No. 21 NC State gymnastics closed out its 2024 home slate with a quad-meet victory on Sunday afternoon, firing a 197.375 against Penn, Penn State, and Texas Woman's University.
197.375 it the third-highest score in program history and is the third score of 197+ this season for the Wolfpack, with three of the program's six scores of 197+ now having come in 2024.
The win for the Wolfpack also completed an undefeated season in Reynolds Coliseum, with the Pack closing out its home schedule at 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the ACC.
Penn State ended the afternoon in second place at 197.000, while Penn fired a season-high 196.050 and Texas Woman's posted a 194.575.
The Pack's day was highlighted by a pair of split event titles on bars and beam, as NC State fired a season-best 49.475 on the balance beam that was the program's best score on the event since 2004.
Emily Shepard and
Alexis Ortega each competed all-around for the Wolfpack, with Shepard firing the second-highest all-around score in program history at 39.600 while Ortega posted a 39.475. Shepard's all-around title was her seventh of the season, while Ortega's four-event score marked a new career high for the graduate.
Shepard and Ortega, alongside teammate
Madison Benson and student coach
Brooke Conley were each honored post-meet as part of the afternoon's senior day festivities, while NC State also welcomed back its 1984 ACC Championship team and many other former gymnasts as part of the school's annual alumni meet.
Vault (49.225)The Wolfpack posted its second-highest score on vault this season in its opening rotation, counting only scores of 9.825 or higher to set the tone early. Shepard led the way for NC State at 9.875 followed by a pair of 9.850 totals from
Maddie Hall and
Krista Zultevicz. Hall's score registered a new career high for the freshman, while Zultevicz's total matched her personal best.
The Pack's scoring effort was rounded out by a pair of 9.825 marks by
Chloe Negrete and Ortega, with NC State posting its highest vault team total since Feb. 2.
Bars (49.350)Shepard shared the bars crown with freshman
Katie Harper and Texas Woman's Brooke Ferrari at 9.925, both of which marked the fourth score of 9.9+ on bars in the last five meets for the two gymnasts.
Ortega posted her highest score in the event in Reynolds this season at 9.875, while
Madeline Reid continued a strong sophomore campaign at 9.825 and
Peyton Childs counted a 9.800
Beam (49.475)NC State separated itself from the field in its penultimate rotation with a season-high 49.475 on beam, sparked by a trio of 9.9+ totals from Harper, Ortega and Shepard that landed each gymnast on the podium. Shepard and Ortega split the beam crown at 9.925, with Harper landing in third place with a new personal best of 9.900.
Beam specialist
Macy Jennings tabbed her second-highest total of the season at 9.875, while a 9.850 from
Meg Adler tied her career best.
Chloe Negrete closed out the third rotation with a 9.850 of her own from the anchor position, splitting the final counted score between herself and Adler.
Floor (49.325)Katya Edwards made her way onto the podium for the Wolfpack on floor, with the sophomore floor specialist totaling her second-career score of 9.9+ at 9.900. Edwards ended the afternoon in a three-way tie for second place, while Shepard finished just off the podium at 9.875 in her final routine in Reynolds. A trio of 9.850 marks completed NC State's day, with Ortega, Negrete and Zultevicz each tying one another to boost the Pack's team total. Ortega's 9.850 marks a new season high on floor, while Zultevicz's tally was her highest since Feb. 11.
Up NextNC State will close its regular season campaign on Friday, Mar. 15 as the Pack will travel to Florida for a quad meet against the fourth-ranked Gators, Iowa State, and LIU. The first rotation between the Wolfpack, Gators, Cyclones and Sharks is slated for a 6:45 p.m. start time with the meet broadcast on SEC Network +.
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