2014 SEASON OUTLOOK Coming off a record-breaking season, Rutgers gymnastics looks to continue its ascent in 2014. Recording four of the top six team scores in school history last year, including a 195.975 mark on Senior Day, the Scarlet Knights are primed to take the next step with a wealth of depth in all four events. “Last year we proved to ourselves that we could be that good,” said third-year head coach Louis Levine. “In the last five years, we have had this huge rise in what we have been able to do. This year we are going in knowing we are that good, which is half the battle.” Even though Rutgers sent four individuals to the NCAA Regionals, the Scarlet Knights narrowly missed qualifying as a team after sitting on the bubble down the stretch with a 194.740 RQS (regional qualifying score). That has proven to be the goal through the offseason. “We’ve talked about hitting the ground running this season and not waiting until the end to push for NCAA Regionals,” Levine said. “If we put up the scores we are capable of from the start, everything will take care of itself.”
SCHEDULE
Mixing 14 letterwinners with four freshmen, the Scarlet Knights will be led by their three captains this season – redshirt senior Jenna Zito, senior Alexis Gunzelman and redshirt junior Luisa Leal. All three have earned individual bids to the NCAA Regionals during their careers. “These three are probably the most experienced competitors on our team,” Levine said. “They’ve been through the ups and downs so we really thought they were a good representation of what we want to be. The three girls have strengths that allow them to come together to be an amazing set of leaders.” A two-time NCAA qualifier, Gunzelman was named EAGL First Team All-Uneven Bars in the 2013 season. Throughout her junior year, she set several personal career records, including a 9.825 on vault and a 9.850 on the uneven bars, while serving as a captain. Returning as the EAGL Team MVP and nearly qualifying for the NCAA Nationals, Leal was named EAGL First Team All-Vault for the second straight year. Leal recorded a school record 39.500 allaround score during a meet at Towson.
The 2014 schedule features four home meets at the Livingston Recreation Center and seven away contests that lead up to the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championships March 22. The year begins Jan. 11 with New Hampshire at home before the squad travels to Ohio for two meets in three days at Kent State and Ohio State.
Zito returns as a captain once again after competing in only two meets last year due to injury. The redshirt senior was named to the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women Academic All-America team, recording a 9.825 in both floor exercise appearances in the 2013 season. She went to the NCAAs in 2011.
“We start off right away with three tough meets that are quickly going to let us know where we are,” Levine said. “Our goal is to qualify for NCAAs as a team and we want to be able to put up high scores from the beginning.”
NEWCOMERS
With capacity crowds filling the Livingston Recreation Center in recent years, the Scarlet Knights look to continue their success at home. “Every home meet is a great experience for the kids and gives them a chance to show off for the fans,” Levine said. “There have been some big crowds over the years at the Livingston Gym and we look forward to seeing great environments once again this season.”
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CAP TAINS
Rutgers added four freshmen to its roster that are pushing immediately for spots in the lineup – April Baker, Claire Jones, Taylor Le Moal and Charly Santagado. All bring extensive gymnastics experience to the table, having competed at the regional and national level. “The newcomers have all acclimated themselves well to the collegiate level throughout the fall semester,” Levine said. “They all will be in contention to see time right away.” After winning the Most Improved Award for her hard work last season, sophomore Aziza Day looks to make her meet debut in 2014.