Sunday, January 4
Piscataway, N.J.
2:00 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Temple
Photo by: Colin Noftsier
Gymnastics Opens Season With Rutgers Tri
Jan 03 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers gymnastics is set to open the 2026 on Sunday afternoon with the Rutgers Tri against Temple and Brockport.
New Era on the Banks
Head Coach Anastasia Candia is set for her first season at the helm of Rutgers Gymnastics. Candia was named head coach after serving as acting head coach last season and leading the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade. She owns over a decade of experience with RU, including time as a student-athlete, assistant coach and acting head coach.
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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Head Coach Anastasia Candia is set for her first season at the helm of Rutgers Gymnastics. Candia was named head coach after serving as acting head coach last season and leading the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade. She owns over a decade of experience with RU, including time as a student-athlete, assistant coach and acting head coach.
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
The entirety of the Rutgers coaching staff features RU alums, led by Anastasia Candia (2016) and assisted by Michael Rosso (2005, 2024), Danielle DeMarco (2013) and Anna Pagliaro (2025). Following last season's success, Candia was named Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Region 3 Head Coach of the Year, while DeMarco and Rosso were named WCGA Region 3 Assistant Coaches of the Year.
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