Schaefer Wins Bars, Gymnastics Earns Five Podium Finishes Against Clemson

Friday, January 26

Chapel Hill, NC

7:30 p.m. ET

North Carolina

194.250

196.550

Clemson

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

Schaefer Wins Bars, Gymnastics Earns Five Podium Finishes Against Clemson

January 26, 2024 | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina gymnastics team recorded its highest score of the season on floor to end its meet against Clemson in another Atlantic Coast Conference showdown Friday night at Carmichael Arena.

Isabelle Schaefer won bars and three other Tar Heels saw podium finishes despite the 196.550-194.250 loss to the Tigers.

Rotation One – Vault (48.750)
Kaya Forbes got the night started on vault, leading the way for the Tar Heels with a 9.85 to finish second overall. That score was just off her career- and season-high 9.875.

Also contributing to the home team's final score was Julia Knower with a 9.775 to tie for third, Isabelle Schaefer with a 9.775, Gwen Fink with a 9.7 and Cory Shinohara with a 9.675. It was the first time Shinohara has competed since suffering a season-ending injury early last season.

Carolina recorded its second-highest team score of the year on vault with a 48.750, just behind Clemson's 48.950.

Rotation Two – Bars (47.675)
Schaefer stole the show on bars, winning with a mark of 9.925 for her fifth career victory on her signature event. Her score, which is tied for third all-time in program history, matched her personal best for the fourth time in her career and second time this season.

Knower tallied a 9.7 for the third meet in a row to match her season high while Kaya Forbes saw the best score of her career with a 9.675. Fink (9.275) and Jamie Shearer (9.15) rounded out UNC's scorers.

Unfortunately having to count two falls, the Tar Heels tallied a 47.675 on their second rotation. The Tigers scored a 49.150 on bars.

Rotation Three – Beam (48.675)
Highlighting UNC's third rotation was Julia Knower with a team-high 9.8, her second-straight meet with a 9.8+. Jessica Naranjo also impressed with a career-high 9.75, which eclipsed her previous best of 9.725 from Jan. 12.

Hallie Thompson scored a 9.75 like Naranjo, followed by Taylor Schulze (9.7) and Camryn Rueda (9.675).

Clemson out-scored North Carolina, 49.200-48.675, on beam.

Rotation Four – Floor (49.100)
Carolina saved its best performance of the night for last on floor. Knower finished second overall with a team-high 9.9, a new season high and her 12th score above 9.9 on this event in her career.

Fink tied for third with a 9.875, as her score erased her previous career-high 9.825 from a week ago. Forbes' routine earned her a 9.825 and Schulze scored a 9.775 in her floor debut in Carolina blue. Amy Wozniak and Rueda both totaled 9.725s.

The Tar Heels ended the meet with a 49.100 – their highest score on floor all season – while the Tigers accumulated a point total of 49.250.

All-Around
Knower and Fink were once again on all-around duty for the Tar Heels, earning respective second and third place finishes. Knower's total of 39.175 was her second highest mark of the year while Fink registered a 37.925.

Up Next
The Tar Heels hit the road for just the second time this season as they make their way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to take on the Panthers on Friday, Feb. 2. The ACC meet will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Fitzgerald Field House and will air on ACCNX.

Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.