The only thing sweeter about a rivalry win is the celebration that follows.
Following her final routine — a career-high 9.975 that earned first place in on the floor and the second-highest score in program history — sophomore Syniya Thomas was hoisted by her teammates as No. 22 NC State gymnastics (3-2, 3-1 ACC) secured a 197.125-196.525 upset victory over their Tobacco Road rival, No. 12 UNC-Chapel Hill (3-4, 1-3 ACC).
“What I did on the floor translates to what I do in the gym,” Thomas said. “I just put it all out there on the floor. I did my best.”
The final routine encapsulated a historic night for the Wolfpack as it tied its highest bars score in program history, matched the fifth-best floor score ever and recorded a tie for the sixth-highest team score in program history, all while setting season-highs on the bar, beam and floor — a true team effort.
“We see them every day,” Thomas said. “We do them in the gym every day.”
Thomas wasn’t the only member of the red-and-white that made the podium in the floor routine. Freshman Autumn Rardin received a career high-score of 9.900, drawing a tie for third place with UNC’s Jessica Naranjo as the Pack finished with a total score of 49.450 on the floor.
The domination continued on the balance beam as Thomas received a score of 9.875, tying for first with UNC’s Sydney Seabrooks. With a three-way tie for third place between junior Katie Harper, sophomore Caroline Volk and the Tar Heels’ Camryn Rudea — all with a score of 9.850 — the Pack earned a 49.200 on the beam.
Volk carried the momentum onto the uneven bars, where she took second place, matching her career-high with a score of 9.925. Harper and senior Madeline Reid followed close behind, tying for third place with a score of 9.900. When it was all said and done, the Pack’s 49.450 final score tied the highest mark in program history.
Sophomore Ava Myers matched a career-best 9.850 on the vault and earned third place, followed by Thomas with a 9.825. Junior Elle Hadrick and freshman Elle Hadrick each recorded a score of 9.800, helping the Pack earn a 49.025 on the vault, the highest since the home opener against Clemson nearly a month ago.
The win marks the Wolfpack’s highest score of the season and its fifth-consecutive win over UNC. The Tarheels and the Wolfpack will rekindle in just a few days on Friday, Feb. 13, at 6:45 p.m. at Chapel Hill, then again for the third time on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 8:15 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas.
