EAST LANSING, Mich. - Rutgers gymnastics combined for a score of 195.400 at the 2024 Big Ten Championships at Michigan State's Jenison Field House on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights are fifth out of the six teams competing in Session I, with four teams left to go in Saturday evening's second session.
 
The 195.400 marks Rutgers' third highest score at the Big Ten Championships since joining the conference in 2015. Rutgers was without its senior vault and floor anchor, All-Big Ten Second Team selection Emily Leese, who did not compete due to injury.
 
Sophomore Gabrielle Dildy capped her second collegiate season with a Big Ten Championships 9.900 anchoring the floor lineup, which tied for seventh out of 60 Big Ten gymnasts. She was tied for first among 36 gymnasts before Session II. The score helped Rutgers post a 49.200 in the event with all six gymnasts scoring 9.8 or above. Avery Balser, Maya Jones, and Harmony Webster all came in at 9.800, while Elia Aird and Stephanie Zannella each earned 9.850's.
 
Dildy posted another high mark on vault with a 9.850, ranking in a tie for third in Session I. The sophomore sensation closed out the season with six consecutive vaults of 9.8 or higher, including consecutive 9.9's in the season's final two regular season meets. Dildy added a 9.825 on beam at the Big Ten Championships.
 
Freshman Matis Rains, who only competed in the starting beam lineup once during her rookie season, came up clutch with a career-high 9.825 to tie for ninth in Session I.
 
Over on bars, as she has done much throughout her collegiate career, senior Avery Balser led the Scarlet Knights with a 9.800 to tie for 15th during the session. Senior Stephanie Zannella paced the beam team with a 9.800 and a tie for 13th.
 
Freshman Elliot Goldsmith also made her Big Ten Championships debut competing in two events, with a 9.675 on bars and a 9.650 on vault.
 
Top Performers
Vault: Gabrielle Dildy (9.850) – T-13th of 60
Bars: Avery Balser (9.800) – T-32nd of 60
Beam: Stephanie Zannella (9.800) – T-29th of 60
Floor: Gabrielle Dildy (9.900) – T-7th of 60