2021 Gymnastics Season Recap
5/19/2021
Rutgers gymnastics persevered through adversity and challenges of a trying year and a half to achieve new records and history in the 2021 season. The Scarlet Knights produced their highest ever finish and score at the Big Ten Championships, two NCAA Regional qualifiers, a National qualifier, two First Team All-Big Ten honorees, 14 Academic All-Big Ten recipients, and much more this season.
SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS
Rutgers' focus and dedication led to a historic performance at the 2021 Big Ten Championships. The Scarlet Knights made a statement, landing atop the standings following the first session of the championships. RU soared to a program-record score of 195.675 to win Session I, a total that would secure the highest-ever overall finish for the program.
In RU’s Session I win, the Scarlet Knights claimed victories over Maryland, Penn State, Nebraska, and Ohio State, finishing fifth overall among all nine teams competing. Individually, Joyner placed third in the all-around and third on beam among all Big Ten competitors, while Huang finished fourth in the all-around and third on beam as well. The duo advanced to NCAA Regionals, as Huang earned her third bid and Joyner her first.
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
In addition to a record-setting Big Ten Championships, Rutgers posted the highest road score (195.975), the second highest beam score (49.275), the third best team score (195.975) ever, the fourth best home and ninth best overall score (195.525) in program history. The Scarlet Knights also recorded the program's first ever conference victory over Nebraska during the regular season.
Individually, Joyner matched the school record on beam with a 9.950, having eclipsed 9.9 or higher on the event six times in 2021 and 13 times in her career.
PLETHORA OF ACCOLADES
Huang and Joyner earned All-Big Ten First Team accolades following the regular season. It marked the second All-Big Ten recognition for each, as well as the first time in program history Rutgers secured two first team honorees in a single season.
Huang also garnered an American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award nomination and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The AAI Award is presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country, widely considered the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics. The Sportsmanship Award is awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
A total of 14 Scarlet Knights earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades for Winter 2021, including Sophia Atienza, Kaitlyn Bertola, Kiera Doherty-Herwitz, Emily Drauss, Jordyn Duffield, Jenna Ferguson, Lizzy Henshall, Belle Huang, Hannah Joyner, Abigail Karolewski, Sage Littlejohn, Alexis Rogers, Toni Williams, and Jordyn Zieden-Weber.
HISTORY FOR HANNAH
Joyner made a statement in her sophomore year of competition. The all-arounder made history as the first ever Scarlet Knight to eclipse a 9.9 on all events. She owns personal bests of 9.950 on beam, 9.900 on bars, 9.900 on floor and 9.900 on vault.
Joyner, the program record holder on beam, became just the third gymnast in Rutgers history to advance to Nationals and first ever to do so on beam. Her score of 9.925 at NCAA Regionals marked the highest score for any RU gymnast at that level of competition, as well as the highest individual finisher to qualify out of the region not on an advancing team.
She joined former Scarlet Knights Courtney Turner (floor) and Alexis Gunzleman (all-around) to compete at Nationals for Rutgers gymnastics.
2021 SENIOR CLASS
The group of Sophia Atienza, Emily Drauss, Belle Huang, and Toni Williams made a strong impact on the program’s upward trajectory during their time “On the Banks”.
In addition to the records and historic achievements of 2021, the four also had a hand in the second-highest team score for Rutgers with a 196.050 to top No. 15 Penn State in 2019. In 2020, the quartet pushed the Scarlet Knights to its highest ranked victory and first ever win over No. 15 Auburn, totaling a then top road score for the program, which still stands as fifth highest total on the charts. The quartet contributed to a program best team vault score, and third-best bars and floor scores over the years as well.
In the classroom they have a collective resume of Scholastic All-America, Academic All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar accolades for their strong work in academics.
2022 OUTLOOK
Rutgers will look to build its consistent momentum and further strengthen the program's foundation. The team will return a core of veterans for 2022, which includes Huang returning for a fifth-year as a graduate student. The returners also include this year's freshman class that made an immediate impact, bringing a year of experience to next season. The Scarlet Knights will welcome a 2021-22 recruiting class that ranks top 25 nationally.
