Rutgers University
at Towson/Michigan State/Yale
Gymnastics Secures Second at Towson
Feb 27 | Women's Gymnastics
TOWSON, Md. - Tying a season-high mark with a 48.975 team score on vault, Rutgers gymnastics recorded a 194.850 to finish second in a quad meet Friday night at the SECU Arena in Towson, Md. Michigan State (196.275) finished first in the meet, while host Towson (193.750) and Yale (191.875) placed behind RU in team competition. For the Scarlet Knights, the 194.850 was the third time in four meets the team went over a 194.000.
"What it came down to is that we had a great finish and not the best start," head coach Louis Levine said. "We'll strengthen what we did well and work on what we struggled with tonight. We look forward to coming back home next week."
PDF Results
Senior Luisa Leal (Cali, Colombia) led the way for Rutgers during its impressive vault performance, posting a season-high 9.900 individual mark, the highest individual score for a Scarlet Knight this season in the event. Sophomore April Baker (Andover, Mass.) also secured a personal season-high score with a 9.875. Freshman Sahara Gipson (Oakland, N.J.) added a 9.750, while senior Sara Skammer (Dallas, Pa.) and freshman Elizabeth Groden (Abbottstown, Pa.) each contributed a 9.725.
RU started the night on balance beam, posting a 48.050. Three gymnasts went over the 9.700 mark, led by sophomore Claire Jones (Gaffney, S.C.), who executed a 9.775 routine. Junior Claudia Salinas (Allendale, N.J.) contributed a 9.700 while senior Anastasia Halbig (Schwenksville, Pa.) anchored the rotation with a 9.725 in the event.
In the second rotation on floor exercise, all six competitors went over the 9.700 threshold en route to a 48.900 team total. Senior Emma Hoffman (Union, N.J.) landed a 9.825, the highest individual floor score for RU, while Jones and Leal each added a 9.800. For Leal, it marked her season debut on floor. Groden (9.750), Gipson (9.725) and classmate Jenna Crisalli (Freehold, N.J.) (9.725) all posted impressive scores in the event for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers landed a 48.925 on uneven bars, with junior Jenna Williams (Bordentown, N.J.) and Baker each producing a 9.825. Skammer landed a 9.775 in the leadoff position in the event, while junior Aziza Day (Snellville, Ga.) and Hoffman both contributed a 9.750. Groden (9.700) also added to the team total.
For the fourth consecutive meet, Groden competed all-around, securing a 38.375 all-around total.
RU will return homeMarch 7to host a quad meet at the RAC against West Chester, Bowling Green and Bridgeport. It will be the first gymnastics meet at the facility since 2006. Click hereto purchase tickets and here for the promotional video.
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Players Mentioned
