Dekanoidze, Rueda Earn Runner-Up Finishes At NC State

Sunday, February 11

Raleigh, NC

4 p.m. ET

North Carolina

194.925

196.725

NC State

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 11, 2024 | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results Photo Gallery

RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of North Carolina gymnastics team had five podium finishes – including a pair of second-place showings – during a big Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at NC State on Sunday evening.

The Tar Heels dropped the contest at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, falling to the Wolfpack by a 196.725-194.925 margin.

All-Around
Julia Knower finished second in the all-around competition, the 31st time the junior has competed on every rotation. She totaled 39.15 across all four events after recording marks of 9.7 on bars, 9.75 on vault, 9.85 on floor and 9.85 on beam.

Rotation One – Bars (48.75)
The Tar Heels got the meet started on bars, which was highlighted by Lali Dekanoidze's team-high 9.85 to finish second overall. Dekanoidze, the first-ever ACC Gymnast of the Week, is the program record holder on this event with her 9.975 done three times last season.

Gwen Fink matched her season-best 9.825 from Jan. 19 to place third. Knower and Isabelle Schaefer both had 9.7-worthy performances as Knower's routine matched her season-high for the fifth meet in a row. Scoring 9.675s were Kaya Forbes and Jamie Shearer, the latter who tied her season high.

Carolina finished with a cumulative score of 48.75 on its opening rotation while NC State recorded a collective 48.95.

Rotation Two – Vault (48.8)
Dekanoidze and Forbes both tallied scores of 9.825 on vault to lead the team in UNC's second rotation. Their marks tied for the second-highest score of all competitors.

Also contributing to the Tar Heels' team score was Knower with a 9.75, Paige Prejean with a 9.725 and Cory Shinohara with a 9.675. Shinohara matched her season's best from Jan. 26.

The visiting squad totaled 48.8 on vault behind their host's 49.1.

Rotation Three – Floor (49.1)
Carolina had some big performances on floor, led by freshman Camryn Rueda with a second-place finish. Rueda's routine earned her a 9.875, crushing her previous career-high of 9.725 done twice prior.

Also with a new personal record on floor was Bella Miller, whose 9.85 eclipsed her previous top mark of 9.825 from Jan. 12. Both Rueda and Miller earned a 9.9 from one judge. Knower's 9.85 also counted for UNC, as did Forbes' 9.775 and Amy Wozniak's 9.75.

Carolina registered a 49.1 on floor, its second highest tally on the event this year. NC State edged out UNC with its 49.275.

Rotation Four – Beam (48.275)
The Tar Heels ended the meet on floor with Knower leading the way with a 9.85 to match her season high for the second meet on the row. Jessica Naranjo, who earned a 9.9 from one judge, set a new career-high 9.825, besting her mark of 9.8 from a week prior.

Other beam routines counting for Carolina included Fink's 9.8, Schulze's 9.775 and Hallie Thompson's 9.025.

Unfortunately having to count a fall, UNC totaled 48.275 on beam compared to NCSU's 49.4.

Up Next
The Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill to rematch with Pitt on Friday, Feb. 16, at Carmichael Arena. The meet will begin at 7 p.m. ET with introductions starting at 6:45 p.m. and doors opening at 6 p.m.

The contest will air on ACC Network, marking the first meet held at Carmichael Arena that will broadcast on national television. Tickets are available for purchase here.

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