Auburn Gymnastics Announces 2009 Schedule
July 9, 2008
AUBURN - Six home meets, three of which are against 2008 NCAA Championships qualifiers Alabama, LSU and Arkansas, highlight the 2009 Auburn gymnastics schedule, head coach Jeff Thompson announced Wednesday. Along with a demanding Southeastern Conference schedule, the Tigers face a pair of Big 10 opponents in Michigan State and Ohio State as well Big 12 power Iowa State. "We have a great home schedule and have added an additional home meet," head gymnastics coach Jeff Thompson said. "I think our 2009 home schedule is the best we have ever had for Auburn fans. Every night will be exciting and every meet will come down to the wire." Auburn will open its 35th season of competition on the road Jan. 4 against the University of Illinois-Chicago. The Tigers and Flames have met twice in the past three seasons with Auburn taking both contests. It is the third straight season that the Tigers will begin its campaign away from Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. "We have a tremendous non-conference record which we hope to continue to build upon this year," Thompson said. "We look forward to starting our season in Chicago. We needed to find a way to introduce our freshmen to NCAA competition before we open at home with arch-rival Alabama." The Tigers home and SEC opener against in-state rival Alabama on Jan. 9 has been selected as the Pink Meet for breast cancer awareness. In 2008, the Crimson Tide placed sixth at the NCAA Championships and return a trio of gymnasts in 2009 that placed in the top-eight individually on the floor, vault and bars. "We hope that our fans will come out for the first meet versus Alabama and return for every meet after that," Thompson said. "Fans have a chance to see some very exciting competition with some of the best teams in the nation." Auburn will travel to Gainesville on Jan. 16 to take on Florida in its first of three tough conference road tests. The Gators closed out 2008 by tying Alabama as SEC Championship runner-up at and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. A two-meet homestand awaits the Tigers following the trip to Florida by first hosting Iowa State on Jan. 23 and LSU on Jan. 30. The meet against the Cyclones marks the return of former Auburn assistant gymnastics coach Jay Ronayne. Iowa State finished as the Big 12 Championship runner-up in 2008 and brings back all but one from its roster a year ago. A week later, Auburn will face an LSU squad that features the defending vault national champion, junior Susan Jackson, who led LSU to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Tigers will face four-time defending national champion Georgia in Athens on Feb. 6. Auburn returns to Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum for two home contests against 2008 NCAA Championships qualifier Arkansas on Feb. 13 followed by a Feb. 20 meet vs. Kentucky. The Tigers close out February with a second meeting against Alabama on Feb. 27 in Tuscaloosa. A pair of meets remain before Auburn embarks upon postseason action as the Tigers travel to Michigan State on March 7 and play host to Ohio State on senior night on March 13. The Spartans closed out 2008 ranked 18th nationally. The Buckeyes advanced to the 2008 NCAA Regionals with two individuals receiving berths to the NCAA Championships. The SEC Championship will take place March 21 in Nashville, Tenn., prior to the NCAA Regionals April 4. The 2009 NCAA Championships will be held April 16-18 in the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. All home meets begin at 7 p.m. at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. 2009 Auburn Gymnastics Schedule
All home meets are in BOLD and will begin at 7 p.m. CT *denotes Southeast Conference opponent
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