LAS VEGAS - Rutgers gymnastics opened the 2023 season at the Super 16 Collegiate Challenge on Friday evening, finishing fourth in a group with No. 20 Georgia, No. 14 Oregon State, and No. 17 Stanford with a score of 194.700. The Scarlet Knights opened the evening with a second-place team performance on floor with a 49.150.
The 194.700 team score is a program record for a season opening road meet, and the best overall score to open a season since 2014.
Stanford took the team title with a 196.175, followed by Georgia's 195.950 and Oregon State's 195.450.
Junior
Emily Leese accounted for two of Rutgers' four Top 3 performances on Friday with a pair of second place finishes. The Scarlet Knights' first rotation was on floor, where Leese turned in a career-high 9.9 and tied for third in the loaded field. Later, Leese vaulted into a 9.875, good for a tie for second at the Super 16.
Sophomore
Elia Aird also scored a career-best 9.9 on floor in a third-place routine captured by Big Ten Network.
Rutgers closed the event on beam, where junior captain
Stephanie Zannella anchored with a 9.850 to tie for second in the event.
Vault: Emily Leese, 9.875 (T-2nd place)
Bars: Avery Balser, 9.825
Beam: Stephanie Zannella, 9.850 (T-2nd place)
Floor: Elia Aird &
Emily Leese, 9.900 (T-3rd place)
All-Around: Hannah Joyner, 39.050
Rutgers will host its 2023 home opener on Sat., Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena in a quad against Ball State, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and Towson.
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