ACC Gymnastics Week 10 Recap: Clemson posts big 197.600 as teams face non-conference battles
Clemson posted the highest score yet in ACC gymnastics this season with a 197.6 while NC State packed in two meets, including a 197.375 — the third 197 of their season. Pitt also won their respective senior night meet (195.8), while UNC finished with a 196.525 against Kentucky.
Read on to hear more on Week 10 of ACC gymnastics.
Air Force @ Clemson
Final score: Clemson: 197.600 – Air Force: 194.650
In their final home meet of the season, Clemson notched a 49.175 on vault, led by Rebecca Wells’ stuck Yurchenko full to register a 9.9 and lead the field. Lauren Rutherford suffered an injury in warmups, so she was out of this lineup as well as the floor lineup.
The Tigers followed with their best bars performance of the season to earn a 49.4, improving two-tenths from last week. Eve Jackson and Trinity Webb both stuck their dismounts to earn 9.9s, and Kaitlin DeGuzman won with a 9.925 after a stuck double layout.
Carrying that momentum to beam, Clemson earned another season high of 49.450, improving last week’s score by over eight-tenths. Brie Clark earned a career-high of 9.925, and Wells matched her career high of 9.95 to take the title.
That energy continued for the Tigers on floor, posting a 49.575 and besting last week’s score by 0.225. Four gymnasts reached 9.9+, with Clark winning the event with a 9.95 to secure the team win en route to a season-best 197.600.
Upcoming meet: Saturday, March 16 @ 5 p.m. ET | Clemson @ UCLA
#21 NC State @ Temple quad
Final score: Maryland: 197.050, NC State: 196.750, Temple: 195.450, Penn: 194.275
On Thursday, NC State started strong with their best beam score of the season with a 49.425 to take the early lead. Emily Shepard notched a 9.925 after her stuck side aerial 1.5, and Chloe Negrete anchored with a 9.9.
Moving to floor, the Wolfpack posted a 49.150. Shepard was the only gymnast to reach the 9.9 mark, and Maryland took over the lead after two rotations.
On vault, NC State struggled to control their landings and fell short of a 49. Ashley Knight led the way with a career-high 9.925 for her front pike half to secure the event title.
The Wolfpack ended on bars with a 49.225 but couldn’t quite match last week’s mark of 49.4. Katie Harper notched a 9.9, and Alexis Ortega posted a 9.95 to take the title. NC State couldn’t catch Maryland but posted their second-highest road score (196.750).
Quad meet @ #21 NC State
Final score: NC State: 197.375, Penn State: 197, Penn: 196.050, Texas Woman’s: 194.575
Senior day for the Wolfpack started on a high note with a 49.225 on vault after showing improvement from Thursday with more controlled landings. Maddie Hall and Krista Zultevicz notched 9.85s, and Emily Shepard earned a 9.875, giving the team an early lead by 0.225.
The Wolfpack followed with a 49.35 on bars after two matching 9.925s from Katie Harper and Shepard in the anchor spot to maintain a slim lead after two rotations.
The Pack then bested Thursday’s beam score to earn a new season high of 49.475. Harper notched her second 9.9+ of the day, Alexis Ortega added a 9.925, and Shepard matched that score to lead the field.
NC State closed out with a 49.325 on floor to secure the win and improve Thursday’s event score by 0.175. Katya Edwards led the team with a 9.9, and Shepard added a 9.875 to win the all-around with a 39.6 and help the team earn their second highest score of the season (197.375).
Upcoming meet: Friday, March 15 @ 7 p.m. ET | Iowa State, LIU, North Carolina State @ Florida
#6 Kentucky @ North Carolina
Final score: Kentucky: 197.800 – UNC: 196.525
UNC kicked off their senior night with a 49.025 on vault to beat last week’s score by 0.15. Lali Dekanoidze led the way with a 9.875, tying for the title with three Kentucky gymnasts, and Julia Knower added in her Yurchenko 1.5 for a 9.85.
The Tar Heels built on bars, soaring to a 49.4 and improving by 0.45 from last week. Isabelle Schaefer posted a 9.925, and Dekanoidze fired a 9.95 after a stuck double layout.
The team also showed improvement on beam, increasing their score by 0.400 to just miss the 49 mark with a 48.975. Jessica Naranjo led the squad with a 9.85.
On floor, the Tar Heels ended with a 49.125 and again bested last week’s event total by 0.325. Kaya Forbes and Knower both earned 9.9s to help the team get their second highest score of the season (196.525), but they ultimately fell short to Kentucky.
Upcoming meet: Friday, March 15 @ 8:30 p.m. ET | North Carolina @ LSU
Bowling Green @ Pitt
Final score: Pitt: 195.800 – Bowling Green: 195.225
Pitt’s homestand began with a 49.025 on vault, improving by 0.325 from the previous meet. Shruthi Anand led the Panthers with a 9.875 for her front handspring pike half.
On bars, the team scored a 48.975 with Faith Lerro and Jordyn Ewing leading the way with a pair of 9.85s.
On beam, the Panthers continued to show weakness, counting a 9.35 after missed connections and wobbles. Emily Todd was the winner with a career-high 9.9 for the freshman.
The Panthers ended their meet on a high note with a 49.275 to win the meet and improve their floor score by 0.275 from the last time out. Jah’Liyah Bedminster notched a 9.9, and Ewing led the way with a 9.925 to earn first.
Upcoming meet: Saturday, March 16 @ 2 p.m. ET | Auburn, Fisk, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Talladega (TN Collegiate Challenge)
