{"id":130253,"date":"2026-01-24T10:34:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T10:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/130253\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T10:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T10:34:18","slug":"jong-returns-no-11-auburn-scores-196-7-vs-no-1-florida-auburn-tigers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/130253\/","title":{"rendered":"Jong returns, No. 11 Auburn scores 196.7 vs. No. 1 Florida – Auburn Tigers"},"content":{"rendered":"

AUBURN, Ala. \u2013 Katelyn Jong<\/a> returned triumphantly less than a year after an Achilles tear and No. 11 Auburn battled No. 1 Florida to the final rotation before falling 197.1-196.7 Friday at Neville Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like we\u2019ve started to figure out our potential and we\u2019re struggling to realize it,\u201d said Auburn coach Jeff Graba<\/a>, whose team competed for the second time in six days following a Sunday road meet. \u201cI was happy they tried to reach their potential tonight. We gave it a shot. A young team has to learn somehow, and I thought we did a pretty good job tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige Zancan<\/a> continued her vault mastery, earning a 9.9 to lead the Tigers in the opening rotation. Mia Leverton<\/a> added a 9.875 while Marissa Neal<\/a> and Julianne Huff<\/a> each scored 9.825s. Leadoff gymnast Olivia Greaves<\/a> and anchor Sophia Bell<\/a> scored matching 9.75s.<\/p>\n

Florida raced out to an early lead with three 9.925s on bars and Riley McCusker\u2019s 9.975, giving the top-ranked Gators an early 49.625-49.175 lead.<\/p>\n

Auburn grabbed the lead in the second rotation, scoring 49.125 on bars while the Gators struggled with three consecutive vault landings while scoring 48.6.<\/p>\n

Making her 2026 debut less than a year after an Achilles tear, Katelyn Jong<\/a> tied for the team high with a 9.85, matching Greaves and Alex Irvine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so fun,\u201d Jong said. \u201cA lot of gratitude and I\u2019m happy to be back out there. Everything I do is for the team. It felt fulfilling and the recovery wasn\u2019t super easy. I\u2019m here now and so excited to be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlotte Booth<\/a> scored a 9.8 and Bryn Bartman<\/a> added a 9.775 to propel the Tigers to a 98.3-98.225 advantage at the meet\u2019s midpoint.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Needing a big anchor score from Marissa Neal<\/a> in the third rotation, the sophomore delivered, earning a 9.9 to give Auburn a team beam score of 49.1.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to do everything I can for the team,\u201d said Neal, the all-around winner with a 39.375. \u201cIt was good to go up there and hit like normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia Ahern<\/a> led off with a 9.875 before Hannah Hagle<\/a> followed with a 9.85. Alex Irvine<\/a> contributed a 9.8 and Julianne Huff<\/a> contributed a 9.675.<\/p>\n

Fueled by Skye Blakely\u2019s 9.925 on floor, the Gators scored 49.425 in the third rotation to take a .25 lead to the final rotation.<\/p>\n

Neal and Huff powered Auburn\u2019s floor scores with 9.9s in the middle of the lineup, keeping the pressure on the Gators.<\/p>\n

\u201cFloor was a party today. Everyone showed up and showed out,\u201d said Neal, whose score marked a career high. \u201cI love floor. The team supported me. It was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading off, Bartman scored 9.85, a total Greaves matched in the fifth spot. Ahern and Bell each scored 9.8s to give Auburn a 49.3, its highest score of the meet, in the final rotation.<\/p>\n

Florida equaled the challenge, managing the pressure of finishing on beam by stacking scores with three straight 9.9s or better, scoring 49.45 in the last event to secure the victory.<\/p>\n

The Tigers compete again in 10 days, heading to Athens, Georgia, for a Sunday meet vs. Georgia on Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. CT before returning to Neville Arena for Country Night against Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were learning on the job tonight,\u201d Graba said. \u201cI\u2019m really happy. I can\u2019t teach fight, I can\u2019t teach energy, I can\u2019t teach desire, and they have that so the team is capable. We just have to settle down and perform at our average.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer<\/a><\/p>\n