Rutgers Gymnastics Shows Bright Spots Despite Loss to Penn State
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - There were moments of promise and poise inside Jersey Mike’s Arena on Sunday afternoon, even if the final score didn’t swing Rutgers’ way. The Scarlet Knights put up a 194.575 in their home meet against Big Ten rival Penn State, who took the win with a 196.375. But for Rutgers, the meet wasn’t just about the scoreboard - it was about individual breakthroughs, new faces stepping up, and a team continuing to build.
Let’s break it down.
Vault Opens the Door
Rutgers came out strong on vault, and it started with Lisa Chevaire setting the tone. The veteran matched her career high with a 9.825 - a confident, clean routine that gave the Knights early momentum.
But the real spark came from freshman Reagan Schenkel. Making her collegiate debut on the event, Schenkel didn’t just hold her own - she stuck her landing and dropped a 9.875, good for second overall in the meet.
That kind of debut doesn’t just turn heads - it sets expectations.
Bars Belong to Adrian
Delaney Adrian was locked in on bars. She delivered her best routine of the season, scoring a 9.900 - her first time hitting the 9.9 mark this year.
That performance put her second overall in the event and added her name to an exclusive club this season for Rutgers. She joins Gabrielle Dildy (floor) and Emily Leese (vault, floor) as the only Scarlet Knights to notch a 9.9 or higher in 2026.
Adrian didn’t stop there.
Beam Brings More
She led off on beam and matched a career high with a 9.875, tying for first overall in the event. Beam is often a pressure-packed rotation, and Adrian brought the kind of composure that sets the tone for a team.
Also making headlines on beam: freshman Vivienne Larsen, who made her collegiate debut and scored a 9.625. First routines are never easy, especially in a Big Ten meet, but Larsen handled the moment with poise.
Floor Finishes Strong
Rutgers closed out on floor, and while the team’s overall event score wasn’t enough to close the gap, there were solid routines across the board. Chevaire opened with a season-best 9.750, and Elliot Goldsmith delivered the team’s top floor score of the day with a 9.825, earning third place overall in the event.
Top Performers Recap:
- Vault: Reagan Schenkel - 9.875 (2nd of 12)
- Bars: Delaney Adrian - 9.900 (2nd of 12)
- Beam: Delaney Adrian - 9.875 (T-1st of 12)
- Floor: Elliot Goldsmith - 9.825 (3rd of 12)
What It Means Moving Forward
For a program that’s still climbing in the Big Ten, these individual highlights matter. Adrian continues to emerge as a cornerstone across multiple events.
Schenkel’s debut vault shows the future is bright. And with athletes like Larsen stepping into the lineup, the team’s depth is starting to take shape.
Rutgers will look to build on this performance next weekend when they travel to Maryland for a Saturday night showdown with the Terrapins in College Park. With momentum on their side and a few breakout routines under their belt, the Scarlet Knights are trending in the right direction.