CLEMSON – The time was finally here for the first meet of the inaugural season for Women’s Gymnastics at Clemson University. The Tigers defeated William & Mary 196.325-190.050 in their first official meet.

There were 8,018 fans in attendance at Littlejohn Coliseum to witness the historical moment in Clemson Athletics.

Clemson head coach Amy Smith spoke with the media after her team’s victory.

-With this being the inaugural season of Clemson Gymnastics, Coach Smith said there were many doubters about how well this team could do. “We’ve had a chip on our shoulder the whole time, it’s been fueling our fire.” Smith said after being asked what it feels like to come into this first meet as the underdog, especially in Littlejohn Coliseum.

-There were 8,018 people in attendance for the meet on Friday night, the crowd was electric and the team was able to feel it. Smith said one of her stand out moments tonight was looking up to the crowd and there being people all the way to the rafters. “To be in that atmosphere with that many people just supporting you and supporting your team and just feeling that on the floor, it’s unreal.”

-Creating an entirely new program has given Clemson the opportunity to make history, especially for women in sports. “I’m so grateful to be here and to be given the opportunity to be a Tiger and to lead these young women…we want to do big things here and really excited about this start,” Smith said. With the first meet under their belt, there is a lot to look forward to coming from this new program.

Results:

Vault

Redshirt senior Rebecca Wells was the first Clemson gymnast to compete in the Orange and Regalia by leading things off on the vault with a 9.725. Eve Jackson and Molly Arnold continued to raise the bar for the Tigers with a 9.75 and 9.775, respectively. Lauren Rutherford won the event by scoring the first 9.825. Madison Minner added a 9.60, and Trinity Brown rounded out the event with a 9.80 to bring the team score to 48.875 through the opening rotation.

Bars

The Tigers thrived on the bars clocking a 49.225, as each gymnast scored a minimum of 9.800 on the event. In her first collegiate routine, redshirt freshman Lilly Lippeatt scored a 9.900 to win the event. Kaitlin DeGuzman followed with an impressive 9.875 after sticking her landing. Both Eve Jackson and Lauren Rutherford posted strong routines with 9.825 scores in the second and fifth spots. Wells and Brown rounded out the Tigers with a 9.800 each.

Following the second rotation, Clemson led William & Mary, 98.100-95.500.

Beam

Entering the third rotation, Lippeatt started things off with a 9.750. Jackson followed with a 9.775. Both Quinn Kuhl and Kielyn McCright added routines in the third and fifth spots. Wells highlighted the apparatus with a 9.875 to win the event, followed by Brie Clark notching a 9.850 to conclude the event.

Clemson maintained a 147.050-141.925 advantage over William & Mary after the third rotation.

Floor

Clark had all of Littlejohn on their feet when she took to the floor in the fifth spot of the event. With Littlejohn rocking, the Daphne, Ala. native, clocked a 9.900 to win the event. Maggie Holman and Lilly Lippeatt started Clemson off strong in the final rotation posting back-to-back scores of 9.825. Molly Arnold and Lauren Rutherford continued their impressive Tiger floor debuts with 9.875 and 9.850, respectively. Wells concluded the event for the Tigers.

Posting a 49.275 on floor, the Clemson Tigers defeated Williams & Mary to secure not only the first victory of 2024, but the first victory for the program’s history.

Program Firsts

• First Gymnast to officially compete: Rebecca Wells
• First 9.900 Score: Lilly Lippeat (Bars)
• First All-Around Champion: Rebecca Wells
• First Vault Champion: Lauren Rutherford
• First Bars Champion: Lilly Lippeat
• First Beam Champion: Rebecca Wells
• First Floor Champion: Brie Clark

The Tigers are back in Littlejohn Coliseum on Jan. 21 for their first ACC meet against Pittsburgh at 4 p.m..

–photo by Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK