2017 RUTGERS GYMNASTICS
2017 RUTGERS GYMNASTICS
2017 SCHEDULE/RESULTS Jan. 7 BRIDGEPORT W, 192.875-191.225 NEW HAMPSHIRE L, 193.425-192.875 WILLIAM & MARY W, 192.875-188.275 Jan. 14 at Illinois* L, 195.900-191.125 vs. Eastern Michigan L, 194.725-191.125 vs. Illinois-Chicago W, 191.125-190.850 Jan. 21 NEBRASKA* 7 p.m. BROWN WEST CHESTER Jan. 28 MICHIGAN STATE* 7 p.m. CORNELL URSINUS Feb. 4 at Ohio State* 4 p.m. Feb. 11 MARYLAND* 7 p.m. PENN YALE Feb. 19 at Illinois-Chicago 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at Towson 7 p.m. March 3 at Southeast Missouri 7:30 p.m. vs. Texas Woman’s March 5 at Central Michigan 1 p.m. March 11 at Iowa* (Big Five Qualifier) TBA vs. Michigan* vs. Minnesota* vs. Penn State* March 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS Noon/5 p.m. * - Big Ten All Times Eastern
Meet #3
Rutgers (3-3, 0-1) vs. No. 10 Nebraska/Brown/West Chester Saturday, January 21 • 7 p.m. ET Piscataway, N.J. • Livingston Gym
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
Coach: Louis Levine (Sixth Season) Last Time Out: 191.125 Website: ScarletKnights.com Twitter Updates: @RUGymnastics TEAM VAULT BARS BEAM FLOOR
AVG RANK SEASON HIGH 192.000 T-54 192.875 48.300 T-49 48.500 48.175 48 48.425 48.213 37 48.475 47.313 66 48.000
RANK: 10 RANK: 51 AVG: 195.700 AVG: 192.475 SEASON HIGH: 195.700 SEASON HIGH: 192.475
RANK: 57 AVG: 190.850 SEASON HIGH: 191.050
2017 ROSTER Name Riahanah Ali Michelle Amoresano April Baker Jenna Crisalli Chloe DeVries Libby Groden Kaitlyn Hall Claire Jones Emma Karas Erin McLachlan Anne Marie Neggia Polina Poliakova Jenna Rizkalla Charly Santagado Eriel Santagado Makenzey Shank
Year So. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Sr. So. Jr.
Head Coach: Louis Levine (Sixth season, ninth on staff) Assistant Coach: Danielle D’Elia (Fourth season) Assistant Coach: Teri Diamond (Second season)
Height 5-2 5-0 5-2 5-1 5-2 5-4 5-5 5-2 5-3 5-0 5-6 5-3 5-3 4-11 5-1 5-4
Hometown/High School Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park Andover, Mass./Andover Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro Venice, Fla./Venice Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford Raytown, Mo./Raytown Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney Port Matilda, Pa./State College Area Bradford, Great Britain/Huddersfield New College Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon Norwich, Great Britain/Notre Dame Westfield, N.J./Westfield Celebration, Fla./Florida Virtual Celebration, Fla./Florida Virtual Phoenix, Ariz./Saguaro
QUICK FACTS GENERAL INFORMATION Location......................................................New Brunswick, N.J. Founded............................................................................. 1766 Enrollment...................................................................... 67,000 Nickname........................................................... Scarlet Knights Color................................................................................ Scarlet Affiliation.......................................................... NCAA Division I Conference......................................................................Big Ten President...........................................................Robert L. Barchi Director of Athletics............................................. Patrick Hobbs Mascot................................................................. Scarlet Knight Ticket Office.......................................................866-445-GORU COACHING STAFF Head Coach............................................................ Louis Levine Season...................................................... Sixth (Ninth on Staff) Alma Mater........................................................... Michigan ‘02 Assistant Coach...................................................Danielle D’Elia Season.................................................... Third (Fourth on Staff) Alma Mater............................................................. Rutgers ‘13 Assistant Coach.................................................... Teri Diamond Season............................................................................ Second Alma Mater.................................................. North Carolina ‘11 PREVIOUS TEAM INFORMATION 2016 High Score: .......................................................... 195.475 Letterwinners R/L: ...............................................................8/7 Newcomers:............................................................................. 6 ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Gymnastics Contact: .................................................Jimmy Gill Office Phone: ................................................... (732) 445-8103 Cell Phone:........................................................ (732) 991-9486 Office Fax: ......................................................... (732) 445-8899 Email: ................................................. [email protected] Twitter:.............................................................@RUGymnastics Rutgers Athletics Website: .................www.scarletknights.com
THE LEVINE FILE
CAREER RECORD: 68-61 2011-Present Head Gymnastics Coach, Rutgers University Piscataway, N.J. 2008-11: Assistant Gymnastics Coach, Rutgers University Piscataway, N.J. 2006-07: Director of Operations, Eventwise Adelaide, Australia 2005-08: Assistant Director, International Gymnastics Camp Stroudsburg, Pa. 2002-04: Assistant Men’s Gymnastics Coach, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 2003: Assistant Gymnastics Coach, USA Gymnastics Indianapolis, Ind. 2000-02: Assistant Media Director, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
Louis Levine, who led Rutgers gymnastics to the NCAA Regionals in 2014, is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Scarlet Knights. The 2016-17 season is his ninth overall in Piscataway as the program is in year three in the Big Ten Conference.
