UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Senior
Stephanie Zannella claimed the outright beam title at the Big Five meet on Friday evening at Penn State, scoring a 9.900 to top the field of 30 at the annual conference regular season finale. It marked Rutgers' first individual title at a Big Five meet in its 10th season entering the competition.
The Scarlet Knights' 195.275 team score represents Rutgers' second-best tally since beginning Big Five competition in 2015. RU finished fifth in the session behind regular season champion No. 8 Michigan State (197.275), No. 14 Ohio State (197.000), No. 15 Minnesota (196.900), and No. 23 Nebraska (195.725).
Zannella's 9.9 was Rutgers' final routine of the evening in front of the Rec Hall crowd and live on Big Ten Network. The big score gave Rutgers a 49.050 on beam, its best rotation of the night strengthened by
Jacqueline Manifold's 9.850 and
Gabrielle Dildy's 9.825.
Dildy scored high on floor, as well, with a career-high 9.875 to lead RU in the event, followed by
Emily Leese's 9.850. As she has done most of the season, Leese led the Scarlet Knight vaulting effort with a 9.875, her fifth score of at least that mark in the last six meets, tying for fourth out of 30 at Big Fives.
Over on bars,
Avery Balser (9.875) was her consistent self with her fifth score of 9.875 or higher this season, finishing in an eighth-place tie amongst the five conference teams.
In her first Big Five meet, redshirt freshman
Rachael Riley hit a career-high vault of 9.800. Dildy made it three meets of at least 9.8 with her 9.800 vault.
Knight Notes
- Stephanie Zannella's beam victory marks Rutgers' first event win at a Big Five meet since joining the conference in 2015.
- Gabrielle Dildy reached a new career high on floor with her 9.875 at the Big Five meet. She scored a 9.8 or above in all three of her events at Big Fives (vault, beam, floor).
- Rachael Riley vaulted to her new career high of 9.800.
Top Performers
Vault: Emily Leese (9.875) – T-4th of 30
Bars: Avery Balser (9.875) – T-8th of 30
Beam: Stephanie Zannella (9.900) – 1st of 30
Floor: Gabrielle Dildy (9.875) – T-10th of 30
Up Next
The Scarlet Knights return to New Jersey to host a quad meet with Cornell, West Chester, and Ursinus on Sat., March 2 at 2 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena, streaming live on B1G+.
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