Gymnastics Posts Highest Season-Opening Road Score In Program History

Friday, January 10

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

North Carolina

195.225

197.025

Alabama

Photo by: Kyla Michelitch

Gymnastics Posts Highest Season-Opening Road Score In Program History

January 10, 2025 | Women's Gymnastics

Results

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – North Carolina gymnastics started its 2025 season off on a high note as its final score of 195.225 marked the highest season-opening road score in program history. The Tar Heels competed against Alabama on Friday night at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

Carolina's team score of 195.225 eclipsed its previous school record for a season opener on the road of 195.2, which was done at New Hampshire on Jan. 22, 2021.

Also highlighting the meet was Gwen Fink who tied for first on beam with a new career-high 9.9. It was the sixth event win of the junior's career, and just the second on beam. Her performance was also her third career 9.9+ routine and first on beam.

The Crimson Tide, ranked sixth in the WCGA Preseason Poll, won the meet with a score of 197.025.

All-Around
Julia Knower, who was named to the ACC Preseason Watch List for the second year in a row, was the lone Tar Heel who competed in the all-around during the season opener. The senior placed third with a score of 38.750 after tallies of 9.75 on vault, 9.45 on bars, 9.825 on beam and 9.725 on floor.

Rotation One – Bars (48.75)
The first routine of 2025 belonged to Knower, who had a slight miscue to tally a 9.45 as the leadoff on bars, but a fall forced UNC to count her score. Kaya Forbes earned a 9.75, just shy of her career-high 9.775 from Feb. 2, 2024. Fink, Isabelle Schaefer and Lali Dekanoidze all earned 9.85s for a three-way tie for third.

North Carolina opened the meet with a score of 48.75 on the uneven bars. Alabama totaled 49.3 on the event.

1. Julia Knower – 9.45
2. Claire Stippich – 9.2
3. Kaya Forbes – 9.75
4. Gwen Fink – 9.85
5. Isabelle Schaefer – 9.85
6. Lali Dekanoidze – 9.85
Exh. Neve King – 9.75

Rotation Two – Vault (48.9)
Knower once again was in the leadoff spot, this time recording a 9.75 on vault. Elly King earned a career-high 9.75 from the third spot which bested her 9.7 from Feb. 2, 2024. Going fourth in the lineup was JoJo Valahovic who began her college career with a 9.775, which was followed by Forbes' team-high 9.825 in the fifth position which placed third overall. Dekanoidze, the anchor, registered a 9.8.

1. Julia Knower – 9.75
2. Neve King – 9.6
3. Elly King – 9.75
4. JoJo Valahovic – 9.775
5. Kaya Forbes – 9.825
6. Lali Dekanoidze – 9.8
Exh. Isabelle Schaefer – 9.625

The Tar Heels combined for a total team score of 48.9 in its second rotation. The Crimson Tide registered a vault score of 49.075.

Rotation Three – Floor (48.325)
The leadoff spot on UNC's penultimate rotation went to Jessica Naranjo, who scored a 9.725 in her first-ever collegiate floor routine. Bella Miller went after Naranjo and notched a 9.55 as Fink secured a mark of 9.6 in the fourth position. Forbes and Knower both received 9.725s as the final two Carolina gymnasts to perform on floor.

1. Jessica Naranjo – 9.725
2. Bella Miller – 9.55
3. JoJo Valahovic – 8.8
4. Gwen Fink – 9.6
5. Kaya Forbes – 9.725
6. Julia Knower – 9.725

UNC totaled 48.325 on its third event while UA's floor routines resulted in a cumulative team score of 49.425.

Rotation Four – Beam
Naranjo kicked off Carolina's lineup once again, this time opening the beam rotation with a 9.825. Valahovic impressed from the second spot with a 9.85 in her first-ever college beam routine. Fink clinched UNC's first 9.9 of the season, surpassing her previous career high of 9.85 done six times prior to tie for first. Knower scored a 9.825 going fifth, and Regan McBride, who anchored the event in her collegiate debut, earned a 9.85.

1. Jessica Naranjo – 9.825
2. JoJo Valahovic – 9.85
3. Taylor Schulze – 9.675
4. Gwen Fink – 9.9
5. Julia Knower – 9.825
6. Regan McBride – 9.85

Carolina saved its best rotation for last as its beam score was a 49.25. That was just above Alabama's 49.225.

Up Next
The Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill for their home opener on Friday, Jan. 17, against George Washington. Introductions will begin at 6:45 p.m. ET inside Carmichael Arena and the meet will air on ACCNX.

Season tickets can be purchased here. Single meet tickets can be found here.

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