Clemson gymnastics traveled to Berkeley, California, on Sunday to face a new ACC opponent, the California Golden Bears, where they fell short of upsetting the then-No. 7 team in the country. The Golden Bears secured the win over the Tigers 196.925-196.225.
Despite the loss, the Tigers finished with season bests on the bars, beam and floor. However, the team was unable to get past the power of Cal, with many different gymnasts setting personal bests on the season.
Clemson began on bars, where sophomore Quinn Kuhl and freshman Hannah Clark put up two high scores of 9.875, which were both also personal bests. Close behind was Rebecca Wells, who scored a 9.850. The Tigers combined for a team score of 49.125 on their first event, just .05 behind the Golden Bears after the first rotation.
The Tigers headed to the vault, led by redshirt junior Trinity Brown’s 9.800, with redshirt junior Madison Minner’s 9.800 to follow shortly after. Although Sophomore Maggie Holman and Kuhl scored 9.775, Clemson was down by over half a point after the second rotation.
Despite attempting the Biles I in her floor routine, redshirt junior Brie Clark has struggled in the event this season. It wasn’t the case against the Golden Bears, however, as Clark was able to put up the highest score from a Tiger this season, scoring a 9.900 with her routine.
Minner followed close behind with a score of 9.850, and redshirt junior Molly Arnold and redshirt senior Eve Jackson scored 9.825. The Tigers closed out the third rotation, scoring a 49.175 overall.
Redshirt sophomore Lilly Lippeatt began the Tigers’ final rotation on the beam, scoring a 9.750, and redshirt junior Kielyn McCright scored the highest on the event with a 9.850. Freshman Danika Nielsen and Clark scored a 9.800, and the Tigers ended their final rotation with a 49.025.
The Tigers will return to Littlejohn Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 31, to take on Pittsburgh in the home opener.
