PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers gymnastics topped Penn State on Saturday afternoon at the RAC, posting a mark of 195.525 to mark the fourth-best home score and ninth-best mark overall in program history. RU sent off its four graduating seniors -
Sophia Atienza,
Emily Drauss,
Belle Huang, and
Toni Williams - with a victory in their final meet at the RAC.
The Scarlet Knights recorded eight top three event finishes. Sophomore
Hannah Joyner claimed the event titles in the all-around, on beam and on vault, as well as finishing third on floor. Senior
Belle Huang finished third in the all-around and on floor, while freshman
Avery Balser finished second on floor and
Emily Wood finished third on floor to round out the top three finishes for RU.
Joyner started the day off strong, anchoring vault with a team-high 9.850 to claim first place. Sophomore
Jenna Ferguson recorded a 9.800 in the event, while freshman
Emily Leese posted a 9.800 as well for a new career best. Senior
Belle Huang notched a 9.775 and freshman
Calah Newman added a 9.725 to round out the top performers on vault.
Moving to the second rotation on bars, junior
Abigail Karolewski and Joyner recorded mark of 9.775 to share the team lead in the event. Senior
Emily Drauss and freshman
Avery Balser contributed scores of 9.750 each for their routines, while Newman added in a 9.700.
For the second-straight meet, Joyner eclipsed 9.900 on beam to lead the lineup and claim the event title. She has posted a 9.9 or higher, including the school record of 9.950, on beam 11 times in her young career.
Freshman
Stephanie Zannella and Huang each registered mark of 9.800 in the event for RU. Newman recorded a 9.775 and Drauss notched a 9.750 to push the team score to 49.025 on beam.
Four Scarlet Knights finished in the top three on floor, as Balser notched a runner-up finish to lead the team with a career-high 9.800. Wood, Joyner and Huang all tied for third with marks of 9.775.
Joyner tied for the all-around title with a 39.300 followed by Huang in third with a 39.000. Newman also competed in all-around for the Scarlet Knights, competing in all-around for the sxith time of her rookie season.
The Scarlet Knights honored the Class of 2021, as well as welcoming back the Class of 2020, for a senior day ceremony following the meet.
- Hannah Joyner is the program leader in 9.9 scores, having recorded 14 total marks of 9.9 across all four events in her career.
- Rutgers has recorded two of the top 10 team scores in program history, including the highest road score ever at 195.975 for the third-best mark overall. Today's mark of 195.525 comes in as the ninth-best score overall and fourth-best home score for Rutgers.
Rutgers is set for a trip to the 2021 Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 20 hosted at Minnesota. More information for the championships to be announced at a later date.
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