From there Auburn moved to beam where Auburn has shined all season and last night was no different. Auburn scored a 49.400 to tie it up with Kentucky ahead of their final rotation on floor, where Auburn dazzled to end the night.
Stevens and Sara Hubbard both scored a 9.9, setting new career highs for them. Fittingly it was Derrian Gobourne who pushed Auburn to the 197.925. She closed floor with a 9.975 to break the record.