Levine has transitioned the Scarlet Knights into the Big Ten, raising the level both in the gym and in the classroom. The program has had 28 NACGC/W Scholastic All-Americans under his five-year watch with a perfect 1,000 APR score in the latest NCAA report, which measures eligibility, graduation and retention each term. The multiyear mark in the report continues to sit among the top gymnastics programs nationally. In addition, 16 members of the program have achieved Academic All-Big Ten status in the two years in the conference. Rutgers gymnastics has sent representatives to NCAA Regionals in each of the five years under Levine, including a team appearance in 2014. Scores have also been on the rise with nine of the top 10 team marks in program history happening in the last four seasons, with the record of 196.225 set on March 8, 2014. Interest in the program has also soared, as each of the last seven meets at the Livingston Recreation Center have been sold out. Consequently, three meets in the last two seasons have taken place at the RAC to accomodate more fans. RU will open its doors to the conference by hosting the 2017 Big Ten Championships at the RAC in March. In 2016, the Scarlet Knights featured a balanced lineup across the board with contributions from both newcomers and veterans. Each event reached 49.000 at least once with the Scarlet Knights topping the 195-mark three times during the campaign. Floor exercise ended up with the highest RQS at 48.935, as freshman Riahanah Ali earned All-Championship Team at the Big Ten Championships, a meet where RU hit all 24 routines overall. Levine guided three individuals to NCAA Regionals - Michelle Amoresano (vault), Libby Groden (all-around) and Nicolette Wilson (vault) - to continue a streak of sending competitors to the NCAA level. Also worth noting, RU earned its first Big Ten dual meet by taking down Maryland with a 194.900, a mark that featured a 49.075 on vault. Levine transitioned the Scarlet Knights into the Big Ten in 2015, as the team placed three gymnasts at NCAA Regionals and broke the school record on floor exercise (49.375). At the Big Ten Championships, televised live on Big Ten Network, RU tied for the highest score on vault in its session. In guiding Rutgers to a break-through season in 2014, Levine earned both East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Coach of the Year and the NACGC/W Northeast Region Head Coach of the Year. RU shattered nearly every record under Levine in 2014, including six of the top 10 scores in school history at the time, with a program-high 196.225 on Senior Day. The season was highlighted by the team’s appearance at the NCAA Regionals in Athens, Ga., qualifying with a program-best RQS of 195.340. The trip marked the program’s first showing since 2007 and the first time under the new format. The Scarlet Knights broke two event records as well, recording program-bests on vault and floor exercise. In correlation to the rising scores, Rutgers brought in seven weekly conference honors on the season, with at least two in each of the three categories. Six different gymnasts picked up 11 All-EAGL accolades and 12 earned All-Scholastic Team recognition. RU registered a tie for third at EAGL Championships (195.275), the best placement and score in school history at the meet. Additionally, RU went 17-5 head-to-head in the regular season with three wins over ranked opponents. Following Levine’s leadership, Alexis Gunzelman finished her career by becoming the first all-arounder in school history to qualify for NCAA Nationals. She was the first Scarlet Knight to reach the national level since Courtney Turner in 2002 (floor exercise). Gunzelman also earned her third Team MVP and first-team all-league five times for her performance as a senior. In 2013, Rutgers continued its growth, recording four of its top six scores at the time. The highlight of the 2013 season came on Senior Day when Rutgers notched the then-program-record 195.975 to win a quad meet. The mark shattered the previous high of 195.400 set back in 2000. Levine sent four individual competitors to NCAA Regionals. Under Levine, Luisa Leal, who missed most to the 2012 season, was awarded EAGL Team MVP. The junior’s highlight of the season came in the March 8 meet at Towson where she broke her own school all-around record with a 39.500 to win EAGL Gymnast of the Week. Leal placed at least tied for first in every event, notching a career-high 9.950 score on floor exercise. In his first season as head coach, Levine led the squad to a 13-11 record. The team had its best performance of the season at the EAGL Championships, notching a score of 193.850. Under Levine, Gunzelman qualified for NCAA Regionals as an individual. She also earned a First Team All-EAGL All-Around spot and a fifth-place finish at the EAGL Championships, the highest placing ever by a Scarlet Knight at that event at the time. With Levine’s guidance, Danielle D’Elia, Gunzelman and Jenna Zito picked up Second Team All-EAGL Floor honors, Gunzelman earned Second Team Bars and Alyssa Straub was recognized with Second Team All-Around accolades. Academically, 11 gymnasts earned Scholastic All-America awards from the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W). Levine was officially hired as head coach on May 9, 2011. In his three prior seasons on the Rutgers staff under coach Chrystal Chollet-Norton, the Scarlet Knights achieved great success. The 2011 squad established a school-record for victories in a season with a 19-8 overall mark and enjoyed its then-highest-ever finish and score (fifth and 193.625) in the EAGL Championships. Three gymnasts - D’Elia, Zito and Leal - earned a berth in the NCAA Regionals, marking the program’s first representation in the regionals since 2007. Levine helped coach three gymnasts to All-EAGL honors, including Leal who was named the EAGL Rookie of the Year in her first season “On the Banks.” As a team, the Scarlet Knights improved their regional qualifying score to 194.740, improving from the previous year’s score of 194.350. Floor exercise proved to be the most successful event of the season, with RU posting a 49.005 RQS and breaking the then-school-record 49.250. The team also saw success on vault, posting a 49.100, which now stands as the second-best score in school history. The uneven bars were the event that the Scarlet Knights improved most in by notching the best mark at the EAGL Championships (48.900). A native of Maplewood, N.J., Levine returned to his home state after three years as the Director of the International Gymnastics Camp in Stroudsburg, Pa., from 2005-08. He also coached at Surgent’s Elite School of Gymnastics in Roselle Park, N.J., from 2008-09. Levine spent time with the USA Gymnastics team in Daegu, South Korea, where he was an assistant coach for the World University Games. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he served three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2002-04. Levine oversaw all aspects of Michigan’s recruiting operations and helped organize the program’s operating budget. During his time at Michigan, he served on the planning committee for the program’s freshman student-athlete orientation program, helping mentor newcomers. While a member of the Wolverines’ staff, he coached 2003 NCAA Vault Champion Andrew DiGiore.
