Clemson Gymnastics Gets First ACC Win at Pitt

Danika Nielsen of Clemson Gymnastics, scored a 9.80 on beam to help Clemson defeat the Pitt Panthers. The meet was Friday, January 17, 2025 at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse, in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo Credit: Charles Mays - Tiger View Media)

The Clemson gymnastics team notched its first ACC victory this season with a close win over Pittsburgh on the road. Despite competing without a healthy all-arounder in Rebecca Wells as she was limited to bars, the Tigers dug deep to edge out the Panthers. Here's a breakdown of how the meet unfolded:

Bars

Lilly Lippeatt opened for Clemson on bars but had an uncharacteristically rough routine, scoring 9.575, which was dropped. Takoda Berry, however, carried over her strong form from the last meet with a solid 9.825. Eve Jackson followed with a steady 9.750, while Hannah Clark bounced back from last week’s struggles to post a 9.800. Rebecca Wells delivered a solid effort, scoring 9.700 in her only event of the night, and Quinn Kuhl rounded out the rotation with a 9.750. Though bars is typically a strength for the Tigers, they trailed Pitt by a narrow margin after the first rotation, 48.875 to 48.825.

Vault

Clemson found its rhythm on vault. Tara Walsh led off with a Yurchenko Full for a 9.750. Trinity Brown and Quinn Kuhl followed with scores of 9.825 and 9.800. Madison Minner’s Tucked Yurchenko earned her a 9.750, and Eve Jackson executed a Yurchenko 1.5 to match Brown’s 9.825. Maggie Holman capped the event with a Front Handspring Pike Half, also scoring 9.825. The Tigers’ impressive showing on vault gave them the lead heading into the third rotation, 97.850 to 97.525.

Floor

Floor proved to be a challenge for Clemson, but the team did enough to maintain its lead. Lilly Lippeatt opened with a solid 9.725, and Trinity Brown and Madison Minner each added a 9.750 to the score. Molly Arnold made her event debut for the night, scoring a 9.700. Eve Jackson contributed a strong 9.775, while Brie Clark’s 9.625 was dropped. Despite some struggles on floor, Clemson retained a slim lead over Pitt after three rotations, 146.550 to 146.375.

Beam

The meet came down to the final rotation, and Clemson delivered under pressure. Lippeatt, competing in her third event of the night, started with a steady 9.750. Brie Clark suffered a fall and scored 9.225, but Danika Nielsen rebounded with an impressive 9.800. Sierra Church’s exceptional 9.850 set the tone, and Kielyn McCright improved from last week with a 9.725. Quinn Kuhl anchored with a clutch 9.825, sealing the victory for the Tigers.

Final Results

Clemson secured a 195.500 to 195.100 win, holding off Pitt’s late push. Key performers included Takoda Berry, who won the bars event with a 9.825, and the trio of Trinity Brown, Eve Jackson, and Maggie Holman, each scoring 9.825 on vault. Sierra Church’s 9.850 on beam was a team-high for the night, and vault proved to be Clemson’s best event overall, with a team score of 49.025.

Up Next

Clemson faces a tough test in their next meet against ACC newcomer and fifth-ranked California. The Tigers will need to elevate their performance on the road to compete with one of the nation’s best. The meet is scheduled for Sunday, January 26th, at 5:00 p.m. at Haas Pavilion and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Photo Credit: Charles Mays-Tiger View Media