Four Rotations: Gymnastics at No. 23 Maryland

Friday, January 19

College Park, Md.

8:00 PM

Rutgers University

No. 23 Maryland

Jan 18 | Women's Gymnastics

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The four things to know before the Scarlet Knights travel to take on the Terps on Fri., Jan. 19 at 8 p.m.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rutgers gymnastics enters Big Ten competition at No. 23 Maryland on Fri., Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. at the XFINITY Center. The Terrapins (1-0) are coming off a season opening 196.150 at home in a victory over West Chester.

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The Four Things to Know...

HISTORY ON MLK DAY

Until the cancelation due to snow in Nashville, Monday's MLK meet was set to feature the country's six Black women head coaches, the first meet of its kind in NCAA gymnastics history. Talladega and Fisk are coming off another historic meet, the first to feature two HBCU programs as Talladega made its debut last Friday night.

"It shows how far we've come in this sport, which wasn't always so welcoming for women of color," said Rutgers head coach Umme Salim-Beasley. "Now we're seeing representation at every program at every level. This is a sport for everyone, and now we have Black female head coaches that can show athletes there is a profession and future in this sport. They can benefit from guidance and mentorship from leaders who share their cultures and backgrounds."

The entire field of coaches were also once collegiate gymnasts. Talladega's Aja Sims-Fletcher, like Iowa State's Ashley Miles Greig, was a standout gymnast at the University of Alabama. Brown's Brittany Harris competed at Oregon State, William & Mary's Kelsey Hinton at NC State, and Salim-Beasley at West Virginia. Fisk's Corrinne Tarver competed at Georgia and was the first African-American member of the Bulldog gymnastics team and was a nine-time All-American. The meet, celebrating BIPOC inclusion in gymnastics, has been adopted as an official event of Nashville's Martin Luther King, Jr. week of celebration.

LEESE LATELY

Senior Emily Leese won her second event in as many meets to start the 2024 season, taking the floor crown in Saturday's home opener in Piscataway with a career-high tying score of 9.925. It was her second career 9.925 on floor, and third overall 9.925 - giving her eight scores of 9.9+ in her career. Leese is Rutgers' high scorer on beam and floor to start the season.

OPENING NIGHT

Rutgers opened 2024 with a 193.400 team score at the UNC quad meet with Ball State and Utah State on Friday night at Carmichael Arena. Senior Avery Balser picked up Rutgers' first event win of the season with a 9.875 on bars, sticking the landing and holding for a high opening night score. Leese led by example with solid scores in three events. She followed up her 9.775 vault and 9.800 floor routine with a career-high 9.850 on beam, claiming the beam title for the first time in her career.

SENSATIONAL SOPHOMORES

A 2023 Big Ten Gymnast to Watch, sophomore Rachael Riley was not able to make her collegiate debut last season due to an injury. The Ontario, Canada native is healthy and ready to give her anticipated debut another shot. Last year's rookie class earned plenty of experience, with Nailah Adams, Gabrielle Dildy, Valentina Lorente-Garcia, and Harmony Webster all competing and scoring in 2023. Renee Figueroa, and Lainey Link also return for their sophomore seasons with a year of high-level collegiate training under their belts.

Dildy and Webster recorded back-to-back career highs on floor - 9.800 and 9.850, respectively - to help Rutgers post the top floor score (49.200) in Saturday's home opener against No. 13 Oregon State, So. Conn. State, and Utica.

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