PISCATAWAY, N.J. –  Rutgers gymnastics hosts its home finale on Fri., March 15 at 7 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena in a tri-meet with Penn and Yale, streaming live on B1G+. The Scarlet Knights will honor its seniors after the meet, celebrating the careers of Avery Balser, Myra Daniels, Emily Leese, Calah Newman, Giana Ortiz, Jaidyn Raby, Emily Wood, Stephanie Zannella, and Katy Koopman. RU will also celebrate its senior managers, Kylie Haffner and Rees Hagler.

At the Arena...Black Out & NJ Club Gymnastics Day: Join us in honoring our senior gymnasts during this Black Out event. The evening will also recognize NJ Club Gymnastics Day with special performances and activities. After the meet, an autograph session will take place. Fans can enjoy face painting and airbrush activities. Don't miss out on our exclusive giveaways, including senior posters, black Block R t-shirts, Senior Day buttons, and a signed Spring Board.

The Four Things to Know...
 

HOME SWEET HOME

Rutgers won a quad meet on March 2 at Jersey Mike's Arena with a score of 195.325, topping Cornell (193.975), West Chester (190.700), and Ursinus (189.725). The Scarlet Knights used a 49.125 on vault to start the winning momentum, marking the program's sixth-best score in the event. Emily Leese took the vault title with her 9.875, followed by Gabrielle Dildy's second-place 9.850, tying her career high. Elia Aird added a 9.825, Valentina Lorente-Garcia continues her consistent form with a 9.800, and Jaidyn Raby rounded out the scoring with a career-high 9.775.

LEESE LATELY

Senior Emily Leese won her eighth event in seven meets to start the 2024 season, taking the vault and floor crowns vs. Iowa on Feb. 9 and adding a floor title in the New Hampshire quad. Leese's 9.925 on floor at New Hampshire tied a career high and is the senior's 12th overall 9.9+ (seventh on floor). Her 9.900 on vault was her second of the season and fifth of her career. This meet marks the second time Leese has hit 9.9+ on vault and floor in her career (March 12, 2023). Leese is Rutgers' high scorer on vault and floor to start the season, coming in with an opening NQS of 9.870 (No. 38) on vault.

RILEY HAS ARRIVED

Sophomore Rachael Riley, who made her college debut this season, earned her first Top 3 finish with a 9.850 on beam in the Penn State dual, a new career high. The Ontario, Canada native reset her career high on vault at the Big Five Meet with a 9.800.

In just her fifth collegiate event, Riley posted her first 9.900 while winning the beam at Illinois, sticking her landing and executing a triple aerial series with no deductions.
 

B1G FIVE BEST ON BEAM

Senior Stephanie Zannella claimed the outright beam title at the Big Five meet on Feb. 23 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.


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