CANCÚN, Mexico – Opening up the 2019 season in the competitive Cancún Classic, Rutgers gymnastics performed best on vault and floor exercise to total a 189.800 Friday inside the Grand Coral Ballroom. Michigan won the quad meet with a 196.050, with Iowa State scoring a 194.275 and West Virginia picking up a 194.150.
 
"The meet gave us an opportunity to see where we are as a team and to decide what we need to work on moving forward," head coach Umme Salim-Beasley said. "It was a great opportunity to get the team out competing again. Our team has the difficulty level to compete against the best teams in the country. Once we lock in our competition mindset, our consistency and confidence will grow from there. We are looking forward to taking on our challenges one meet at a time."
 
The Scarlet Knights started quickly on vault with a 48.650 to sit in second place after one rotation. Sophomore Toni Williams led the way by registering a career-high 9.800, while senior Riahanah Ali followed at 9.750. Coming off an NCAA Regional appearance last season, sophomore Belle Huang added a 9.725, with freshman Mia Betancourt beginning her collegiate career by posting 9.700.
 
Freshman Abigail Karolewski swung to a 9.650 in her RU debut to pace the uneven bars lineup, which finished at 45.850. On balance beam, both Betancourt and junior Kaitlyn Hall contributed a 9.675 to the team's 46.750.
 
Rutgers finished up with a 48.550 on floor exercise. Huang, who totaled a 37.725 in the all-around competition, posted the highest score of the day for the Scarlet Knights with a 9.850. Ali notched a 9.725 in the rotation.
 
Rutgers will next compete at Bridgeport on Jan. 12 in a quad meet with Southern Connecticut and Yale. Action is set to begin at 5 p.m.
 
TOTAL SCORE: 189.800
VAULT: 48.650
UNEVEN BARS: 45.850
BALANCE BEAM: 46.750
FLOOR EXERCISE: 48.550
 
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