PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers gymnastics set a program record for a home opening team score with a 195.550 on Saturday afternoon at Jersey Mike's Arena, finishing second in the quad meet behind Towson (195.850) and ahead of Ball State (195.450) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (192.425).
 
The Scarlet Knights made significant improvement on bars and beam from their season opener in Las Vegas with a 48.900 on bars, surpassing the 48.250 from Meet 1, and a 48.925 on beam to beat their 48.500 from the Super 16 last weekend. The 48.925 on beam was the top team score at the quad on Saturday.

"The team did their job today," said head coach Umme Salim-Beasley. "Our goal was to increase our team score every meet and that is what we did today. They are competing with confidence and composure. We are excited about the progress we are making and will keep chopping from here!"
 
Junior Emily Leese won floor with a 9.875, sophomore Elia Aird and junior Gianna Ortiz tied for the event win on beam with a 9.850, and senior Hannah Joyner took the all-around title with a 39.175.

Some Emily Leese floor routine for your feed... an event winning score of 9.875🤸‍♀️#RUGYM /// #GoRU! pic.twitter.com/17PFXR52Fr

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) January 14, 2023

TOP 3 FINISHES

• Leese added a second-place performance on vault with a 9.875 to go with her event victory on floor.
• Junior Avery Balser paced Rutgers on bars with a third-place 9.875, matching a career best in the event.
• Junior Emily Wood tied for second on floor with a 9.850.

Avery Balser leads us on the bars with a career-high tying 9.875! Check it out🎥#RUGYM /// #GoRU! pic.twitter.com/hjrelKWWif

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) January 14, 2023

 

KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers' program record home opening score of 195.550 surpassed the previous record from Jan. 24, 2015 (195.375). 
• Junior Avery Balser matched her career-high on bars to lead the Scarlet Knights on the apparatus with a 9.875.
• Junior Gianna Ortiz set career-highs with a 9.850 on beam and a 9.725 on bars.
• Sophomore Elia Aird scored her career-highs on bars (9.800) and beam (9.850).
• Sophomore Maya Jones made her collegiate debut on vault with a 9.750.
• Freshman Nailah Adams performed in her collegiate debut on bars with a 9.650.

How about a career-high 9.850 from Gianna Ortiz on the balance beam⁉️#RUGYM /// #GoRU! pic.twitter.com/ftwRKggYtA

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) January 14, 2023

TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS

Vault: Emily Leese, 9.875 (2nd)
Bars: Avery Balser, 9.875 (3rd)
Beam: Elia Aird & Gianna Ortiz, 9.850 (T-1st)
Floor: Emily Leese, 9.875 (1st)
All-Around: Hannah Joyner, 39.175 (1st)

Emily Leese matches her 9.875 from the season opener with this beaut of a vault👑#RUGYM /// #GoRU! pic.twitter.com/JplS7liyWo

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) January 14, 2023

UP NEXT

It's a quick turnaround for the Scarlet Knights, who travel today for a Mon., Jan. 16 meet at No. 19 Georgia with No. 18 Ohio State and Fisk at 2 p.m. ET.
 

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