North Carolina State University Athletics
Knight, Thomas Named to ACC Preseason Watch List; Rardin Selected as Newcomer to Watch
12/11/2025 1:01:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its gymnastics preseason watch lists and coaches poll Thursday afternoon, with NC State's Ashley Knight and Syniya Thomas earning spots on the league's watch list. Freshman Autumn Rardin was also recognized as an ACC Newcomer to Watch ahead of the 2026 season.
Knight enters her junior campaign having competed in all but one meet during her NC State career. A two-time All-ACC Vault Team honoree (2024, 2025), the Greensboro, N.C., native ranks ninth in program history with 15 career scores of 9.900 or higher across all four events, including a program-record nine on vault.
Thomas is poised for a breakout sophomore season after appearing in five meets as a freshman. The Raleigh native was a two-time ACC Newcomer of the Week (Weeks 1 and 4), becoming one of just two Wolfpack gymnasts to receive the honor last season, and the only one to do so twice. She recorded her first 9.900 on floor on Jan. 18, 2025 against Stanford.
Rardin, a freshman from Columbus, Ohio, is set to make her collegiate debut in 2026. She arrived at NC State as a two-time Level 10 National Qualifier (2023, 2024) and a two-time Ohio State Vault Champion (2023, 2024). In 2024, she claimed regional titles on vault, bars and floor, while also winning state championships on beam (2024) and bars (2023) during her club career at Gym X-Treme.
NC State opens its season on Friday, Jan. 9, with a dual meet at Auburn. Wolfpack fans will get their first look at the squad at the annual Red vs. White exhibition meet, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20 (4 p.m.) at Reynolds Coliseum. Admission is free. For schedule and broadcast updates, visit the gymnastics page on GoPack.com.
ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Stanford, 34
- Clemson, 25
- California, 21
- North Carolina, 20
- NC State, 17
- Pitt, 9
To stay up to date with NC State Gymnastics, follow @wolfpackgymnastics on Instagram, @pack_gymnastics on X, and @packgymnastics on TikTok.
Players Mentioned
