NC State
NCAA Regional Second Round vs. Florida, Illinois, Central Michigan
NC State Advances to Regional Finals With Highest Regionals Score in Program History
4/2/2021 9:31:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
ATHENS, GA. - The NC State gymnastics team earned an NCAA Regional Finals berth on Friday, recording a 196.775 that tied the sixth-best score in NC State history and was the highest score NC State has earned at an NCAA Regional. The berth marks the first time that the Wolfpack has advanced to a Regional Final since the current championship format was adopted in the 2018-19 season.
The Wolfpack is additionally the first team to advance to a Regional Final after beginning Regionals in the first round of competition, a component of the format that began in 2018-19.
T-No.1 Florida captured the first-place finish with a 197.950 to advance to the Final as well. No. 16 Illinois compiled a 196.375 and No. 25 Central Michigan tabbed a 195.575.
NC State will compete against T-No. 1 Florida, No. 8 Minnesota and No. 9 Denver in the Regional Final Saturday, April 3 at 7 p.m.
The Wolfpack started the night strong, posting a 49.075 on vault for its second-highest score of the season on the event. Madison Benson recorded a 9.800 on the event, marking the fourth consecutive meet in which she has tabbed at least a 9.800 on the event.
Emily Shepard put up a 9.825, and Chloe Negrete led the team on the apparatus with a 9.875 that tied her for third place. Olivia Hunter tabbed a 9.800 on vault as well in the anchor spot.
NC State continued the night on bars, recording a 49.325 for the second-consecutive meet. The mark ties the third-best bars score in The Wolfpack record book.Â
Jordan continued her record of impressive leadoff scores, posting a 9.850, and senior Lauren Kent tied her career-high score with a 9.900. Kent was followed in the lineup by Meredith Robinson's career best-tying 9.875.
Katie Cox put up a 9.825, and Shepard anchored the lineup with a 9.875.Â
The Wolfpack moved on to beam, where Kasey Nelson led off with a 9.800. Shepard posted a 9.875 while Negrete tabbed a 9.825. Nicole Webb anchored the lineup, earning a 9.800. As a team, NC State tabbed a 49.075 on the event.
The final apparatus of the night was floor, and the team earned a 49.300 for the second-straight meet. Jordan notched a 9.850 in the leadoff spot, and Benson tabbed a 9.825. She was followed by Nelson's 9.800. Shepard earned a career-best 9.925 on the event to tie for second place, and Negrete finished the night with a 9.900 to tie for third.
Shepard additionally tied for second place in the all-around competition with a career high-tying 39.500. The sophomore has earned that mark in two consecutive meets and three times in the 2021 season.
STRAIGHT FROM THE PACK: HEAD COACH KIMÂ LANDRUS
"This team just showed so much grit, passion and purpose tonight," said head coach Kim Landrus. "I've said that all year. They had so much of it. Our motto today was, 'Fight to the finish,' and from the first routine to the last routine this team fought, and it kept culminating. They had so much fun, so much energy. I couldn't be more proud of the way they handled this situation, and I'm so happy for them that they're going to be competing tomorrow."
UP NEXT
NC State takes on T-No. 1 Florida, No. 8 Minnesota and No. 9 Denver in the Athens Regional Final Saturday, April 3 at 7 p.m.
#GoPack | @Pack_Gymnastics
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