Dec. 15, 2007

Auburn, Ala. - The Auburn gymnastics team completed its final intra-squad meet in front of a local crowd and with a positive outlook for the 2008 season.

"Today was great," said Auburn head coach Jeff Thompson. "We had a good crowd, good gymnastics and chance for a lot of freshman and backups to gain important experience in front of a crowd."

Ten Tigers competed in the competition, including three freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and all four seniors.

Competing on vault were seniors Julie Dwyer and Karmen Pinckney, junior Claire Seiffert, sophomore Krissy Voss and freshman Katie Hurley. Voss debuted a new vault for the first time with an audience and hit it.

Voss competed bars along with Dwyer, Pinckney and seniors Aimee Goheen and Kayla Gies, sophomore Carmen Nelms and freshman Shannon Walpole. Goheen has incorporated a new, more difficult dismount to here bar routine and also successfully debuted it for the crowd.

Balance beam competition included Hurley, Voss, Nelms, Goheen, Dwyer and freshman Rachael Inniss.

Floor exercise was competed by Seiffert, Voss, Hurley, Pinckney, Dwyer and Inniss. Inniss hit her routine without a spot for the first time and garnered cheers from the crowd.

"I think this meet was what I needed because this is how it is going to be during the season with the crowd here," Inniss said. "I feed off the crowd."

The Tigers begin their regular season on Jan. 12 when they face the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington.

"We are excited for the season to begin and feel good about where we are at currently and where the team will be once we arrive in Lexington," Thompson said.

Auburn will begin home competition in Jan. 18 to face cross-state rival Alabama. Regular season tickets are available at www.auburntigers.com. Adult season passes are $20 and youth passes are $8. Family packages of four season passes are available for $48. Single match tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children. Admission is free for Auburn students with a valid ID.