West Virginia Hits All 24 Routines at Arizona

Saturday, February 21

Tucson, Ariz.

4 p.m.

West Virginia University

194.65

196.65

Arizona

February 21, 2026 07:09 PM | Gymnastics

Results

By: Olivia Sneed

TUCSON, Ariz. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team went 24-for-24 for the first time this season as it finished in second place behind Arizona inside the McKale Center in Tucson on Saturday afternoon.

Despite posting one of its cleanest all-around performances of the season, the Mountaineers finished with a 194.65 to finish behind the Wildcats, who scored a 196.625. WVU tallied scores of 48.95 on vault, 48.6 on the uneven bars, 48.35 on balance beam and 48.75 on floor exercise.

In its first road dual meet of the season, West Virginia opened the competition with a solid performance on bars. Junior Amber Lowe once again led the rotation with 9.825, while classmate Jayden McDonnell was just behind her with a season-best 9.775. Sophomore Kaelyn Skeel and freshman Kayla Smith recorded a pair of 9.675's, and junior Jurnee Lane's 9.65 capped the opening rotation for WVU.

The Mountaineers kept up the momentum on vault, with a season-high 9.85 for sophomore Sophia Rice leading the way. Senior Carlee Nelson stuck her Yurchenko full for a 9.8, and Kayla Smith also stuck her full for a 9.775. Sophomore Karleigh DiCello also scored a 9.775, followed by a 9.75 for classmate Taylor Tuohy to finish a strong vault rotation.

While West Virginia looked impressive on floor, unfortunately the judges' scores didn't fully reflect the performance. Sophomore Emerson Smith matched her season best to lead the lineup with a 9.875. Tuohy scored a 9.75, and Kayla Smith added a 9.725. A pair of 9.7's for Nelson and freshman Auden Pederson wrapped up floor.

Finishing on beam, the Mountaineers put together one of its best rotations of the year on the event, but once again the scores didn't reflect the solid performances. Sophomore Eden Webster scored a season-best 9.75, followed by a 9.7 for junior Kaylei Adams. Lowe scored a 9.675, Lane added a 9.625 and Kayla Smith recorded a 9.6 to finish the meet for WVU.

In the final event standings, Rice finished in second on vault, with Nelson just behind her in third. Emerson Smith earned a third-place finish on floor, and Kayla Smith also finished third on all-around with a 38.775 total on all four events.

Up next, West Virginia returns to Morgantown for its final home meet of the season when it hosts BYU on Friday, Feb. 27. Competition inside Hope Coliseum is tabbed for 7 p.m. ET, and the Mountaineers will celebrate Senior Night and their annual Coal Rush meet to cap off the home slate.

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