He has coached several Junior National Team and Senior National Team members and a Junior National Champion in the all-around. Levine is no stranger to the Big Ten, as he competed on the vault during his time at Michigan, where he helped guide the Wolverines to a pair of Big Ten titles in 1999 and 2000 and the 1999 NCAA Championship. He was a two-time recipient of the Coaches Appreciation Award. Levine received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 2002 and Master’s from the American InterContinental University Business School in 2006. A decorated gymnast, Levine attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J. He currently resides in nearby Springfield, N.J.
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GYMNASTICS RETURNS HOME FOR QUAD MEET PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Jan. 18, 2017) – Rutgers gymnastics will return to the Livingston Gym Saturday at 7 p.m. to host No. 10 Nebraska, Brown and West Chester in a quad meet. A limited number of tickets are still available by calling 1-866-445-GORU or visiting ScarletKnights.com, as the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a black headband.
HEAD COACH LOUIS LEVINE Q&A On message to the team this week: “We want to stay positive and talked about coming in every day with a positive attitude. We want to come together more as a team to work hard, be more proactive in our approach and really focus in on accomplishing the goals we set forth.”
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 191.125 in a road quad meet at Illinois, scoring best on balance beam with a 48.475. Junior Makenzey Shank highlighted the beam rotation with a 9.825 and also led the team with a 9.775 on uneven bars. RU placed third in the meet ahead of Illinois-Chicago and behind Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
On practice this week: “You’re not going to reinvent the wheel, but we want to get back in here and keep pushing forward on routines and skills. We have more and more people competing for spots. Competition in the gym turns into better competition on the floor. Last weekend was a meet to learn from.”
Junior Libby Groden and freshman Chloe DeVries have both competed all-around to start the season, with Groden scoring as high as 38.825. In addition, senior Claire Jones has started off with a 9.775 in three of her four routines on vault and balance beam. This week’s meet is the second of five consecutive Big Ten meets for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will start off on vault, while Nebraska will begin at uneven bars, Brown at balance beam and West Chester at floor exercise.
On balance beam last week and putting four events together: “It was a good performance on beam, better than the week before. But there is still room for improvement. Any given week beam can be the best, or vault or floor, anyone of the events. This past week it happened to be beam, but when we are really successful it means we are putting together four really strong events. We need 20 scores to come together for the end score. If we have a great beam team, but struggle on the others, we are not going to be a great team. And we want to be a great team altogether.” On competing at home: “It is always great to be home and have your fans behind you. The hope is that we start strong and build momentum with the crowd and carry that with us throughout the meet.”
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2017 TOP SCORES
SCHOOL RECORDS
TEAM TOTAL 192.875 (Jan. 7) 191.125 (Jan. 14)
INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 38.825: Groden (Jan. 7) 38.725: Groden (Jan. 14) 37.875: DeVries (Jan. 7)
VAULT 48.500 (Jan. 7) 48.100 (Jan. 14)
VAULT 9.775: Jones (Jan. 7) 9.750: DeVries (Jan. 14) 9.750: DeVries (Jan. 7)
UNEVEN BARS 48.425 (Jan. 7) 47.925 (Jan. 14)
UNEVEN BARS 9.775: Shank (Jan. 14) 9.750: Amoresano (Jan. 7) 9.750: Shank (Jan. 7)
BALANCE BEAM 48.475 (Jan. 14) 47.950 (Jan. 7)
BALANCE BEAM 9.825: Shank (Jan. 14) 9.775: Jones (Jan. 14) 9.775: Jones (Jan. 7)
FLOOR EXERCISE 48.000 (Jan. 7) 46.625 (Jan. 14)
FLOOR EXERCISE 9.750: Ali (Jan. 14) 9.750: Groden (Jan. 7) 9.725: Groden (Jan. 14)
DATE
LOCATION
RESULT
TEAM
Jan. 7
Rutgers
2/4
Jan. 14
Illinois
3/4
Jan. 21
Rutgers
Jan. 28
Rutgers
Feb. 4
Ohio State
Feb. 11
Rutgers
Feb. 19
Illinois-Chicago
Feb. 24
Towson
INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 39.500 - Luisa Leal: March 8, 2013 VAULT 9.925 - Luisa Leal: March 2, 2013 BARS 10.000 - Dawn Campbell: March 1, 2000 BALANCE BEAM 9.925 - Lisa Abrams: Jan. 21 & March 13, 2004 FLOOR EXERCISE 10.000 - Courtney Turner: March 8, 2002 TEAM VAULT TOTAL (* - road meet) 49.200 – Feb. 9, 2014 196.225 – March 8, 2014 49.100 – March 8, 2013 195.975 – March 2, 2013 49.075 – Feb. 14, 2016 195.825 – March 1, 2014* 49.075 – March 1, 2014 195.550 – March 8, 2013* 195.475 – Feb. 28, 2016* BARS 195.400 – Feb. 26, 2000 49.400 - March 1, 2000 195.375 – Jan. 24, 2015 49.300 - Feb. 26, 2000 195.275 – March 22, 2014* 49.100 - Jan. 24, 2015 195.275 – Jan. 19, 2014* 195.250 – Jan. 17, 2014* BALANCE BEAM 49.325 - Feb. 28, 2004 49.100 - March 1, 2014 49.100 - March 22, 2014 FLOOR EXERCISE 49.375 - March 7, 2015 49.325 - March 8, 2014 49.250 - March 2, 2013
2017 MEET-BY-MEET VAULT
BARS
BEAM
FLOOR
TOP OPPONENT
192.875
48.500
48.425
47.950
48.000
New Hampshire (193.425)
191.125
48.100
47.925
48.475
46.625
Illinois (195.900)
March 3 Southeast Missouri March 5 Central Michigan March 11
Iowa
March 18
Rutgers
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2017 HEADSHOT ROSTER
RIAHANAH ALI Sophomore Ann Arbor, Mich.
MICHELLE AMORESANO Sophomore Whippany, N.J.
APRIL BAKER Senior Andover, Mass.
JENNA CRISALLI Junior Freehold, N.J.
CHLOE DEVRIES Freshman Venice, Fla.
LIBBY GRODEN Junior Abbottstown, Pa.
KAITLYN HALL Freshman Raytown, Mo.
CLAIRE JONES Senior Gaffney, S.C.
EMMA KARAS Freshman Port Matilda, Pa.
ERIN MCLACHLAN Freshman Bradford, U.K.
ANNE MARIE NEGGIA Sophomore Kinnelon, N.J.
POLINA POLIAKOVA Freshman Norwich, G.B.
JENNA RIZKALLA Sophomore Westfield, N.J.
CHARLY SANTAGADO Senior Celebration, Fla.
ERIEL SANTAGADO Sophomore Celebration, Fla.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
MAKENZEY SHANK Junior Phoenix, Ariz.
LOUIS LEVINE Head Coach Sixth Season
DANIELLE D’ELIA Assistant Coach Fourth Season
TERI DIAMOND Assistant Coach Second Season
Riahanah..................................................Ray Amoresano........................... A-more-es-ano Crisalli......................................... Chris-all-ee DeVries......................................... Da-Vreeze McLachlan................................... Mc-lack-lin Neggia.............................................. Neh-gia Poliakova.................................Polly-uh-kova Rizkalla.......................................... Riz-call-ah Santagado................................... Santa-gado Levine............................................. Lev-veen
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Statistics by Gymnast Rutgers: 2016 - 2017 Season
Page: 1
Riahanah Ali Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault 9.650 9.575 9.613 9.650 9.825
Bars
Beam 9.450 9.650 9.550 9.650 9.650
Floor 9.525 9.750 9.638 9.750 9.900
AllArr
9.700
Vault 9.650 9.600 9.625 9.650 9.825
Bars 9.750 9.725 9.738 9.750 9.800
Beam
Floor 9.575 9.475 9.525 9.575 9.800
AllArr
Vault
Beam 9.600 8.950 9.275 9.600 9.775
Floor
AllArr
9.900
Bars 9.675 9.275 9.475 9.675 9.825
Vault
Bars
Beam
Floor 9.375 9.475
9.675
9.825
Michelle Amoresano Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
April Baker Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
9.875
Jenna Crisalli Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
AllArr
Chloe DeVries Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault 9.750 9.750 9.750 9.750 9.750
Bars 9.050 9.250 9.150 9.250 9.250
Beam 9.425 9.550 9.488 9.550 9.550
Floor 9.650 8.475 9.063 9.650 9.650
AllArr 37.875 37.025
Vault 9.675 9.650 9.663 9.675 9.825
Bars 9.700 9.675 9.688 9.700 9.850
Beam 9.700 9.675 9.688 9.700 9.850
Floor 9.750 9.725 9.738 9.750 9.875
AllArr 38.825 38.725
Vault 9.775 9.450 9.613 9.775 9.900
Bars
Beam 9.775 9.775 9.775 9.775 9.875
Floor
AllArr
Libby Groden Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Claire Jones Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
9.675
9.900
Scores in italic set or tied a personal record. Scores in bold set or tied a team record. Scores with a strike-through were exhibition. Gymnastics ScoreKeeper™ by Beaver Creek Software Licensed to: Rutgers University
(541) 752-7263
www.beaverlog.com
Statistics by Gymnast Rutgers: 2016 - 2017 Season
Page: 2
Polina Poliakova Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault
Bars 9.550 9.475 9.513 9.550 9.550
Beam
Floor
AllArr
Vault 9.575 9.525 9.550 9.575 9.575
Bars
Beam
Floor 9.500 9.000 9.250 9.500 9.500
AllArr
Vault
Bars
Beam 9.050
Floor
AllArr
Floor 8.825 8.675 8.750 8.825 9.650
AllArr
8.725
8.725
Jenna Rizkalla Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Eriel Santagado Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
9.400
9.675
9.800
Bars 9.750 9.775 9.763 9.775 9.875
Beam 9.250 9.825 9.538 9.825 9.900
Makenzey Shank Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault
Scores in italic set or tied a personal record. Scores in bold set or tied a team record. Scores with a strike-through were exhibition. Gymnastics ScoreKeeper™ by Beaver Creek Software Licensed to: Rutgers University
(541) 752-7263
www.beaverlog.com
2017 SCHEDULE/RESULTS Jan. 7 BRIDGEPORT W, 192.875-191.225 NEW HAMPSHIRE L, 193.425-192.875 WILLIAM & MARY W, 192.875-188.275 Jan. 14 at Illinois* L, 195.900-191.125 vs. Eastern Michigan L, 194.725-191.125 vs. Illinois-Chicago W, 191.125-190.850 Jan. 21 NEBRASKA* 7 p.m. BROWN WEST CHESTER Jan. 28 MICHIGAN STATE* 7 p.m. CORNELL URSINUS Feb. 4 at Ohio State* 4 p.m. Feb. 11 MARYLAND* 7 p.m. PENN YALE Feb. 19 at Illinois-Chicago 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at Towson 7 p.m. March 3 at Southeast Missouri 7:30 p.m. vs. Texas Woman’s March 5 at Central Michigan 1 p.m. March 11 at Iowa* (Big Five Qualifier) TBA vs. Michigan* vs. Minnesota* vs. Penn State* March 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS Noon/5 p.m. * - Big Ten All Times Eastern
Meet #3
Rutgers (3-3, 0-1) vs. No. 10 Nebraska/Brown/West Chester Saturday, January 21 • 7 p.m. ET Piscataway, N.J. • Livingston Gym
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
