Gymnastics Places Third at Season-Opening Cancun Classic - AuburnTigers.com

Gymnastics Places Third at Season-Opening Cancun Classic Yokay takes second in All-Around

Junior Petrina Yokay

Jan. 6, 2012

CANCUN, Mexico – Auburn gymnastics scored 194.775 and placed third in the season-opening Cancun Classic on Friday night at the Iberostar Resort.

“I thought we did a really good job,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “I thought our youth showed at times. Some of the rough patches are just our freshman getting used to the environment, but overall I thought we did a good job. There is definitely room for improvement.”

Junior Petrina Yokay enjoyed a strong opening meet as she finished in second place in the all-around standings with a score of 39.200. She was joined by senior Kylie Shields who scored 39.025 as the only two all-around competitors for Auburn on the night.

“I’m so proud of Petrina,” Graba said. “She deserves this. Petrina has worked hard, but I still feel like she is improving. Better things are still to come for her.”

Auburn’s best event came in its first rotation as the Tigers posted a 48.850 on the uneven bars, a performance that was highlighted by a solid year-opening routine from Shields (9.875). Yokay also had a positive result scoring 9.800.

Shields’ score on bars was good enough for third place overall in the meet.

The next event for Auburn (2-2) was beam with a score of 48.775. Yokay led the way with a 9.825, while senior Allyson Sandusky and freshman Megan Walker both added scores of 9.775. Shields and Yokay again led the way on floor with identical 9.775 scores as Auburn posted a total of 48.650.

The fourth and final rotation for Auburn was vault. Toi Garcia and Yokay recorded the highest scores for Auburn at 9.800 to lead the Tigers to a team total of 48.50.

Arkansas paced the competition with an overall score of 196.450. Arizona was second (195.150), while Iowa (193.875) and LSU(192.50) trailed Auburn.

Expected by many to be an integral part of Auburn’s early season lineup, freshman Brianna Guy appeared in only vault on Friday night as she continues to recover from a minor injury.

“Not having Bri [Guy] was big,” Graba said. “I felt like as a team that we adjusted well. She’s a big part of the lineup, but I thought our girls filled in really well for her. By overcoming her absence, we feel like we have added a little more depth.”

Auburn gymnastics is in action next on Friday, January 13, when it travels to Baton Rouge, La. to face LSU.