Sunday, March 11
Philadelphia, PA.
1 PM
Rutgers University
at
Temple/Eastern Michigan/Lindenwood
Photo by: Mel Evans
Gymnastics Travels to Temple
Mar 08 | Women's Gymnastics
Scarlet Knights to compete Sunday
MEET 10 • RUTGERS at TEMPLE W/ EASTERN MICHIGAN & LINDENWOOD
March 11, 2018 • 1 p.m. ET
McGonigle Hall • Philadelphia, Pa.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off two meets last weekend, Rutgers gymnastics will return to action Sunday with a quad meet at Temple that will also include Eastern Michigan and Lindenwood. The competition starts at 1 p.m. inside McGonigle Hall.
RUTGERS MEET PREVIEW
The Scarlet Knights first scored a 193.825 at Towson last Friday, highlighted by a 49.125 on floor exercise for the 11th-best rotation on the event in school history. Junior Jenna Rizkalla led the way as one of four marks over 9.800 or better at 9.875. Then on Sunday at George Washington, balance beam performed best with a 48.875, as sophomore Erin McLachlan earned a career-best 9.875. RU finished with a 193.550 as a team.
The balance beam lineup continues to be ranked the highest among the four with a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 48.690 to sit No. 40 nationally. Senior Makenzey Shank leads with a 9.855 RQS that includes seven marks or 9.800 or better this season, including in each of the last six outings with a high of 9.925. Freshman Belle Huang has worked to a 9.805 RQS so far.
Overall, floor exercise owns a 48.810 RQS with two scores over 49.000 this season. Rizkalla has impressed to at least a 9.725 each meet in 2018, holding a 9.835 RQS. Freshman Toni Williams (9.770) paces the vault group, while Shank and sophomore Shannon Farrell are both at 9.750 on uneven bars.
This will be the final meet for Rutgers before returning to Big Ten competition, starting with the Big Five meet at the RAC on March 17. The Big Ten Championships will take place the following weekend at Illinois.
The Scarlet Knights will be traveling to Temple for the first time since 2009. The Owls are led by head coach Umme Salim-Beasley, who was part of the RU coaching staff for four seasons from 2012-15.
COACH LEVINE Q&A
On the mentality of the team: "A lot of it is that this team is not satisfied where we are right now. They are continuing to get better. We put together a great floor rotation at Towson and are looking to put together four of those great rotations. The team keeps pushing and fighting, that's what we're asking from them. Everyone keeps coming into the gym and working hard every day."
On coming off two meets last weekend and not competing until Sunday: "We get a chance to get some more practices in this week. It is also important to get some rest to recuperate from the long weekend. That's something we also need right now. As a team, we will push to keep improving in practice and not be satisfied. In every meet we have some really great individual and event performances, but we are looking for the complete performance. We've had several of those so far this year, but last weekend wasn't where we would like it to be. Overall, we will keep pushing top to bottom."
On balance beam: "We have some tremendous beam workers that match up with anyone in the Big Ten. The lineup has also been very consistent for the most part, which helps a lot as well. Anne (Meade) is doing a great job over there with them. We have Micki, who has been great on beam her entire career, Belle and Erin, who have been doing great, and Libby, who is rock solid. Michelle has done a great job as leadoff and Shannon has been improving as well. And anyone who has had to step in, they have performed. I would agree that beam has been one of our more consistent events, and one where we can excel as a team."
TICKETS ON SALE FOR BIG FIVE MEET
After staging the Big Ten Championships last season, Rutgers is scheduled to host a Big Five meet at the RAC on March 17. The competitive meet will also involve Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State to determine positioning for the Big Ten Championships, which will be held at Illinois. Click here to purchase tickets.
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).
March 11, 2018 • 1 p.m. ET
McGonigle Hall • Philadelphia, Pa.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off two meets last weekend, Rutgers gymnastics will return to action Sunday with a quad meet at Temple that will also include Eastern Michigan and Lindenwood. The competition starts at 1 p.m. inside McGonigle Hall.
RUTGERS MEET PREVIEW
The Scarlet Knights first scored a 193.825 at Towson last Friday, highlighted by a 49.125 on floor exercise for the 11th-best rotation on the event in school history. Junior Jenna Rizkalla led the way as one of four marks over 9.800 or better at 9.875. Then on Sunday at George Washington, balance beam performed best with a 48.875, as sophomore Erin McLachlan earned a career-best 9.875. RU finished with a 193.550 as a team.
The balance beam lineup continues to be ranked the highest among the four with a Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 48.690 to sit No. 40 nationally. Senior Makenzey Shank leads with a 9.855 RQS that includes seven marks or 9.800 or better this season, including in each of the last six outings with a high of 9.925. Freshman Belle Huang has worked to a 9.805 RQS so far.
Overall, floor exercise owns a 48.810 RQS with two scores over 49.000 this season. Rizkalla has impressed to at least a 9.725 each meet in 2018, holding a 9.835 RQS. Freshman Toni Williams (9.770) paces the vault group, while Shank and sophomore Shannon Farrell are both at 9.750 on uneven bars.
This will be the final meet for Rutgers before returning to Big Ten competition, starting with the Big Five meet at the RAC on March 17. The Big Ten Championships will take place the following weekend at Illinois.
The Scarlet Knights will be traveling to Temple for the first time since 2009. The Owls are led by head coach Umme Salim-Beasley, who was part of the RU coaching staff for four seasons from 2012-15.
COACH LEVINE Q&A
On the mentality of the team: "A lot of it is that this team is not satisfied where we are right now. They are continuing to get better. We put together a great floor rotation at Towson and are looking to put together four of those great rotations. The team keeps pushing and fighting, that's what we're asking from them. Everyone keeps coming into the gym and working hard every day."
On coming off two meets last weekend and not competing until Sunday: "We get a chance to get some more practices in this week. It is also important to get some rest to recuperate from the long weekend. That's something we also need right now. As a team, we will push to keep improving in practice and not be satisfied. In every meet we have some really great individual and event performances, but we are looking for the complete performance. We've had several of those so far this year, but last weekend wasn't where we would like it to be. Overall, we will keep pushing top to bottom."
On balance beam: "We have some tremendous beam workers that match up with anyone in the Big Ten. The lineup has also been very consistent for the most part, which helps a lot as well. Anne (Meade) is doing a great job over there with them. We have Micki, who has been great on beam her entire career, Belle and Erin, who have been doing great, and Libby, who is rock solid. Michelle has done a great job as leadoff and Shannon has been improving as well. And anyone who has had to step in, they have performed. I would agree that beam has been one of our more consistent events, and one where we can excel as a team."
TICKETS ON SALE FOR BIG FIVE MEET
After staging the Big Ten Championships last season, Rutgers is scheduled to host a Big Five meet at the RAC on March 17. The competitive meet will also involve Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State to determine positioning for the Big Ten Championships, which will be held at Illinois. Click here to purchase tickets.
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
/ Women's Gymnastics
/ Women's Gymnastics
/ Women's Gymnastics
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