BIRMINGHAM, Ala.–They didn’t make it easy on themselves but No. 6 Alabama was able to beat No. 9 Auburn 197.200-197.025 in Birmingham on Sunday.
The win makes 112 straight for Alabama over Auburn, continuing a 35-year-old streak dating back to Auburn’s last win over the Crimson Tide in 1979.
The meet came down to the final exercises — Alabama on floor and Auburn on beam — with each team feeling the pressure. Auburn had a gymnast wobble to some deductions and another step off the beam entirely, while three of Alabama’s competitors on floor stepped out of bounds. But Alabama’s Lauren Beers and Carley Sims clinched the win for the Crimson Tide, scoring 9.950 and 9.900, respectively.
Going into the final event, the score was tied at 148 and it was anyone’s meet. Beers said she doesn’t pay attention to the score during a meet, but the team stayed calm and were able to adjust beyond the early mistakes in the final rotation.
“We know we have each others backs so we weren’t even worried about it,” Beers said. “I knew when I was going up there I was going to do it for my team. I was going to do what I do in practice, and everything was going to be just fine.”
Even with the three decades of winning, Alabama head coach Dana Duckworth doesn’t mention the streak to avoid putting more pressure on the team. Beers and other Alabama gymnasts are all well-aware of the gaudy numbers on the streak, but they can’t focus on it when it comes time to compete.
“I’m relieved that we pulled off the performance after we had a little craziness,” Duckworth said. “Is it great that we got the W and is it great the streak continues? Yes, but I’m telling you that from my perspective, I can never focus on the streak and on the wins because that is focusing on the outcomes.
“As you saw tonight, it was about the process. Staying the course, one routine after another, one moment at a time and doing your job. That’s all we can do.”
This was the first time all season for each team to compete on podium, an elevated stage that is usually reserved for SEC and NCAA championship meets. The gymnasts are put center stage, and the floor routine surface is apparently bouncier and softer than usual, which accounted for Alabama’s multiple unforced errors.
Unlike the floor routine, Alabama used the same uneven bars as the rest of the season and scored its season high with 49.525.
Auburn head coach Jeff Graba accentuated the positives after the narrow loss, saying it was the team’s first ever time scoring 197 on the road and the fourth 197 this season, which ties the most the team has ever had in history.
“We can compete with anybody in the country,” Graba said. “It speaks volumes to what this team is doing and we’re ready to finish this thing off the right way.”
Auburn regained its confidence with a strong floor routine score of 49.375, but Abby Milliet’s 9.550 and three other sub-9.9 scores on the balance beam to finish the meet made the difference.
The well-attended Elevate meet in Birmingham put Alabama and Auburn gymnastics in the spotlight, growing the sport and presenting it to a new group of fans.
“You couldn’t ask for a more exciting meet,” Duckworth said. “Both teams grew tonight because of the experience we just had.”
The SEC Gymnastic Championships take place in Duluth, Ga. on Saturday, March 21 and both Alabama and Auburn will be in prime position to take home the title.
