Tar Heels Sweep Lindsey Ferris Invitational in Season Opener

Sunday, January 13

Washington, D.C

1 p.m.

North Carolina

194.175

193.525

George Washington University

Khazia Hislop
Floor Exercise
University of North Carolina Gymnastics v Brown
Carmichael Arena
Chapel Hill, NC
Monday, February 19, 2018

Junior Khazia Hislop led the Tar Heels with two first place finishes on vault and floor.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

January 13, 2019 | Women's Gymnastics

LFI 2019 Results

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Carolina Gymnastics opens the 2019 season with a first-place finish on the road at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational against George Washington (193.525), Ball State (193.200) and Cornell (190.750) with a score of 194.175 on Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C. The Tar Heels posted 14 Top-10 finishes across all four events highlighted by first-place finishes on vault and floor exercise.

"Coach Denick, coach Sibson and I were pleased with how the team performed for the first meet of the season," said head coach Derek Galvin. "It's been a fun trip for the team. The team performed well. The goals we set before the meet were accomplished, competing with confidence and to compete #asONE."

North Carolina opened the meet scoring a 48.150 on parallel uneven bars. Strong performances from Grace Donaghy and Rylie Dewhurst led the Heels. Donaghy placed third with a score of 9.750 while Dewhurst scored a 9.725 to earn a seventh-place finish. Megan Ruzicka, McKenna Appleton and Drew Aldridge all made their first appearances in Carolina blue scoring 9.650, 9.400, 9.625, respectively.

On balance beam, Carolina scored 48.550 to earn second of the four teams. An evenly-balanced Tar Heel lineup had five Tar Heels in the top-10. Khazia Hislop placed fourth with a score of 9.750. Four Tar Heels, Donaghy, Alexis Allen, Appleton and Jamie DeCicco placed sixth with scores of 9.700. Dewhurst rounded out the Tar Heels with a score of 9.650.

The Tar Heels best performance of the day came on floor exercise in the third rotation with a score of 49.125. Senior Madison Hargrave and Hislop shared the first place podium with scores of 9.875, matching Hargrave's career high. Lily Dean placed fourth on floor with a score of 9.850. Mikayla Robinson and Jamie Antinori rounded out the scoring Tar Heels on floor with 9.800 and 9.725, respectively.

Carolina went into the last rotation tied with Ball State and needed a strong score on vault to take home the win. The Tar Heels delivered with the second highest vault score of the day, a 48.350. Hislop took home the first place honors on vault with a score of 9.825, her second first-place finish of the day. Hargrave's 9.725 and Robinson's 9.700 provided them with top-5 finishes as well in fourth and fifth, respectively. Aldridge had a strong showing with a 9.600, earning tenth place. Ruzicka also contributed 9.500 to the Tar Heels' total.

"This is certainly going to continue to help bolster their confidence," Galvin We were pleased with the assertiveness and composure they showed in competition. If we can keep that mentality going forward they are going to continue to have fun and do well."

North Carolina returns to action on Saturday, January 19 for its home opener. Defending national runners-up Oklahoma and Ball State visit Chapel Hill in Carolina's annual Women's Day and Pink Meet. The meet will be hosted in Carmichael Arena and begin at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the public.