WVU Hits First 196.0 Score of the Season at Towson

Sunday, March 1

Towson, Md.

2 p.m.

West Virginia University

196.35

195.675

Towson

March 01, 2026 05:48 PM | Gymnastics

Results

By: Olivia Sneed

TOWSON, Md. – Behind two 49.0+ event scores and 12 individual season highs, the West Virginia University gymnastics team tallied a season-best 196.35 to finish in second place in a quad meet inside SECU Arena in Towson, Maryland, on Sunday afternoon.

The Mountaineers reached their first 196.0+ score of the season, which also marked their highest team score since March 12, 2023. No. 22 NC State took first place with a 197.15, followed by WVU in second. Host Towson took third place with a 195.675, and Ursinus rounded out the meet in fourth with a 191.775.

West Virginia opened in a big way on the uneven bars, earning a 48.975 for a new season high on the event. Junior Amber Lowe paced the lineup with a season-high matching 9.85, while classmate Jurnee Lane reached a new career best with a 9.825. Freshman Kayla Smith matched her career high with a 9.8 to help the Mountaineers tally three 9.8+ scores on the event for the first time this season. Junior Jayden McDonnell and freshman Haley Mendoza closed the first rotation with a pair of 9.75's.

Moving to balance beam, the momentum continued with a 48.95 and three individual scores of 9.825 or higher. Lowe once again led the way, this time with a huge career high of 9.9 to mark her first career 9.9+ score on any event. Sophomore Eden Webster and Mendoza tallied matching 9.825's, which marked a season high for Webster and a new career high for Mendoza. The total also was Mendoza's first career 9.8+ score on any event. Senior Miranda Smith returned from injury and scored a 9.725 in her first routine of the season, while junior Kaylei Adams capped the scoring with a 9.675.

West Virginia shined on floor exercise, securing a season-best 49.3 in the third rotation. Sophomores Emerson Smith and Taylor Tuohy led the lineup with a pair of 9.9 scores, marking a season best for Smith and a career best for Tuohy. Classmate Sophia Rice was just behind them with a season-best 9.875, and Lane secured a 9.85. Kayla Smith finished an excellent floor rotation with a 9.775.

Finishing the meet on vault, the Mountaineers soared to another new season high with a 49.125. All five scoring gymnasts scored a 9.825, including Emerson Smith, Kayla Smith, Rice, Tuohy and sophomore Karleigh DiCello. The scores were career bests for Tuohy and Emerson Smith.

Kayla Smith recorded her second 39.0+ all-around score of the weekend, securing a 39.075 to finish in second place. Elsewhere, all five of West Virginia's 9.825's were good for a tie for third place on vault. Lowe tied for first place on beam, and Emerson Smith and Taylor Tuohy also tied for first on floor.

WVU now looks ahead to wrapping up its Big 12 Conference regular-season slate on Saturday, March 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mountaineers will take on No. 12 Utah and No. 24 BYU inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center at 5 p.m. ET/3 p.m. MT.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.