The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743343
114 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL V eteran head coach Mark Stevenson believes his NC State gymnastics squad could be as strong as any in recent years. Stevenson, who is entering his 37th sea‑ son, has a good blend of returning talent and some impressive newcomers. Helping the group mesh together is the chance to have a place to call home again. NC State will have six home meets and host the EAGL Championship March 18 at renovated Reynolds Coliseum. Stevenson said the Wolfpack drew more than 2,000 fans in the past, but it is now charging for admission this season for both adults and kids. NC State will find out quickly where it stands on the national level against Florida Jan. 8 in Raleigh. "We really need everybody to show up in the stands," Stevenson said. "The lack of home meets really hurt us last year." The Florida dual meet, at Georgia Jan. 16, at Michigan Feb. 18 and a quad meet that includes Stanford March 12 in Washington, D.C., will test NC State this season. Stevenson is confident the team is ready for the challenging schedule. "We should be as good as we were last year," Stevenson said. "Last year, we prob‑ ably had our best team in a long time at 15‑2. We beat a Nebraska team we had never defeated before, and it was on a neu‑ tral court. We also beat Penn State at their home, which we've never done before." Juniors Chelsea Knight and Nicole Wild both return after reaching the NCAA Re‑ gional Championship last year. Knight fin‑ ished tied for seventh there on the vault (9.850), and Wild was tied for 32nd on the beam (9.675). Knight will be competing in the all‑ ■ PREVIEW GYMNASTICS Junior Chelsea Knight was first-team All-EAGL in the vault and all-around last year, and placed seventh in the vault at the NCAA Regional Championship. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS Welcome Home The Wolfpack Are Excited To Compete At Reynolds Coliseum Once Again