Coach: Louis Levine (Sixth Season) Last Time Out: 191.125 Website: ScarletKnights.com Twitter Updates: @RUGymnastics TEAM VAULT BARS BEAM FLOOR
AVG RANK SEASON HIGH 192.000 T-54 192.875 48.300 T-49 48.500 48.175 48 48.425 48.213 37 48.475 47.313 66 48.000
RANK: 10 RANK: 51 AVG: 195.700 AVG: 192.475 SEASON HIGH: 195.700 SEASON HIGH: 192.475
RANK: 57 AVG: 190.850 SEASON HIGH: 191.050
2017 ROSTER Name Riahanah Ali Michelle Amoresano April Baker Jenna Crisalli Chloe DeVries Libby Groden Kaitlyn Hall Claire Jones Emma Karas Erin McLachlan Anne Marie Neggia Polina Poliakova Jenna Rizkalla Charly Santagado Eriel Santagado Makenzey Shank
Year So. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Sr. So. Jr.
Head Coach: Louis Levine (Sixth season, ninth on staff) Assistant Coach: Danielle D’Elia (Fourth season) Assistant Coach: Teri Diamond (Second season)
Height 5-2 5-0 5-2 5-1 5-2 5-4 5-5 5-2 5-3 5-0 5-6 5-3 5-3 4-11 5-1 5-4
Hometown/High School Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park Andover, Mass./Andover Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro Venice, Fla./Venice Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford Raytown, Mo./Raytown Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney Port Matilda, Pa./State College Area Bradford, Great Britain/Huddersfield New College Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon Norwich, Great Britain/Notre Dame Westfield, N.J./Westfield Celebration, Fla./Florida Virtual Celebration, Fla./Florida Virtual Phoenix, Ariz./Saguaro
QUICK FACTS GENERAL INFORMATION Location......................................................New Brunswick, N.J. Founded............................................................................. 1766 Enrollment...................................................................... 67,000 Nickname........................................................... Scarlet Knights Color................................................................................ Scarlet Affiliation.......................................................... NCAA Division I Conference......................................................................Big Ten President...........................................................Robert L. Barchi Director of Athletics............................................. Patrick Hobbs Mascot................................................................. Scarlet Knight Ticket Office.......................................................866-445-GORU COACHING STAFF Head Coach............................................................ Louis Levine Season...................................................... Sixth (Ninth on Staff) Alma Mater........................................................... Michigan ‘02 Assistant Coach...................................................Danielle D’Elia Season.................................................... Third (Fourth on Staff) Alma Mater............................................................. Rutgers ‘13 Assistant Coach.................................................... Teri Diamond Season............................................................................ Second Alma Mater.................................................. North Carolina ‘11 PREVIOUS TEAM INFORMATION 2016 High Score: .......................................................... 195.475 Letterwinners R/L: ...............................................................8/7 Newcomers:............................................................................. 6 ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Gymnastics Contact: .................................................Jimmy Gill Office Phone: ................................................... (732) 445-8103 Cell Phone:........................................................ (732) 991-9486 Office Fax: ......................................................... (732) 445-8899 Email: ................................................. [email protected] Twitter:.............................................................@RUGymnastics Rutgers Athletics Website: .................www.scarletknights.com
THE LEVINE FILE
CAREER RECORD: 68-61 2011-Present Head Gymnastics Coach, Rutgers University Piscataway, N.J. 2008-11: Assistant Gymnastics Coach, Rutgers University Piscataway, N.J. 2006-07: Director of Operations, Eventwise Adelaide, Australia 2005-08: Assistant Director, International Gymnastics Camp Stroudsburg, Pa. 2002-04: Assistant Men’s Gymnastics Coach, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 2003: Assistant Gymnastics Coach, USA Gymnastics Indianapolis, Ind. 2000-02: Assistant Media Director, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
Louis Levine, who led Rutgers gymnastics to the NCAA Regionals in 2014, is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Scarlet Knights. The 2016-17 season is his ninth overall in Piscataway as the program is in year three in the Big Ten Conference.
