Rutgers University
Ohio State
Gymnastics Hosts No. 16 Ohio State in Big Ten Opener
Jan 16 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 30 Rutgers gymnastics is set for its Big Ten opener, hosting No. 16 Ohio State on Saturday at 4 p.m. The program will be celebrating Girls Knight Out, with promotions including a Girl Scout patch giveaway, roaming photo booth, door raffle and post-meet autographs on the Jersey Mike's Arena concourse.
Historic Start
Rutgers set a program record for a season opener with a 195.400 in the Rutgers Tri win over Temple and Brockport.
In the Rankings
Rutgers is ranked No. 30 in average team score and No. 22 in floor in the country, while Gabrielle Dildy is No. 17 in all-around.
Leese's Return
Graduate student captain Emily Leese made her return to action for the first time since 2024, winning vault with a 9.900. She also contributed to team wins on beam and floor, posting a 9.825 on floor.
All-Around Dildy
Senior captain Gabrielle Dildy made her debut in the all-around this season. Dildy posted a 9.800 or higher in all four events at the Rutgers Tri, highlighted by a 9.900 on floor to win the all-around with a 39.325. She followed that up with a 39.300 at the Ball State Tri, highlighted by a 9.875 on floor.
Scarlet Debuts
Campbell Earley made her Rutgers debut at the Rutgers Tri with a 9.800 leading off bars. Freshman Vivienne Larsen made her Scarlet Knights debut with a 9.450 on vault.
New Era on the Banks
Building on Success
Rutgers is coming off a historic 2025 season that saw the team reach the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2014. The Scarlet Knights Rutgers posted a 196.225 at the Big Ten Championships, their best performance at the meet since joining the league in 2015. Additionally, RU had a trio of gymnasts qualify individually for NCAAs in Delaney Adrian, Gabrielle Dildy and Rachael Riley – all of whom return for 2026.
Gymnasts to Watch
Gabrielle Dildy and Emily Leese were both named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch prior to the season.
Dildy is named a Gymnast to Watch for the second straight season and is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw her qualify as an individual on beam for the 2025 NCAA Regional Championships. Dildy's 9.850 on beam at Big Ten Championships helped RU qualify for NCAA Regionals for the first time in 11 seasons. In addition to her beam score, Dildy led the team with a 9.850 on floor and 9.800 on vault at the conference meet. At the conclusion of the season, Dildy was named Most Valuable Gymnast for the Scarlet Knights for the second straight season. She also earned the Pom Pom Award, Stick Queen, the 9.9 Award and the 100% award at the team banquet. A senior from Virginia Beach, Va., Dildy has posted career highs of 9.900 on vault, beam and floor.
Leese is set to return to competition after missing the 2025 season rehabbing from injury. A 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team honoree, Leese has put together a decorated career so far as a Scarlet Knight. Leese owns the program record in vault with a 9.925, accomplished in both 2023 and 2024, qualifying for 2023 NCAA Regionals on vault. She also owns a 9.925 career high on floor and a 9.850 on beam. Leese was selected as a team captain for the second straight season, is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, three-time Big Ten Distinguished scholar and a WCGA Scholastic All-American.
Continuity on the Roster
Of the 20 Scarlet Knights on the roster, 17 are returners from last season's NCAA Tournament team. The large crop of returners includes each of the team's high scorers for each event at both Big Ten Championships and NCAA Regionals. Back for Rutgers are the team's three NCAA individual qualifiers from a year ago in Dildy, Adrian and Riley.
Bleeding Scarlet Staff
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Players Mentioned
