Sparks flew at NC State gymnastics’ first ACC home meet against Pitt, where the Wolfpack posted a season-high score and bested Pitt 196.500-194.100 in front of an electric crowd at Reynolds Coliseum.
Students flocked to NC State’s first ACC home meet since 1984 for its Taylor Swift-themed night. Graduate student Emily Shepard, who took home a first-place finish on vault, bars, floor and all-around, said the atmosphere was dazzling.
“It was so electric,” Shepard said. “Before the meet started during warm-ups, someone … told us that there was a line out the door, and honestly, that fired us up because it’s just really cool to see all these students supporting you.”
Head coach Kim Landrus said the team’s goal is to push itself every competition, and she thought the team did just that. The Panthers (2-3, 1-2 ACC) fell behind the Wolfpack (2-4, 2-0 ACC) in all four rotations. Coming off an ACC victory over UNC-Chapel Hill, the Pack posted its highest overall team total of the season.
“I think sometimes when you have to grind, you have to have that grit, I think it just builds you up, and so tonight definitely made us stronger,” Landrus said. “And they did a phenomenal job. I’m so proud of them.”
The red-and-white’s best performance of the night came on the floor, where the Pack totaled a 49.275, its highest floor score of the season. Shepard and graduate student and ACC gymnast of the week Chloe Negrete tied for first place with a score of 9.925 each. The pair took home another first-place finish in vault — each snagged a score of 9.875.
Negrete said she and Shepard build on each other to strengthen their performances each week.
“She pushes me and I push her, and I think that goes for a lot of the team — we all push each other to be our best,” Negrete said.
The Pack notched its highest score of the season on the uneven bars, and Shepard led with a personal season-best score of 9.925. Freshman Katie Harper and junior Peyton Childs followed just behind with scores of 9.850.
Junior Macy Jennings and graduate student Alexis Ortega tied for first place in beam with a score of 9.825. The Pack’s overall score in beam was 48.925.
Landrus said the team’s focus on details drove it to dominate.
“I think it was just the cumulative effect of all those little things that put together such a fantastic performance,” Landrus said.
Negrete said the win is due to the team’s work in the gym.
“We’ve been doing really well on something we’ve called ‘million dollar finishes’ and kind of working through stuff and adapting even if nothing’s 100% perfect because, in the sport of gymnastics, no single turn is never going to be perfect,” Negrete said. “So learning to adapt to that and learning to make it look effortless is something we’re trying to build on each week.”
Throughout the night, the crowd exploded at every Wolfpack landing, which Negrete said she thinks made the meet more special.
“It was amazing to see just the energy and the support, everyone cheering — it was really cool,” Negrete said.
The red-and-white will travel to compete against the Clemson Tigers on Friday, Feb. 2 before facing the Tar Heels in Reynolds Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 11.