Levine has transitioned the Scarlet Knights into the Big Ten, raising the level both in the gym and in the classroom. The program has had 28 NACGC/W Scholastic All-Americans under his five-year watch with a perfect 1,000 APR score in the latest NCAA report, which measures eligibility, graduation and retention each term. The multiyear mark in the report continues to sit among the top gymnastics programs nationally. In addition, 16 members of the program have achieved Academic All-Big Ten status in the two years in the conference. Rutgers gymnastics has sent representatives to NCAA Regionals in each of the five years under Levine, including a team appearance in 2014. Scores have also been on the rise with nine of the top 10 team marks in program history happening in the last four seasons, with the record of 196.225 set on March 8, 2014. Interest in the program has also soared, as each of the last seven meets at the Livingston Recreation Center have been sold out. Consequently, three meets in the last two seasons have taken place at the RAC to accomodate more fans. RU will open its doors to the conference by hosting the 2017 Big Ten Championships at the RAC in March. In 2016, the Scarlet Knights featured a balanced lineup across the board with contributions from both newcomers and veterans. Each event reached 49.000 at least once with the Scarlet Knights topping the 195-mark three times during the campaign. Floor exercise ended up with the highest RQS at 48.935, as freshman Riahanah Ali earned All-Championship Team at the Big Ten Championships, a meet where RU hit all 24 routines overall. Levine guided three individuals to NCAA Regionals - Michelle Amoresano (vault), Libby Groden (all-around) and Nicolette Wilson (vault) - to continue a streak of sending competitors to the NCAA level. Also worth noting, RU earned its first Big Ten dual meet by taking down Maryland with a 194.900, a mark that featured a 49.075 on vault. Levine transitioned the Scarlet Knights into the Big Ten in 2015, as the team placed three gymnasts at NCAA Regionals and broke the school record on floor exercise (49.375). At the Big Ten Championships, televised live on Big Ten Network, RU tied for the highest score on vault in its session. In guiding Rutgers to a break-through season in 2014, Levine earned both East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Coach of the Year and the NACGC/W Northeast Region Head Coach of the Year. RU shattered nearly every record under Levine in 2014, including six of the top 10 scores in school history at the time, with a program-high 196.225 on Senior Day. The season was highlighted by the team’s appearance at the NCAA Regionals in Athens, Ga., qualifying with a program-best RQS of 195.340. The trip marked the program’s first showing since 2007 and the first time under the new format. The Scarlet Knights broke two event records as well, recording program-bests on vault and floor exercise. In correlation to the rising scores, Rutgers brought in seven weekly conference honors on the season, with at least two in each of the three categories. Six different gymnasts picked up 11 All-EAGL accolades and 12 earned All-Scholastic Team recognition. RU registered a tie for third at EAGL Championships (195.275), the best placement and score in school history at the meet. Additionally, RU went 17-5 head-to-head in the regular season with three wins over ranked opponents. Following Levine’s leadership, Alexis Gunzelman finished her career by becoming the first all-arounder in school history to qualify for NCAA Nationals. She was the first Scarlet Knight to reach the national level since Courtney Turner in 2002 (floor exercise). Gunzelman also earned her third Team MVP and first-team all-league five times for her performance as a senior. In 2013, Rutgers continued its growth, recording four of its top six scores at the time. The highlight of the 2013 season came on Senior Day when Rutgers notched the then-program-record 195.975 to win a quad meet. The mark shattered the previous high of 195.400 set back in 2000. Levine sent four individual competitors to NCAA Regionals. Under Levine, Luisa Leal, who missed most to the 2012 season, was awarded EAGL Team MVP. The junior’s highlight of the season came in the March 8 meet at Towson where she broke her own school all-around record with a 39.500 to win EAGL Gymnast of the Week. Leal placed at least tied for first in every event, notching a career-high 9.950 score on floor exercise. In his first season as head coach, Levine led the squad to a 13-11 record. The team had its best performance of the season at the EAGL Championships, notching a score of 193.850. Under Levine, Gunzelman qualified for NCAA Regionals as an individual. She also earned a First Team All-EAGL All-Around spot and a fifth-place finish at the EAGL Championships, the highest placing ever by a Scarlet Knight at that event at the time. With Levine’s guidance, Danielle D’Elia, Gunzelman and Jenna Zito picked up Second Team All-EAGL Floor honors, Gunzelman earned Second Team Bars and Alyssa Straub was recognized with Second Team All-Around accolades. Academically, 11 gymnasts earned Scholastic All-America awards from the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W). Levine was officially hired as head coach on May 9, 2011. In his three prior seasons on the Rutgers staff under coach Chrystal Chollet-Norton, the Scarlet Knights achieved great success. The 2011 squad established a school-record for victories in a season with a 19-8 overall mark and enjoyed its then-highest-ever finish and score (fifth and 193.625) in the EAGL Championships. Three gymnasts - D’Elia, Zito and Leal - earned a berth in the NCAA Regionals, marking the program’s first representation in the regionals since 2007. Levine helped coach three gymnasts to All-EAGL honors, including Leal who was named the EAGL Rookie of the Year in her first season “On the Banks.” As a team, the Scarlet Knights improved their regional qualifying score to 194.740, improving from the previous year’s score of 194.350. Floor exercise proved to be the most successful event of the season, with RU posting a 49.005 RQS and breaking the then-school-record 49.250. The team also saw success on vault, posting a 49.100, which now stands as the second-best score in school history. The uneven bars were the event that the Scarlet Knights improved most in by notching the best mark at the EAGL Championships (48.900). A native of Maplewood, N.J., Levine returned to his home state after three years as the Director of the International Gymnastics Camp in Stroudsburg, Pa., from 2005-08. He also coached at Surgent’s Elite School of Gymnastics in Roselle Park, N.J., from 2008-09. Levine spent time with the USA Gymnastics team in Daegu, South Korea, where he was an assistant coach for the World University Games. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he served three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2002-04. Levine oversaw all aspects of Michigan’s recruiting operations and helped organize the program’s operating budget. During his time at Michigan, he served on the planning committee for the program’s freshman student-athlete orientation program, helping mentor newcomers. While a member of the Wolverines’ staff, he coached 2003 NCAA Vault Champion Andrew DiGiore.
