Special to the News

Auburn gymnastics, ranked 15th in GymInfo’s preseason poll, jumped 11 spots in the first installment of rankings to No. 4 the Web site released Monday.

“It’s an indication as to how good our start has been,” head gymnastics coach Jeff Thompson said. “To have a 196 average, that’s a 9.8 per routine average, at the beginning of the year, everyone dreams to have a start like that.”

The Tigers are the second-highest ranked team in the Southeastern Conference behind top-ranked Florida. The Gators are followed by Utah and UCLA, at second and third, respectively. Arkansas rounds out the top five.

As a team, Thompson’s squad ranks among the top 10 on all four events. The Tigers are ranked second on floor exercise, sixth on beam, eighth on vault and ninth on uneven bars.

Not only is the team highly ranked, but so are individual gymnasts. A.J. Mills has garnered a national ranking of No. 3 in all-around competition and senior counterpart Lindsey Puckett is 13th. Mills is ranked 12th on beam, 14th on floor and is tied for 18th on vault. Puckett is ranked sixth on vault and tied for 12th with sophomore teammate Rachel Inniss on floor.

Auburn will be back in action Friday in Gainesville, Fla., to take on the Gators at 6 p.m.