RU Gymnastics Defeats JMU Behind Fittery, Johnson
Jan 24 | Women's Gymnastics
HARRISONBURG, VA – Aided by strong all-around performances from Elizabeth Fittery (Denver, PA) and Lorena Johnson (Liburn, GA), the Rutgers gymnastics team (3-2, 0-2 EAGL) defeated James Madison 192.375-191.350 in a dual-meet on Saturday.
The win was the 200th for head coach Chrystal Chollet-Norton in her 27-year coaching career. It was also her 150th win at Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights had three of the top finishes in the vault to score 48.175 points, led by Nicole Bradder (Dover, NH) (first, 9.700), Johnson (second, 9.650) and Jamye Shelton (Griffin, GA) (second, 9.650). Fittery finished in a tie for fourth place with a 9.625.
“The vault team really stepped up for us today,” said Chollet-Norton. “This was a tough stretch for us with three meets in seven days, but I thought the girls gave it their best effort, and I’m proud of the way they competed.”
On the uneven bars, Stephanie Zick (Pittsburgh, PA) and Johnson finished second and third, respectively. Zick scored a 9.800 and Johnson notched a 9.750. Tracy Heckler (Laurel Springs, NJ) and Sveta Shterenberg (Sharon, MA) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
Lisa Abrams (Mt. Ephraim, NJ), coming off her record-setting score of 9.925 on the balance beam in a victory over Temple on Wednesday, finished firth with a score of 9.825. Caitlin Wight (Washington, PA) finished in a tie for second place with a score of 9.750.
Johnson took top honors in the all-around, scoring a 38.375. Bradder and Fittery finished in third and fourth place, respectively, with scores of 37.950 and 37.875.
On the floor, Johnson finished in third place with a 9.800 while Wight and Zick were part of a three-way tie for fourth place (9.750).
Rutgers returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 31, when it hosts Southern Connecticut and West Chester at the Livingston Recreation Center.
Rutgers 192.375, James Madison 191.350
Vault – Rutgers 48.175, JMU
47.650
Bars – Rutgers 47.400, JMU 46.800
Beam – JMU 48.125, Rutgers 48.075
Floor – JMU 48.775, Rutgers 48.725
