COLUMBUS, Ohio – Highlighted by freshman Sophia Rice's career-best 9.975 on vault, the West Virginia University gymnastics team tallied a 195.85 to wrap up the regular season in a quad meet at No. 23 Ohio State with Kent State and Pitt inside the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday afternoon.
 
A native of Morgantown, West Virginia, Rice was the last gymnast to compete for the Mountaineers in the meet, anchoring the vault lineup in the fourth rotation with a stuck Tsuk full vault. She received a perfect 10.0 from one judge and a 9.95 from the other for an impressive 9.975. The total marked the first for the Mountaineers on vault since Kari Wiliams earned the score on Feb. 13, 2005. It also is the first 9.975 on any event since Kirah Koshinski earned it on floor on Feb. 17, 2019.
 
Of note, Rice is now one of just seven Mountaineer gymnasts who have earned a 9.975 on vault in program history. Additionally, she is the first freshman in the Big 12 to score a 9.975 on vault this season.
 
West Virginia's 195.85 team score was good for third place in the quad meet, while the host Buckeyes took first place with a 196.875. Pitt finished in second place, just ahead of WVU with a 195.925. Kent State finished behind the Mountaineers in fourth place with a 195.65. WVU posted scores of 49.225 on vault, 48.75 on uneven bars, 48.725 on balance beam and 49.15 on floor exercise.
 
Opening on bars for the second time this weekend, fifth-year senior Trinity Macy led the rotation with a season-high matching 9.85. Sophomore Amber Lowe was just behind her with a 9.8, while junior Brooke Irwin reached a new career-best 9.75. A pair of 9.675's from senior Anna Leigh and sophomore Jayden McDonnell wrapped up the opening rotation.
 
Moving to beam, freshman Karleigh DiCello once again paced the Mountaineers, scoring a 9.9. The score was just shy of her career best and marked her second 9.9+ score on beam this weekend. Sophomore Julia Brown tallied a 9.8, while Leigh was just behind her with a 9.75. Lowe scored a 9.725, and a 9.55 from freshman Eden Webster capped the scoring for WVU.
 
The Mountaineers gained a bit more momentum on floor, as freshman Emerson Smith led the way with a 9.9, just shy of her career high. Leigh was right behind her with a 9.875, and Lowe followed with a 9.825. Alban and freshman Riley Maness scored matching 9.775's to finish out a strong floor rotation.
 
It was on vault where WVU really shined, as Rice's 9.975 highlighted a huge fourth rotation for the Mountaineers. DiCello also scored a new career high, earning a 9.9. Of note, Rice and DiCello's career highs on Sunday bested previous career bests of 9.9 and 9.875, respectively, which they just earned at Penn on March 14. Smith tied her career-high score with a 9.825, while junior Carlee Nelson was just shy of hers with a 9.775. Freshman Taylor Tuohy finished out the final rotation with a 9.75.
 
In the final event standings, Rice topped the vault podium with her impressive score, and DiCello followed her in a tie for second. DiCello also tallied a win on beam, and Smith tied for second on floor.
 
After completing the regular season on Sunday, West Virginia now looks ahead to the 2025 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship, scheduled for Saturday, March 22, at the Maverick Center in West Valley City, Utah. The championship will consist of two sessions and seeding will be determined based on teams' National Qualifying Scores (NQS) on Road to Nationals.
 
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