CLEMSON, S.C. – Friday night marked a historic evening inside Littlejohn Coliseum as the Clemson Gymnastics program began its inaugural season in front of 8,018 fans. The Tigers defeated William & Mary, 196.325-190.050, to vault the program into competitive existence. Following the first meet, Clemson’s 196.325 sits 14th in the nation through meets on January 11.
Vault
Redshirt senior Rebecca Wells was the first Clemson gymnast to compete in the Orange and Regalia by leading things off on the vault with a 9.725. Eve Jackson and Molly Arnold continued to raise the bar for the Tigers with a 9.75 and 9.775, respectively. Lauren Rutherford won the event by scoring the first 9.825. Madison Minner added a 9.60, and Trinity Brown rounded out the event with a 9.80 to bring the team score to 48.875 through the opening rotation.
Bars
The Tigers thrived on the bars clocking a 49.225, as each gymnast scored a minimum of 9.800 on the event. In her first collegiate routine, redshirt freshman Lilly Lippeatt scored a 9.900 to win the event. Kaitlin DeGuzman followed with an impressive 9.875 after sticking her landing. Both Eve Jackson and Lauren Rutherford posted strong routines with 9.825 scores in the second and fifth spots. Wells and Brown rounded out the Tigers with a 9.800 each.
Following the second rotation, Clemson led William & Mary, 98.100-95.500.
Beam
Entering the third rotation, Lippeatt started things off with a 9.750. Jackson followed with a 9.775. Both Quinn Kuhl and Kielyn McCright added routines in the third and fifth spots. Wells highlighted the apparatus with a 9.875 to win the event, followed by Brie Clark notching a 9.850 to conclude the event.
Clemson maintained a 147.050-141.925 advantage over William & Mary after the third rotation.
Floor
Clark had all of Littlejohn on their feet when she took to the floor in the fifth spot of the event. With Littlejohn rocking, the Daphne, Ala. native, clocked a 9.900 to win the event. Maggie Holman and Lilly Lippeatt started Clemson off strong in the final rotation posting back-to-back scores of 9.825. Molly Arnold and Lauren Rutherford continued their impressive Tiger floor debuts with 9.875 and 9.850, respectively. Wells concluded the event for the Tigers.
Posting a 49.275 on floor, the Clemson Tigers defeated Williams & Mary to secure not only the first victory of 2024, but the first victory for the program’s history.
Program Firsts
The Tigers continue their inaugural season on January 21 at 4 p.m. inside Littlejohn Coliseum on ACC Network. The meet will mark the beginning of ACC action when Clemson welcomes Pitt to town. Fans can purchase tickets here.
THAT. WAS. EPIC. !!!Sellout crowd – doesn’t get any better than that!!! 🐅 🤸 https://t.co/75E04cjhFa— Graham Neff (@GrahamNeff) January 13, 2024
THAT. WAS. EPIC. !!!
Sellout crowd – doesn’t get any better than that!!! 🐅 🤸 https://t.co/75E04cjhFa
— Graham Neff (@GrahamNeff) January 13, 2024
🧐 196.325 for their first meet ever? Clemson is cookin’! 👩🍳#NCAAgym https://t.co/k4rvZjVYcU— Gymnastics Now (@Gymnastics_Now) January 13, 2024
🧐 196.325 for their first meet ever? Clemson is cookin’! 👩🍳#NCAAgym https://t.co/k4rvZjVYcU
— Gymnastics Now (@Gymnastics_Now) January 13, 2024
