No. 19 NC State gymnastics’ season came to a close as it finished in third place at the Tuscaloosa Regional, failing to qualify for the NCAA semifinals. No. 3 Florida won the meet with 198.225 points, No. 14 Oregon State placed second with a score of 197.050, NC State scored 196.275 for third and Clemson placed fourth with 195.875 points.
The Wolfpack’s highest score came on the beam, where it ranks 29th in the country. But the Pack placed last in the event with a score of 49.200. Graduate Chloe Negrete was the Wolfpack’s highest scorer, posting a 9.900 to tie for fifth.
Earlier in the week, Negrete became the first NC State gymnast in 10 years to earn Regular Season All-American honors. She led the team with 24 podium finishes and 13 victories and will go down as one of the greatest gymnasts in Wolfpack history.
Behind Negrete on the beam were senior Brooke Smead and junior Meg Adler, who both scored 9.850 points to tie for 12th. All six Wolfpack gymnasts hit their routines on the beam.
NC State’s next best score came on the floor, where it placed third with a score of 49.125. The Wolfpack entered the meet ranked 23rd in the country on the floor and sophomore Ashley Knight was a big reason why. Knight led the Pack with 9.875 points on the floor. It was a great season for Knight, who was named ACC Specialist of the Week twice.
Sophomore Elle Hadrick was close behind Knight on the floor with a score of 9.850 to place in a tie for 12th. Graduate Krista Zultevicz was NC State’s next highest scorer, posting 9.825 for a tie for 18th.
NC State’s lone top-two placement of the night came on the vault, where it ranks 19th in the country. The Wolfpack totaled 49.100 points on its rotation, finishing .400 points behind the first-place Gators. Adler was the Pack’s highest-placing gymnast, coming in a tie for sixth with a score of 9.850. Sophomore Lauren Wright and senior Lucy Lehman posted career highs, scoring 9.850 and 9.800, respectively.
The Wolfpack’s lowest score came on the uneven bars, where it placed last with a score of 48.850. Freshman Caroline Volk stood out as she posted a 9.875 to tie for seventh. Freshman Ava Myers and junior Madeline Reid were the Pack’s next highest scorers, coming in a tie for 13th with 9.800 points.
Even with the season’s end, it’s hard not to view the Wolfpack’s journey as a success. NC State was a top 25 team all season, won nine individual ACC honors throughout the year and made its 34th consecutive appearance in an NCAA Regional.
