PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Behind the best balance beam rotation of the season and two career highs, including a school-record 9.925 performance on beam, from senior Makenzey Shank, Rutgers gymnastics swept a quad meet on Saturday at the Rutgers Athletic Center with a 194.800. The team score tied the highest so far in 2018, as the beam mark of 48.975 was the eighth-best outing in the program record books.
 
The Scarlet Knights honored their three seniors – Jenna Crisalli, Libby Groden and Shank – with a ceremony following the fourth rotation after each played a role in the victory.
 
"I'm really proud of the way the team performed tonight, especially the seniors," head coach Louis Levine said. "There were a few mistakes here and there, but I'm happy with how we did. We continue to get better each week. There was a ton of energy in the building and the crowd was into it. It was great to compete at the RAC in an exciting night of gymnastics."
 
Shank took first on balance beam for the third time in the last four weeks with the career-high 9.925, as she previously reached 9.900 twice before. The mark tied Lisa Abrams, who set the record with two such performances in 2004. Groden, who is a national semifinalist for the prestigious AAI Award, also hit her routine with a 9.825 in her return to the lineup for her best this season. Sophomore Shannon Farrell set her personal high at 9.800, while freshman Belle Huang registered at least the score for the fourth time.
 
Moving to floor exercise, Huang worked her best so far to lead the team at 9.875. Junior Jenna Rizkalla continued her success with a 9.825 and Farrell notched a 9.800 for the first time to help RU to a 48.650, which clinched the win.
 
The Scarlet Knights started the evening with a 48.700 on vault. The mark came on the back of five scores of least 9.700, including a 9.775 from both Groden and freshman Toni Williams. Junior Michelle Amoresano contributed a 9.725 and freshman Sophia Atienza recorded a 9.700 in the first rotation.
 
That led to uneven bars, where Shank had another first place with a career-high 9.900. Farrell also up her superlative number at 9.875 to take second overall. Sophomore Emma Karas notched a new personal best with a 9.725, with Amoresano matching to lead to a 48.425, which tied for the best bars rotation in 2018.
 
Huang went all-around once again and brought in a 38.600 to take first among five competitors.
 
Towson placed second with a 194.450, while Western Michigan finished at 192.650 and Ursinus registered a 188.125. It was the sixth meet at the RAC since 2015.
 
Next up, the Scarlet Knights will hit the floor twice next weekend starting with a Friday dual meet at Towson. The team will then take part in a quad meet at George Washington on Sunday.              
 
TOTAL SCORE: 194.800
VAULT: 48.750
UNEVEN BARS: 48.425
BALANCE BEAM: 48.975
FLOOR EXERCISE: 48.650
 
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