Photo by: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics
Ali, Amoresano & Rizkalla Named Gymnastics Captains
Nov 12 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers gymnastics seniors Riahanah Ali, Michelle Amoresano and Jenna Rizkalla will serve as team captains this season. The trio brings a combined 86 meets of experience into the campaign.
"We are excited to announce our 2018-2019 team captains," head coach Umme Salim-Beasley said. "We are confident that these ladies possess the strengths necessary to be leaders of our team. Having three years of experience as team members, they understand what it takes to motivate and guide a team. Each individual captain has qualities that complement each other. They will lead by example and use their positive voices to help facilitate a new direction for this program. I can't be more thrilled to see what they can accomplish together."
Ali is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten member and was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar last season. From Ann Arbor, Michigan, she has competed in 26 career meets with experience on all four events. Ali has scored as high as 9.900 on floor exercise, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Championship Team after finishing first in the session on the event in 2016.
Amoresano won the Chrystal Chollet-Norton Award for hard work, a positive attitude, the ability to persevere and commitment to Rutgers gymnastics last season. She scored as high as 9.825 on both vault and uneven bars in 2018 and owns a team-high 36 meets of experience overall. Also a two-time winner of the team's Hardest Worker Award, the Whippany, New Jersey, native is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Rizkalla, from Westfield, New Jersey, led the team with a 9.850 RQS on floor exercise in 2018, scoring 9.800 or better nine times with a career high of 9.900. She earned the 100% Award on the event for hitting every routine throughout the season. Rizkalla has also been a contributor on vault and balance beam during her career.
The Scarlet Knights will open the 2019 campaign in Mexico on Jan. 4 in the Cancun Classic. The Big Ten and home opener is set for Jan. 19 versus Nebraska (Livingston Gym). The other conference home dual meets will be on Feb. 2 against Maryland (RAC) and on Feb. 9 versus Penn State (RAC). Senior Day will be March 8, a Friday, at the RAC in a quad meet with Towson, Centenary and Bridgeport. Admission is free to all four home meets.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's gymnastics, follow the program on Twitter (@RUGymnastics), Facebook (/RUGymnastics), Instagram (@rutgersgymnastics) and Snapchat (rutgersgym).
"We are excited to announce our 2018-2019 team captains," head coach Umme Salim-Beasley said. "We are confident that these ladies possess the strengths necessary to be leaders of our team. Having three years of experience as team members, they understand what it takes to motivate and guide a team. Each individual captain has qualities that complement each other. They will lead by example and use their positive voices to help facilitate a new direction for this program. I can't be more thrilled to see what they can accomplish together."
Ali is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten member and was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar last season. From Ann Arbor, Michigan, she has competed in 26 career meets with experience on all four events. Ali has scored as high as 9.900 on floor exercise, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Championship Team after finishing first in the session on the event in 2016.
Amoresano won the Chrystal Chollet-Norton Award for hard work, a positive attitude, the ability to persevere and commitment to Rutgers gymnastics last season. She scored as high as 9.825 on both vault and uneven bars in 2018 and owns a team-high 36 meets of experience overall. Also a two-time winner of the team's Hardest Worker Award, the Whippany, New Jersey, native is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Rizkalla, from Westfield, New Jersey, led the team with a 9.850 RQS on floor exercise in 2018, scoring 9.800 or better nine times with a career high of 9.900. She earned the 100% Award on the event for hitting every routine throughout the season. Rizkalla has also been a contributor on vault and balance beam during her career.
The Scarlet Knights will open the 2019 campaign in Mexico on Jan. 4 in the Cancun Classic. The Big Ten and home opener is set for Jan. 19 versus Nebraska (Livingston Gym). The other conference home dual meets will be on Feb. 2 against Maryland (RAC) and on Feb. 9 versus Penn State (RAC). Senior Day will be March 8, a Friday, at the RAC in a quad meet with Towson, Centenary and Bridgeport. Admission is free to all four home meets.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's gymnastics, follow the program on Twitter (@RUGymnastics), Facebook (/RUGymnastics), Instagram (@rutgersgymnastics) and Snapchat (rutgersgym).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Gymnastics
/ Women's Gymnastics
/ Women's Gymnastics
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