CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Rutgers gymnastics began the 2024 season with a 193.400 team score at the UNC quad meet with Ball State and Utah State on Friday night at Carmichael Arena. The Scarlet Knights picked up the victory over Utah State (193.175), while falling short to 2023 NCAA regional qualifiers Ball State (194.925) and host UNC (193.725).
 

ALL-AROUND THE GYM

• 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.
• Emily Leese, serving as a meet captain for the Scarlet Knights, 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. 
• Junior Elia Aird returned to all-around duty with a 38.625, paced by a 9.800 on bars.
• Senior Stephanie Zannella started her season with 9.800 on beam (6th place of 24) and a 9.700 on floor.
• Sophomore Harmony Webster notched Rutgers' second best floor score with a 9.725.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Senior Emily Leese continued her momentum on beam, winning the event for the first time in her career with a career-high 9.850.
• Sophomore Gabrielle Dildy scored her career high on vault with an 9.850.
• Dildy also made her collegiate floor debut, posting a solid 9.725.
• Sophomore Rachael Riley's collegiate debut came with a 9.725 on vault.
• Freshman Olivia DiNovi impressed in her collegiate debut, scoring a 9.700 on bars.
• Freshman Matis Rains made her collegiate debut on beam.

TOP PERFORMERS

Vault: Gabrielle Dildy (9.850) - 5th
Bars: Avery Balser (9.875) - 1st
Beam: Emily Leese (9.850) - 1st
Floor: Emily Leese (9.800) - 4th
All-Around: Elia Aird (38.625) - 5th
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers will host its 2024 home opener on Sat., Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena in a quad meet against Southern Connecticut State, Oregon State, and Utica. It will be the first gymnastics meet in school history for the Utica Pioneers of NCAA Division III.
 

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