Despite posting an admirable score of 195.675, NC State gymnastics placed fourth in its quad meet against BYU, Cal and Michigan State in West Valley City, Utah.
The Wolfpack (0-4) suffered three losses by the end of the event but had encouraging individual performances in just its second official meet of its 2023-24 season. Star graduate student Chloe Negrete headlined the night with two 9.900 scores while fellow graduate student Emily Shepard posted an impressive 39.150 all-around score.
However, those highlights — and an impressive performance on the vault — were not enough to lift the Pack above any of its competitors. The No. 6 Cal Bearcats scored more than two points higher than NC State with a total of 197.875. Meanwhile, No. 14 Michigan State placed second and the hosting BYU Cougars came in third with a score of 196.100.
NC State’s best performance of the night came on the vault. Negrete’s 9.900 paved the way to its total of 49.175. All five of the Pack’s counted vault scores came in above the 9.800 mark, while freshman Ashley Knight made her name known with a mark of 9.875.
To round out the red-and-white’s five scores on the vault, Shepard, graduate student Alexis Ortega and sophomore Meg Adler all scored 9.800s. While the Pack beat out Michigan State and BYU in the event, Cal scored a dominating 49.525 on the vault.
The next best event for the Pack was its floor routines. NC State posted a total of 49.000 and placed last out of all four teams in the event. Negrete once again scored a 9.900, but senior Krista Zultevicz was the next best NC State gymnast with a score of 9.800. Shepard and freshman Maddie Hall each scored 9.775s while Knight capped the event for the Pack with a 9.750.
NC State tallied a score of 48.750 on both the bars and beam. Neither score was enough to surpass any of its competitors in either event.
Ortega recorded a 9.800 on the bars while Shepard, Hall and junior Peyton Childs rang in scores of 9.775. Freshman Katie Harper struck a low 9.625 to round out scores for the event.
Meanwhile, the beam did not go much better for the Wolfpack. Negrete once again led the charge, this time with a 9.825. Shepard followed close behind with a 9.800 with junior Macy Jennings, Adler and Ortega falling in line behind her.
Next up for the Wolfpack is the exciting beginning of its first ACC season since 1984. NC State’s first meet will come against UNC-Chapel Hill on Friday, Jan. 19 at Carolina’s Carmichael Arena at 7:30 p.m.
