Results

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Securing the second highest team score on vault in program history with a 49.150, Rutgers gymnastics completed its inaugural season in the Big Ten with a 193.125 during the first session of the Big Ten Championships at the Crisler Center.

Iowa (196.500) finished first in the morning portion of the Championships, followed by Maryland (196.075) and Michigan State (195.650).

Big Ten Championship - First Session Results

The Scarlet Knights concluded the meet on vault, with RU's 49.150 tying the Hawkeyes for the highest vault score of the session. All six competitors for Rutgers landed 9.800 routines or higher, with senior Luisa Leal (Cali, Colombia) and freshman Sahara Gipson (Oakland, N.J.) each leading the rotation with 9.850s. For Gipson, the total was a career-high. Senior Sara Skammer (Dallas, Pa.) (9.825), freshman Elizabeth Groden (Abbottstown, Pa.) (9.825) and junior Nicolette Wilson (Toms River, N.J.) (9.800) all added personal season-high scores, while sophomore April Baker (Andover, Mass.) contributed a 9.800 to the team total.

"I think our vault score was a culmination of what we've done on the event all season," said head coach Louis Levine. "Our vault score have gotten better as the season has progressed and today we were at our best. Everyone really put their best foot forward today and we ended really strong."

RU also impressed on floor exercise, as it secured a 49.125 in the event. The score marked the second highest team total of the season. Groden and sophomore Claire Jones (Gaffney, S.C.) each executed 9.875 routines, as Groden tied a career-high. Senior Emma Hoffman (Union, N.J.) also went over the 9.800 threshold with a 9.850, while sophomore Charly Santagado (Celebration, Fla.) and Baker added a 9.775 and 9.750, respectively.

"Finishing strong with floor and vault makes today a whole lot better," Levine said. "You don't really want to compete the way we did in our first two events. Beam was okay and bars were a struggle, but overall you leave feeling a whole lot better when you finish those two events like that."

Rutgers struggled in its first two events, posting a 47.200 on uneven bars and a 47.650 on balance beam to start the session. Junior Jenna Williams (Bordentown, Pa.) contributed the highest uneven bars score with a 9.750 and Hoffman added a 9.725 during the first rotation. On beam, senior Anastasia Halbig (Schwenksville, Pa.) posted a 9.800 to lead the Scarlet Knights, the third time she has scored at least a 9.800 in the event.

For the seventh time in as many meets, Groden went all-around with a 38.525 total with career highs on floor exercise (9.875) and vault (9.825).

Rutgers will now await individual selections for the NCAA Regionals.

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