Sunday, March 15
Pittsburgh, Pa.
2 p.m.
West Virginia University
195.35
at
196.4
Pitt
Mountaineers Tally Six Season Highs in Regular-Season Finale
March 15, 2026 05:57 PM | Gymnastics
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Behind six individual season-high scores, the West Virginia University gymnastics team scored a 195.35 to finish in second place in a tri meet at Pitt with Illinois State inside Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon.
Along with multiple season highs, four Mountaineers also hit new career highs on the way to WVU's fifth straight 195.0+ team score. West Virginia recorded totals of 48.95 on vault, 48.925 on uneven bars, 48.3 on balance beam and a 49.175 on floor exercise.
In the team standings, the host Panthers took first place with a 196.4, followed by WVU in second. Illinois State took third place with a 193.625 team score.
The Mountaineers started the meet on balance beam, where they struggled a bit, but a pair of 9.8's from junior Kaylei Adams and Haley Mendoza helped the team keep it together. Freshman Kayla Smith recorded a 9.7, followed by a 9.65 for junior Amber Lowe. Junior Jurnee Lane's 9.35 rounded out the opening rotation.
West Virginia picked up the momentum on floor, with a season-high matching 9.9 for Emerson Smith leading the way. Kayla Smith was just behind her with a 9.875, followed by Lane with a 9.85. Senior Carlee Nelson and freshman Auden Pederson notched a pair of 9.775's to round out an impressive rotation for the Mountaineers.
The momentum continued on vault, where sophomore Taylor Tuohy stuck her Yurchenko full to reach a new career best with a 9.875. Nelson also stuck her vault for a career-high tying 9.85. Emerson Smith scored 9.8, followed closely by a 9.775 from Kayla Smith. Sophomore Karleigh DiCello tallied a 9.65 to cap the third event.
Finishing on bars, West Virginia put together one of its best performances of the year, with a career-best 9.85 for Lane leading the way. Kayla Smith also earned a career high with a 9.825, while junior Jayden McDonnell tallied a season-high 9.8. Mendoza scored a 9.75, and sophomore Kaelyn Skeel tallied a 9.7 to wrap up an impressive final rotation.
On all-around, Kayla Smith recorded a 39.175 to earn first place, as well as her second 39.0+ score of the weekend. Tuohy won the vault title, while Nelson was just behind her in a tie for second place. Mendoza and Adams tied for third place on beam, and Emerson Smith earned first on floor, followed by Kayla Smith in second.
After wrapping up the regular season on Sunday, West Virginia now looks ahead to opening the postseason at the 2026 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship in West Valley City, Utah, on Saturday, March 21. The Mountaineers will be part of the first session of the championship, with competition inside the Maverik Center slated for 2 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Along with multiple season highs, four Mountaineers also hit new career highs on the way to WVU's fifth straight 195.0+ team score. West Virginia recorded totals of 48.95 on vault, 48.925 on uneven bars, 48.3 on balance beam and a 49.175 on floor exercise.
In the team standings, the host Panthers took first place with a 196.4, followed by WVU in second. Illinois State took third place with a 193.625 team score.
The Mountaineers started the meet on balance beam, where they struggled a bit, but a pair of 9.8's from junior Kaylei Adams and Haley Mendoza helped the team keep it together. Freshman Kayla Smith recorded a 9.7, followed by a 9.65 for junior Amber Lowe. Junior Jurnee Lane's 9.35 rounded out the opening rotation.
West Virginia picked up the momentum on floor, with a season-high matching 9.9 for Emerson Smith leading the way. Kayla Smith was just behind her with a 9.875, followed by Lane with a 9.85. Senior Carlee Nelson and freshman Auden Pederson notched a pair of 9.775's to round out an impressive rotation for the Mountaineers.
The momentum continued on vault, where sophomore Taylor Tuohy stuck her Yurchenko full to reach a new career best with a 9.875. Nelson also stuck her vault for a career-high tying 9.85. Emerson Smith scored 9.8, followed closely by a 9.775 from Kayla Smith. Sophomore Karleigh DiCello tallied a 9.65 to cap the third event.
Finishing on bars, West Virginia put together one of its best performances of the year, with a career-best 9.85 for Lane leading the way. Kayla Smith also earned a career high with a 9.825, while junior Jayden McDonnell tallied a season-high 9.8. Mendoza scored a 9.75, and sophomore Kaelyn Skeel tallied a 9.7 to wrap up an impressive final rotation.
On all-around, Kayla Smith recorded a 39.175 to earn first place, as well as her second 39.0+ score of the weekend. Tuohy won the vault title, while Nelson was just behind her in a tie for second place. Mendoza and Adams tied for third place on beam, and Emerson Smith earned first on floor, followed by Kayla Smith in second.
After wrapping up the regular season on Sunday, West Virginia now looks ahead to opening the postseason at the 2026 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship in West Valley City, Utah, on Saturday, March 21. The Mountaineers will be part of the first session of the championship, with competition inside the Maverik Center slated for 2 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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