Fink, All-Around Champion, Shines In ACC Gymnastics Opener

Friday, January 19

Chapel Hill, NC

7:30 p.m. ET

North Carolina

195.325

196.225

NC State

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

January 19, 2024 | Women's Gymnastics

Complete Results Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Gwen Fink won the all-around with a career-best performance as the University of North Carolina gymnastics team fell to NC State, 196.225-195.325, in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Friday night in Carmichael Arena.

The Tar Heels, who built momentum in each of their four rotations in front of a big home crowd, put together their highest team score of the season.

All-Around
Fink, a sophomore, came out on top in a close all-around competition where only .05 separated the top three finishers. Her total of 39.275 crushed her previous career best of 39.100 from last season and finished just ahead of NC State's Emily Shepard (39.250).

Julia Knower was also on all-around duty, finishing third with a final tally of 39.225. Her mark was well above the 39.000 she posted a week prior for a new season high.

Rotation One – Vault (48.900)
The Tar Heels started the night off on vault with Kaya Forbes and Knower both recording 9.825s to lead the team and tie for second overall. Knower's routine matched her season high, which she has now done in back-to-back weeks.

Also contributing to the total team score was Fink's 9.775, Isabelle Schaefer's 9.75 and Lali Dekanoidze's 9.725. Dekanoidze was named the first-ever ACC Gymnastic of the Week on Jan. 9.

Carolina totaled 48.900 on its opening rotation, just behind NC State's 48.975.

Rotation Two – Bars (48.525)
Fink led the way for the home team on bars as her season-high 9.825 tied for second overall. Her score also set a new season high, surpassing the 9.8 she recorded during the season opener two weeks prior.

Schaefer, the reigning ACC Specialist of the Week, had a routine that earned a 9.8. Knower matched her season-best 9.7 while Jamie Shearer and Jessica Naranjo tallied 9.6s to round out the Tar Heel scorers.

The Wolfpack boasted the higher of the two team totals, out-scoring the Tar Heels 48.950-48.525 on bars.

Rotation Three – Beam (48.800)
Carolina put together a strong collective performance on beam during its third rotation. Fink once again led the way for the team with a 9.85 in a three-way tie for first place. Not only was her score a new season high, it matched her collegiate best for the third time in her career.

Plenty of other Tar Heels saw season highs as well, including Knower with a 9.825. Hallie Thompson and Taylor Schulze also had their best performances of the year with 9.775s as Camryn Rueda's 9.675 also counted for UNC.

UNC totaled 48.900 on beam, its highest score on the event this season. NC State totaled 49.100 on this rotation.

Rotation Four – Floor (49.000)
Last year's conference champion on floor, Knower impressed with a 9.875 to lead the team and secure a second-place finish. Her mark was a new season best, eclipsing her 9.8 from a week ago. Fink, who continued to put together stellar routines all evening, ended the meet with a 9.825. That score erased her previous collegiate best of 9.775 done twice in 2023.

In just her third time competing the event, Bella Miller registered a 9.8 for her second 9.8+ routine in the past two weeks. Amy Wozniak matched her career-best 9.775 while Rueda's 9.725 also set a new career high.

The Tar Heels' total mark of 49.000 was their highest mark on the event this year. The Wolfpack totaled 49.200 on floor.

Up Next
The Tar Heels are back at home to continue ACC competition on Friday, Jan. 26, against Clemson in the first-ever meet between the two teams. The meet will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET with introductions starting at 7:15 p.m. inside Carmichael Arena.

Tickets are available for purchase here and the meet will air on ACCNX.

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