Gymnastics Earns Most Improved Team Honor
Aug 14 | Women's Gymnastics
Scarlet Knights named most improved team with a first year head coach by College Gym News
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After climbing nine spots in the national rankings from 2018 to 2019, Rutgers gymnastics was recognized as the most improved team with a first year head coach in data collected by College Gym News. The Scarlet Knights tied for fifth-most improved overall.
"This year's winner for most improved team with a first year head coach is Rutgers, whose rookie leader Umme Salim-Beasley helped the team improve nine spots in the rankings," wrote Mary Emma Burton of College Gym News. "This improvement is a good indication that Rutgers is going to be a team to watch in the coming years."
Rutgers exceeded expectations and set a foundation in year one under Salim-Beasley and her staff. The Scarlet Knights scored as high as 196.050 in 2019, earned two Big Ten wins over ranked opponents and saw Belle Huang score a 9.900 at NCAA Regionals to tie the individual program record at the meet. Huang became the second gymnast to garner All-Big Ten honors. Overall, RU had 12 routines of 9.900 or better across the four events.
The team recorded a 194 or better in the last nine meets and in 10 of the last 11, including a victory over No. 25 Penn State to reach 196 for the second time in school history. Posting a 194.650 at the Big Five meet, Rutgers topped No. 22 Ohio State for its second Big Ten win of the season. The Scarlet Knights had two combined regular season Big Ten wins in the previous four years. RU also leaped Michigan State in the final Big Ten regular season standings.
"I think everything came together better than we had expected," Salim-Beasley said. "Initially coming in we knew that there was going to be a lot of change taking place. A lot of times when it's a new staff it takes a little longer for the change to happen because implementing new ways of doing things, it takes a little while for people to catch hold and understand the purpose behind it. But I think this team was extremely receptive to the changes that we put in place and were really open and looking forward to it. They embraced it and were able to catch hold of it a lot quicker than we had expected."
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).
"This year's winner for most improved team with a first year head coach is Rutgers, whose rookie leader Umme Salim-Beasley helped the team improve nine spots in the rankings," wrote Mary Emma Burton of College Gym News. "This improvement is a good indication that Rutgers is going to be a team to watch in the coming years."
Rutgers exceeded expectations and set a foundation in year one under Salim-Beasley and her staff. The Scarlet Knights scored as high as 196.050 in 2019, earned two Big Ten wins over ranked opponents and saw Belle Huang score a 9.900 at NCAA Regionals to tie the individual program record at the meet. Huang became the second gymnast to garner All-Big Ten honors. Overall, RU had 12 routines of 9.900 or better across the four events.
The team recorded a 194 or better in the last nine meets and in 10 of the last 11, including a victory over No. 25 Penn State to reach 196 for the second time in school history. Posting a 194.650 at the Big Five meet, Rutgers topped No. 22 Ohio State for its second Big Ten win of the season. The Scarlet Knights had two combined regular season Big Ten wins in the previous four years. RU also leaped Michigan State in the final Big Ten regular season standings.
"I think everything came together better than we had expected," Salim-Beasley said. "Initially coming in we knew that there was going to be a lot of change taking place. A lot of times when it's a new staff it takes a little longer for the change to happen because implementing new ways of doing things, it takes a little while for people to catch hold and understand the purpose behind it. But I think this team was extremely receptive to the changes that we put in place and were really open and looking forward to it. They embraced it and were able to catch hold of it a lot quicker than we had expected."
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
Rutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
R Fund, Knights of the Raritan are YouKnighted | Million Dollar Match
Friday, February 28
Rutgers x Nike Apparel Partnership
Thursday, December 19
Rutgers Athletics 2023-24 Year in Review
Friday, July 12
