NC State
Rutgers
Gymnastics Opens Season with 195.125 in Rutgers Quad Meet Win
1/15/2022 5:31:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The NC State gymnastics program opened its 2022 season on Saturday, recording a team score of 195.125 that was good for the second-highest season-opening mark in program history.
The Wolfpack placed first at the meet with Rutgers (194.550) in second, North Carolina (194.225) in third and New Hampshire (193.625) in fourth.
NC State recorded a 48.800 on vault, its second-highest event score of the meet. On the apparatus, junior transfer Shruthi Anand recorded a career-best 9.800 while Alexis Ortega and Lauren Rutherford each posted a 9.775. Ortega's mark was also a personal best.
The Wolfpack opened the meet on bars with freshmen Hailey Merchant and Rutherford making their career debuts. Rutherford posted the second-highest score for the Pack on the event with a 9.800 while Emily Shepard's 9.825 led the team and earned her the third-place spot overall. NC State came out of the rotation with a 48.850.
On beam, Shepard was the highest scorer for NC State again with a 9.875 that tied her for second place on the event. Nicole Webb tabbed the second-highest score for the Pack on the event with a 9.750. The squad compiled a team score of 48.750 and went into the second half of the meet with a 96.700.
Webb headlined the Wolfpack's floor efforts, recording a 9.825. She was followed by a pair of 9.775 scores from Gabrielle Diaz and Shepard, and as a team NC State posted a 48.725.
STRAIGHT FROM THE PACK: HEAD COACH KIM LANDRUS
"'MAKE IT COUNT' was our motto today," said head coach Kim Landrus. "The team knew that today was the starting point for 2022, and it was important for them to 'set the tone'. With over 50% of our routines performed by those that were not part of last year's NCAA Regional run, it was great to watch how they responded at our season opener. They were steady across the board and did a great job staying in their Wolfpack bubble.
"I am confident the team will watch and absorb their performances in order to help them learn and grow for the next competitions. We definitely have areas in which we can build on. Collectively, though, I am extremely proud. This is the second-highest opener in school history. That is a testament of their drive and belief in both themselves and their teammates."
UP NEXT
NC State is set to host EAGL opponent Towson for its home opener Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. in Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.
#GoPack | @Pack_Gymnastics
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