The NC State gymnastics team posted a second-place finish at the 2021 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship, posting a 196.050 for its best away-meet score of the season.
Temple ultimately took home the title with a program-record 196.500.
EAGL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET TEAM RESULTS
Temple: 196.500
NC State: 196.050
Towson: 195.875
George Washington: 195.800
North Carolina: 195.275
Pittsburgh: 194.350
LIU: 192.725
On vault, the Wolfpack posted a 48.975, its third-highest mark of the season on the event. Sophomore Emily Shepard led the way for the team with a 9.850 and was followed in the scoring by Madison Benson and Chloe Negrete, who each tabbed a 9.800. Shepard's mark was good for second place.
Benson, Negrete and Shepard all earned All-Tournament First Team honors on vault while senior Olivia Hunter tabbed All-Tournament Second Team on the event with a 9.775.
NC State compiled a team score of 48.950 on bars. Meredith Robinson posted the highest mark for the squad with a 9.850 while seniors Lauren Kent and Katie Cox each earned a 9.800.
Robinson's third-place finish on the event earned her All-Tournament First Team laurels, and Cox, Kent and Shepard received All-Tournament Second Team accolades on the apparatus.
The team's strongest performance of the day came on beam with a 49.125, and three members of the Wolfpack recorded a 9.850. Negrete, Shepard and Nicole Webb each posted the score, and Kailin Foland tabbed a 9.800.
Negrete, Shepard and Webb each tabbed All-Tournament First Team honors on beam.
Negrete was NC State's top performer on floor with a 9.850 and All-Tournament First Team recognition, and Madison Benson and Kasey Nelson each posted a 9.825. As a team, The Wolfpack compiled a 49.000.
Shepard was the team's only competitor in the all-around competition, posting a 39.200 and tying for second place. The placement was good to earn her All-Tournament First Team status in the all-around.
STRAIGHT FROM THE PACK: HEAD COACH KIM LANDRUS
"Today is bittersweet," said head coach Kim Landrus. "This team was on a mission from the first beam routine until the last bar routine. They attacked and chased their goal. Every routine was filled with heart, passion and purpose.
"Although, we ended the day in second, it doesn't take away how they performed and represented NC State today. Postseason is right around the corner, and I am confident that they will use this as fuel in our preparation."
GYMNAST OF THE YEAR
Shepard capped off a stellar sophomore season with an EAGL annual award as she was named 2021 EAGL Gymnast of the Year. NC State has garnered the honor just four times in program history and has now earned the award for two consecutive seasons. Current senior Lauren Kent tabbed the honor in 2020.
The Olathe, Kan., native earned EAGL Gymnast of the Week four times in 2021 action, the most of any competitor in the EAGL. She tabbed First Team All-EAGL on vault, bars, floor and all-around and concluded the regular season ranked first in the league on vault, bars and all-around.
Shepard earned career highs on every event and now boasts a 9.900 career best on all four events. Her career-best 39.500 all-around mark tied the eighth-best score in program history.
EAGL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM HONORS
Emily Shepard (4) - First Team (Vault, Beam, All-Around); Second Team (Bars)
Chloe Negrete (3) - First Team (Vault, Beam, Floor)
Madison Benson (1) - First Team (Vault)
Meredith Robinson (1) - First Team (Bars)
Nicole Webb (1) - First Team (Beam)
Katie Cox (1) - Second Team (Bars)
Olivia Hunter (1) - Second Team (Vault)
Lauren Kent (1) - Second Team (Bars)
UP NEXT
NC State awaits the NCAA Championships Selection Show Monday, Mar. 22 at 5 p.m. to discover if it has earned a berth in the 2021 NCAA Regionals