Gymnastics Prepares For Purple & Gold Podium Challenge

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 17 University of North Carolina gymnastics prepares for a test on the road this weekend at the Purple & Gold Podium Challenge Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. The event will feature no. 2 LSU, no. 3 Alabama, and Arizona. Action is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

The Podium Challenge will include some of the nation's top gymnasts. Two or three of the top 10 gymnasts in every event across the NCAA will compete this weekend.

Alabama is a familiar competitor for Carolina. The Tar Heels and Crimson Tide met three times last season, twice in the regular season and at the Tuscaloosa Regional. Alabama topped Carolina at each meet.

UNC last faced Arizona and LSU in 2024. The Tar Heels met the Wildcats at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad and later clashed with the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Carolina fell in both matchups.

Among stiff competition, the Tar Heels will look to follow team leaders JoJo Valahovic and Gwen Fink. Valahovic has continued to stand out among the nation's best on vault. The sophomore is tied for seventh in the NCAA and ranks first in the ACC on the event after posting six scores of 9.900 or higher. Fink continues to lead the team in the all-around. The senior is tied for 20^th in the NCAA and second in the ACC on the event with an NQS of 39.290.

Tar Heel Tidbits

Carolina posted their highest team score of the season at Cal (196.750).
Paige Prejean recorded a career-high 9.900 on bars at Cal.
JoJo Valahovic was tabbed ACC Specialist of the Week (Feb. 17) for the second-straight week this season. The sophomore has now posted a 9.900 or higher on vault six times this season.
JoJo Valahovic ranks no. 7 in the nation and no. 1 in the ACC on vault.
Gwen Fink earned another all-around event win at Metroplex and recorded a career-high 9.950 on beam at the event.
JoJo Valahovic tied her career-high of 9.950 on beam in the meet against NC State Friday. The sophomore also recorded a 9.925 on vault for the second consecutive meet.
Sydney Seabrooks recorded a 9.925 on floor against NC State for the fifth meet this season where the freshman recorded a 9.900 or higher on the event.
Gwen Fink won the all-around against NC State Friday with a score of 39.250.
UNC ranks no. 17 in the nation and no. 4 in the ACC heading into week eight of the season.
The team ranks in the top 25 in the NCAA on all five events (Vault – no. 11, AA – no. 17, Beam – no. 18, Floor – no. 19, Bars – no. 23).
Sydney Seabrooks is 5th in the NCAA on floor.
After recording a 9.925 on vault, JoJo Valahovic was named ACC Co-Specialist of the Week (Feb. 10).
Gwen Fink recorded a career-high and program's third-best score on bars against NC State (9.950).
Jessica Naranjo, Sydney Seabrooks, and JoJo Valahovic all recorded a 9.900 on their respective events against Clemson. Naranjo and Valahovic were crowned event winners on beam after posting season-high scores of 9.900.
After recording a 9.950 on floor for the two consecutive meets, Sydney Seabrooks was tabbed ACC Specialist of the Week (Jan. 20).
Gwen Fink was tabbed ACC Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 14) after winning the All-Around title in the season opener at Florida with a score of 39.475.
The Tar Heels were picked to finish fourth in the ACC Preseason Poll.
Carolina secured second place while recording a program record score on the road (196.675) in the season opening quad meet at Florida.
Gwen Fink and Kaya Forbes were named to the ACC Preseason Watchlist while Sydney Seabrooks was featured on the Preseason Newcomer List.
Sydney Seabrooks was named to the Most Anticipated Freshmen List by College Gym News.

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Players Mentioned

Gwen Fink

Kaya Forbes

Jessica Naranjo

Paige Prejean

Sydney Seabrooks

JoJo Valahovic

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