MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. –  Rutgers gymnastics finished atop the standings in Session I of the Big Ten Championships on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Scarlet Knights soared to a program-record score at the Championships with a 195.675, claiming wins over Maryland (195.650), Penn State (195.525), Nebraska (195.350), and Ohio State (195.325).
 
Sophomore Hannah Joyner and senior Belle Huang led the Scarlet Knights, finishing first and second in the session with scores of 39.375 and 39.350, respectively. Huang also finished first on floor and tied for first on beam in the session, while Joyner tied for first on beam and third on floor.
  

VAULT

Freshman Emily Leese recorded a career high of 9.850 to lead the Scarlet Knights in their first rotation. Freshman Calah Newman, Huang and Joyner each added marks of 9.800, while freshman Avery Balser recorded a score of 9.700.
 

😍Emily Leese leads us in a strong vault rotation to start R day at the Big Ten Championships, posting a career-high 9.850‼️ pic.twitter.com/BFRBRI1wwD

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) March 20, 2021

 
 

BARS

Following a bye, the Scarlet Knights moved to their second rotation on bars. Junior Abigail Karolewski and Joyner posted team-high marks of 9.825 in the event, marking a season high for Karolewski. Huang contributed a 9.775 followed by senior Emily Drauss with a 9.750. Freshman Calah Newman added a 9.7 to round out the team mark of 48.875, the second-highest event score on the year for RU.
 

👏Abigail Karolewski with a beautiful routine on bars, posting a season-high 9.825‼️ pic.twitter.com/qsYfLIl0Wu

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) March 20, 2021

👏Hannah Joyner anchors us on bars with a strong routine, posting a score of 9.825‼️ pic.twitter.com/2dOMleAYSG

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) March 20, 2021

 

BEAM

Joyner and Huang anchored the Scarlet Knights on beam with back-to-back 9.9s, both leading the session. Joyner registered another incredible performance on beam this year, eclipsing 9.900 for the fifth time this season and 12th time overall on the event in her young career.
 
Huang capped the lineup with a beautiful routine of her own with a 9.9 of her own. Sophomore Jenna Ferguson notched a 9.775, while Drauss posted a 9.750 in a strong team outing on beam for the Scarlet Knights.
 

👑BEAM QUEEN Hannah Joyner does it again, eclipsing a 9.9 mark on the event for the fifth time this season and 12th time in her career‼️ pic.twitter.com/GESBRAutOy

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) March 20, 2021

 

👑BEAM QUEEN Belle Huang with a stunning routine to earn a 9.9 of her own‼️ Back-to-back 9.9s on beam for us at the Big Ten Championships! pic.twitter.com/KFAeiKJ1ir

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) March 20, 2021

 

FLOOR

Huang closed the meet with a statement on floor, posting a team-high 9.875 to lead the session in the event. Joyner registered a 9.850 with her performance to finish third in the session. Freshman Emily Wood recorded a 9.775, while Newman added a 9.725 to conclude the record-setting day at the conference championships.
 

👑😍Belle Huang caps our Big Ten Championships outing with an incredible routine on floor, posting a 9.875‼️ pic.twitter.com/qqnqEgT0a2

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) March 20, 2021

 
Check back to ScarletKnights.com for final updates following the second and last session of the Big Ten Championships.
 

KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers produced its highest score ever at the Big Ten Championships with a 195.675. The team score marks the eighth highest score in program history and the fifth highest road score ever.
• The Scarlet Knights have recorded three of the top 10 scores in program history this season, including the highest ever road score in February on the road also at Minnesota.
• Hannah Joyner is the Rutgers career leader with 15 total marks of 9.9 or higher across all events, becoming the first Scarlet Knight to eclipse a 9.9 on each event.

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