ACC Gymnastics Week 4 Preview: Conference duals continue with Clemson vs. UNC, Pitt vs. NC State

All four ACC gymnastics teams will be in the state of North Carolina this Friday night for two head-to-head dual meets.

Clemson travels to North Carolina for their first road test, and Pitt is on the road again to face NC State in their home opener.

Read on for more on these two matchups.

#24 Clemson @ North Carolina

Week 4 Matchup: Friday, January 26 @ 7:30 p.m. ET | Clemson @ North Carolina | Video: ACC Network Extra on Watch ESPN app

On Friday, the No. 24 Clemson Tigers are heading to Chapel Hill for their first away meet and also their first meeting with the Tar Heels, who are hosting alumni night and a whiteout in Carmichael Arena. 

Although they’ve never faced each other before (seeing as Clemson is a new program), the Tigers currently sit at No. 1 in the conference and No. 1 on bars, beam, and floor. UNC ranks No. 3 in the conference, No. 3 on vault and beam, and No. 4 on bars and floor. After two back-to-back 196s, Clemson is averaging a 196.263, while UNC is averaging 194.733, following their 195.325 last weekend. 

North Carolina head coach coach Danna Durante spoke on her team’s preparations to host Clemson: “We still have work to do, but we’re continuing to build and excited for some routines we’re preparing to add to the lineups in another week or two.”

For Clemson head coach Amy Smith, she returns to Carolina on Friday after spending five seasons on the Tar Heels’ staff, where she was promoted to associate head coach in 2014. She talked about preparing for an away meet that takes them away from their record-breaking fan attendance and home meet energy: “We’ve talked to the girls about needing to create energy themselves, but we’re excited to get on the road and go up to Carolina to keep the ACC competition going.“

Routines to watch:

• Trinity Brown (Clemson) on vault: After her 9.9 last weekend, she ranks No. 2 in the ACC.
• Isabelle Schaefer (UNC) on bars: Her beautiful lines and consistency have her ranked No. 1 in the ACC on the event.
• Rebecca Wells (Clemson) on beam: After a 9.875 last weekend, she ranks No. 1 in the ACC. She also sits in fourth in all-around.
• Brie Clark (Clemson) on floor: Her powerful tumbling and fan-favorite floor routine has her ranked No. 1 in the ACC.
• Gwen Fink (UNC) on beam and all-around: After tying for first on beam last weekend, displaying her triple series, she ranks No. 3 on beam. She also achieved a career high in the all-around and now ranks No. 2 in the ACC.

Pitt @ NC State

Week 4 Matchup: Friday, January 26 @ 7 p.m. ET | Pittsburgh @ North Carolina State | Video: ACC Network Extra on Watch ESPN app

On Friday, the Pitt Panthers are heading to Raleigh to face the Wolfpack to open as the latter opens their home slate in a Taylor Swift Eras Tour theme at Reynolds Coliseum.

NC State currently sits at No. 2 in the conference, No. 1 on vault, No. 2 on beam and floor, and No. 3 on bars. Pitt sits No. 4 overall, No. 2 on bars, No. 3 on floor, and No. 4 on vault and beam. The Wolfpack is averaging a 195.375 after their 196.225 season high last weekend. The Panthers are averaging a 193.867 after improving last weekend with a team score of 194.775.

On the Wolfpack’s preparation this week, head coach Kim Landrus reported: “We still left tenths out on the floor last weekend, so just getting those little details and being tight minded. We have to have mental confidence in everything we do.”

As Pitt head coach Casey Jo MacPherson prepares her team to head on the road again, she said: “Our team took a big step forward in terms of confidence and trust in our preparation, so with a quick turnaround and short week of training, we’re looking to build on that and start to hone in on the details.”

Routines to watch:

• Chloe Negrete’s (NC State) three events: Negrete earned a 9.925 on floor and 9.875 on vault last week to capture ACC Gymnast of the Week. She’s currently ranked No. 1 in the ACC on vault and No. 2 on beam.
• Emily Todd’s (Pitt) bars: Todd placed first in the last two meets. The freshman is currently ranked No. 3 in the ACC on the event.
• Emily Shepard (NC State) on all four events: Her precision and consistency have her placed No. 1 in the all-around in the ACC.
• Jordyn Ewing’s (Pitt) floor routine earned her a 9.9 last weekend.

History:

• At the 2023 EAGL Championships, the Wolfpack came in second (196.425) and the Panthers finished eighth (194.225).
• In February 2023, the Panthers won against the Wolfpack at Towson (195.275-194.775).
• In January 2023, the Wolfpack won at home against the Panthers (196.650-195.150).