Returning to ACC action for the first time in 40 years, NC State capped off its perfect conference record with a dominant win in the ACC championship. The Wolfpack scored a total of 197.550, its third-highest score in program history and top score in postseason history.
To claim the conference title, NC State leaned on its two best gymnasts to deliver, and they did in a big way. Graduate students Chloe Negrete and Emily Shepard combined for three individual titles and a trio of second-place finishes, respectively, to give the No. 19 team in the country a comfortable win.
Negrete took home two individual titles on the beam and floor along with being named ACC Specialist of the Year. Shepard’s high scores in each of the four events earned her the all-around title and three second-place finishes in the individual events. Shepard also took home ACC Gymnast of the Year and became the first gymnast in NC State history to take home three Gymnast of the Year awards.
Starting on the vault, NC State didn’t record a score of 9.800 or lower in the lead-off rotation. Freshman Ashley Knight led the team and posted the meet’s highest score on the vault with a 9.900. From the anchor position, Negrete posted a 9.850, giving both Knight and her all-championship honors on vault.
Moving onto the bars, the Wolfpack recorded three scores above 9.900, including a 9.925 from Shepard that earned her a tie for second place and All-championship honors. Graduate student Alexis Ortega and freshman Katie Harper each posted a 9.900 earning them All-championship honors on bars as well. Sophomore Madeline Reid just missed out on earning the Pack’s fourth 9.900 or higher with a 9.875 in her first postseason meet of her career.
A stellar performance on the bars put NC State in first place, and an even better score on the beam extended its lead. Negrete led the way with a 9.950 on beam, earning her her second individual title of the evening. Shepard and junior beam specialist Macy Jennings each recorded a 9.900 of their own as the three were selected for the all-conference beam team.
The Pack’s best team performance came in the final rotation on the floor with four gymnasts recording scores above a 9.900. Negrete and Shepard each recorded a personal best in the event scoring 9.975 and 9.950, respectively. Knight scored her second 9.900 on the night in the event and sophomore Katya Edwards scored a 9.900 as well from the lead-off position.
It was only in the first event that NC State had either Clemson, UNC or Pittsburgh outscore them as a team in an event. With each rotation NC State continued to improve its score, a big reason why it put up one of its best results in program history.
NC State will learn where its next meet will take place on Monday, March 25, during the NCAA Selection Show. The Wolfpack will head to either Florida, California, Arkansas or Michigan to participate in a quad-meet in the first round of the NCAA Championships.