He has coached several Junior National Team and Senior National Team members and a Junior National Champion in the all-around. Levine is no stranger to the Big Ten, as he competed on the vault during his time at Michigan, where he helped guide the Wolverines to a pair of Big Ten titles in 1999 and 2000 and the 1999 NCAA Championship. He was a two-time recipient of the Coaches Appreciation Award. Levine received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 2002 and Master’s from the American InterContinental University Business School in 2006. A decorated gymnast, Levine attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J. He currently resides in nearby Springfield, N.J.
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GYMNASTICS RETURNS HOME FOR QUAD MEET PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Jan. 18, 2017) – Rutgers gymnastics will return to the Livingston Gym Saturday at 7 p.m. to host No. 10 Nebraska, Brown and West Chester in a quad meet. A limited number of tickets are still available by calling 1-866-445-GORU or visiting ScarletKnights.com, as the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a black headband.
HEAD COACH LOUIS LEVINE Q&A On message to the team this week: “We want to stay positive and talked about coming in every day with a positive attitude. We want to come together more as a team to work hard, be more proactive in our approach and really focus in on accomplishing the goals we set forth.”
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 191.125 in a road quad meet at Illinois, scoring best on balance beam with a 48.475. Junior Makenzey Shank highlighted the beam rotation with a 9.825 and also led the team with a 9.775 on uneven bars. RU placed third in the meet ahead of Illinois-Chicago and behind Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
On practice this week: “You’re not going to reinvent the wheel, but we want to get back in here and keep pushing forward on routines and skills. We have more and more people competing for spots. Competition in the gym turns into better competition on the floor. Last weekend was a meet to learn from.”
Junior Libby Groden and freshman Chloe DeVries have both competed all-around to start the season, with Groden scoring as high as 38.825. In addition, senior Claire Jones has started off with a 9.775 in three of her four routines on vault and balance beam. This week’s meet is the second of five consecutive Big Ten meets for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will start off on vault, while Nebraska will begin at uneven bars, Brown at balance beam and West Chester at floor exercise.
On balance beam last week and putting four events together: “It was a good performance on beam, better than the week before. But there is still room for improvement. Any given week beam can be the best, or vault or floor, anyone of the events. This past week it happened to be beam, but when we are really successful it means we are putting together four really strong events. We need 20 scores to come together for the end score. If we have a great beam team, but struggle on the others, we are not going to be a great team. And we want to be a great team altogether.” On competing at home: “It is always great to be home and have your fans behind you. The hope is that we start strong and build momentum with the crowd and carry that with us throughout the meet.”
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2017 TOP SCORES
SCHOOL RECORDS
TEAM TOTAL 192.875 (Jan. 7) 191.125 (Jan. 14)
INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 38.825: Groden (Jan. 7) 38.725: Groden (Jan. 14) 37.875: DeVries (Jan. 7)
VAULT 48.500 (Jan. 7) 48.100 (Jan. 14)
VAULT 9.775: Jones (Jan. 7) 9.750: DeVries (Jan. 14) 9.750: DeVries (Jan. 7)
UNEVEN BARS 48.425 (Jan. 7) 47.925 (Jan. 14)
UNEVEN BARS 9.775: Shank (Jan. 14) 9.750: Amoresano (Jan. 7) 9.750: Shank (Jan. 7)
BALANCE BEAM 48.475 (Jan. 14) 47.950 (Jan. 7)
BALANCE BEAM 9.825: Shank (Jan. 14) 9.775: Jones (Jan. 14) 9.775: Jones (Jan. 7)
FLOOR EXERCISE 48.000 (Jan. 7) 46.625 (Jan. 14)
FLOOR EXERCISE 9.750: Ali (Jan. 14) 9.750: Groden (Jan. 7) 9.725: Groden (Jan. 14)
DATE
LOCATION
RESULT
TEAM
Jan. 7
Rutgers
2/4
Jan. 14
Illinois
3/4
Jan. 21
Rutgers
Jan. 28
Rutgers
Feb. 4
Ohio State
Feb. 11
Rutgers
Feb. 19
Illinois-Chicago
Feb. 24
Towson
INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 39.500 - Luisa Leal: March 8, 2013 VAULT 9.925 - Luisa Leal: March 2, 2013 BARS 10.000 - Dawn Campbell: March 1, 2000 BALANCE BEAM 9.925 - Lisa Abrams: Jan. 21 & March 13, 2004 FLOOR EXERCISE 10.000 - Courtney Turner: March 8, 2002 TEAM VAULT TOTAL (* - road meet) 49.200 – Feb. 9, 2014 196.225 – March 8, 2014 49.100 – March 8, 2013 195.975 – March 2, 2013 49.075 – Feb. 14, 2016 195.825 – March 1, 2014* 49.075 – March 1, 2014 195.550 – March 8, 2013* 195.475 – Feb. 28, 2016* BARS 195.400 – Feb. 26, 2000 49.400 - March 1, 2000 195.375 – Jan. 24, 2015 49.300 - Feb. 26, 2000 195.275 – March 22, 2014* 49.100 - Jan. 24, 2015 195.275 – Jan. 19, 2014* 195.250 – Jan. 17, 2014* BALANCE BEAM 49.325 - Feb. 28, 2004 49.100 - March 1, 2014 49.100 - March 22, 2014 FLOOR EXERCISE 49.375 - March 7, 2015 49.325 - March 8, 2014 49.250 - March 2, 2013
2017 MEET-BY-MEET VAULT
BARS
BEAM
FLOOR
TOP OPPONENT
192.875
48.500
48.425
47.950
48.000
New Hampshire (193.425)
191.125
48.100
47.925
48.475
46.625
Illinois (195.900)
March 3 Southeast Missouri March 5 Central Michigan March 11
Iowa
March 18
Rutgers
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2017 HEADSHOT ROSTER
RIAHANAH ALI Sophomore Ann Arbor, Mich.
MICHELLE AMORESANO Sophomore Whippany, N.J.
APRIL BAKER Senior Andover, Mass.
JENNA CRISALLI Junior Freehold, N.J.
CHLOE DEVRIES Freshman Venice, Fla.
LIBBY GRODEN Junior Abbottstown, Pa.
KAITLYN HALL Freshman Raytown, Mo.
CLAIRE JONES Senior Gaffney, S.C.
EMMA KARAS Freshman Port Matilda, Pa.
ERIN MCLACHLAN Freshman Bradford, U.K.
ANNE MARIE NEGGIA Sophomore Kinnelon, N.J.
POLINA POLIAKOVA Freshman Norwich, G.B.
JENNA RIZKALLA Sophomore Westfield, N.J.
CHARLY SANTAGADO Senior Celebration, Fla.
ERIEL SANTAGADO Sophomore Celebration, Fla.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
MAKENZEY SHANK Junior Phoenix, Ariz.
LOUIS LEVINE Head Coach Sixth Season
DANIELLE D’ELIA Assistant Coach Fourth Season
TERI DIAMOND Assistant Coach Second Season
Riahanah..................................................Ray Amoresano........................... A-more-es-ano Crisalli......................................... Chris-all-ee DeVries......................................... Da-Vreeze McLachlan................................... Mc-lack-lin Neggia.............................................. Neh-gia Poliakova.................................Polly-uh-kova Rizkalla.......................................... Riz-call-ah Santagado................................... Santa-gado Levine............................................. Lev-veen
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Statistics by Gymnast Rutgers: 2016 - 2017 Season
Page: 1
Riahanah Ali Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault 9.650 9.575 9.613 9.650 9.825
Bars
Beam 9.450 9.650 9.550 9.650 9.650
Floor 9.525 9.750 9.638 9.750 9.900
AllArr
9.700
Vault 9.650 9.600 9.625 9.650 9.825
Bars 9.750 9.725 9.738 9.750 9.800
Beam
Floor 9.575 9.475 9.525 9.575 9.800
AllArr
Vault
Beam 9.600 8.950 9.275 9.600 9.775
Floor
AllArr
9.900
Bars 9.675 9.275 9.475 9.675 9.825
Vault
Bars
Beam
Floor 9.375 9.475
9.675
9.825
Michelle Amoresano Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
April Baker Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
9.875
Jenna Crisalli Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
AllArr
Chloe DeVries Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault 9.750 9.750 9.750 9.750 9.750
Bars 9.050 9.250 9.150 9.250 9.250
Beam 9.425 9.550 9.488 9.550 9.550
Floor 9.650 8.475 9.063 9.650 9.650
AllArr 37.875 37.025
Vault 9.675 9.650 9.663 9.675 9.825
Bars 9.700 9.675 9.688 9.700 9.850
Beam 9.700 9.675 9.688 9.700 9.850
Floor 9.750 9.725 9.738 9.750 9.875
AllArr 38.825 38.725
Vault 9.775 9.450 9.613 9.775 9.900
Bars
Beam 9.775 9.775 9.775 9.775 9.875
Floor
AllArr
Libby Groden Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Claire Jones Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
9.675
9.900
Scores in italic set or tied a personal record. Scores in bold set or tied a team record. Scores with a strike-through were exhibition. Gymnastics ScoreKeeper™ by Beaver Creek Software Licensed to: Rutgers University
(541) 752-7263
www.beaverlog.com
Statistics by Gymnast Rutgers: 2016 - 2017 Season
Page: 2
Polina Poliakova Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault
Bars 9.550 9.475 9.513 9.550 9.550
Beam
Floor
AllArr
Vault 9.575 9.525 9.550 9.575 9.575
Bars
Beam
Floor 9.500 9.000 9.250 9.500 9.500
AllArr
Vault
Bars
Beam 9.050
Floor
AllArr
Floor 8.825 8.675 8.750 8.825 9.650
AllArr
8.725
8.725
Jenna Rizkalla Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Eriel Santagado Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
9.400
9.675
9.800
Bars 9.750 9.775 9.763 9.775 9.875
Beam 9.250 9.825 9.538 9.825 9.900
Makenzey Shank Date Team H 1/07/2017 Rutgers vs Bridgeport/New Hampshire/William A 1/14/2017 Rutgers at Illinois w/E Michigan, UIC Average Season High Career High
Vault
Scores in italic set or tied a personal record. Scores in bold set or tied a team record. Scores with a strike-through were exhibition. Gymnastics ScoreKeeper™ by Beaver Creek Software Licensed to: Rutgers University
(541) 752-7263
www.beaverlog.com
