UW Gymnastics Tops Rutgers for First Conference Win of 2026
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Hosting their Pride Meet and debuting their Seattle Pride leotard, the Washington Husky gymnastics team topped the visiting Rutgers Scarlet Knights by a final score of 195.225 to 193.600. The victory represents Washington’s first conference win of 2026, as senior Lilly Tubbs put together a strong night across several competitions. Following tough road defeats to Arizona and 22nd-ranked Maryland, and a third-place finish in the Washington Quad Meet to begin the 2026 campaign, the GymDawgs will look to build on a performance that wasn’t quite their best but still resulted in a team win. Washington walks away with two individual event wins and three co-champions from this meet.
“I saw a lot of fight and a lot of grit, they were at their best when they kept it light. They were really enjoying the moment, starting on vault, that was a really strong start for us. They were aggressive, they went big, and they really minimized deductions on the landing.”
Sights and scenes from the UW Gymnastics team during their rotation on vault in their meet against Rutgers on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, at Alaska Airlines Arena. (Photos by Jules Junior Anoumou for Circling Seattle Sports)
Setting the tone with a strong vault performance
The GymDawgs opened the meet on vault, as Lilly Tubbs, alongside juniors Kira Bolden and Mary McDonough, posted a score of 9.825 to lead the way for Washington. Those three ultimately found themselves in a four-way tie for second place in the event’s scoring alongside Rutgers sophomore Lisa Chevaire. That score of 9.825 tied a season-high for both Tubbs and McDonough, while it matched a career-high for Bolden. Junior Kristin Lin posted a score of 9.725, which matched her season best, to help complete a very solid start to the night at Alaska Airlines Arena.
“We did set the tone on vault, really strong with that season high, and I think the biggest difference was confidence. They were big vaults; they really owned the finishes on those vaults, and they celebrated each one and built upon each performance.”
Washington posted their second-best rotation of the night and their best of the season on vault tonight, finishing with a score of 48.900. Rutgers posted a season-high on vault with a 48.925 in the event, narrowly edging out the Huskies as Chevaire posted that 9.825 for a career high, while all-around winner Gabrielle Dildy followed her up with a 9.800. Emily Leese led the way for the Scarlet Knights in the event with a 9.850.
Sights and scenes from the UW Gymnastics team during their rotation on bars in their meet against Rutgers on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, at Alaska Airlines Arena. (Photos by Jules Junior Anoumou for Circling Seattle Sports)
Tubbs continues her strong night with Bars showing
Washington’s opening momentum on vault carried into their rotation on bars, as Lily Tubbs saw her strong night continue with a season-high score of 9.900, helping her claim the event title. Deiah Moody followed up Tubbs’ strong number with a 9.825 score to help her place second overall behind her fellow GymDawg, as senior Olivia Oppegard and Kristin Lin both posted a score of 9.725. That score on bars was Lin’s season-high in the event. The Huskies ended the event with a score of 48.725, finishing ahead of Rutgers, which posted a 47.675. Dildy of the Scarlet Knights began her all-around effort in this event with a score of 9.775.
Sights and scenes from the UW Gymnastics team during their rotation on beam in their meet against Rutgers on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, at Alaska Airlines Arena. (Photos by Jules Junior Anoumou for Circling Seattle Sports)
Blasting through with a nice night on Beam
The break saw Washington return on beam, posting a final score of 48.325 as three Huskies tallied a score of 9.875 for the event title. Lily Tubbs continued her stellar performance on the night, as the score matched her career-high, while it was a career-best for Kristin Lin. Olivia Oppegard’s 9.750 score helped push the Huskies score ahead, but they’d fall just short of Rutgers’ score of 48.350 on beam.
“Her performance was a huge highlight for us, and I’m not surprised. She was so dialed in this whole week. Our meet last weekend didn’t go the way we wanted, and she was so locked in. She brought the energy all week. I knew she was going to have a day, and she proved us right.”
The Scarlet Knights were led by Rachael Riley in the event, who posted a season-high score of 9.850. Keeley Smith’s 9.825 was her career-high, and Dildy’s tally of 9.800 helped Rutgers take this event.
Sights and scenes from the UW Gymnastics team during their rotation on floor in their meet against Rutgers on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, at Alaska Airlines Arena. (Photos by Jules Junior Anoumou for Circling Seattle Sports)
Finishing with a fantastic floor showing
The Huskies finished the night on floor, their strongest event of the night. Washington ended the meet with a bang as their score of 49.275 is the GymDawgs’ highest rotation score of the season so far. Lin led the way in the rotation, as her score of 9.900 was a career-high and helped win the event. Freshman Jessica Schaffer followed Lin up with a score of 9.875, placing her second overall and giving her a new career high. Junior Chelsea Hallinan, in just her third time competing in the floor lineup this season, posted a new career-high of 9.825, a similar score to Mary McDonough, giving her a new season-high. Senior Caitlin McWilliams continued the trend of highs for the Huskies on the night, posting a new season-high of 9.850.
“I think especially bringing that energy on floor after a beam rotation that we didn’t like, just resetting right there and owning every performance, that was a huge performance on floor and a huge confidence booster for our team. To end that on that note, and then build upon that next week at UCLA, I think will really be great for us.”
Rutgers posted a strong night on floor, but it wasn’t enough to get past Washington. A trio of high scores started with Delaney Adrian posting a 9.850, Elliot Goldsmith with a season-high of 9.875, and Dildy matching that score.
A night filled with career-highs and season-highs is a strong sign for Washington, still early into their season, and will provide a big confidence boost for the GymDawgs before heading out onto the road for their next meet against the UCLA Bruins, who rank fifth in the nation.
“I think coming out on top was a good confidence booster for us moving into UCLA, just because it wasn’t our best day. We know that we have so much more to prove and more to give; we haven’t even touched our capability yet, our potential. I think that’s a fun spot to be in. You got the win under your belt, and then there’s room to grow, so we’re excited to grow.”
What’s next?
Following tonight’s win in the programs Pride Meet over 36th-ranked Rutgers, the Washington Husky Gymnastics team will head back out on the road for their third away meet of the 2026 season. The next competition comes on Friday, January 30th, against UCLA with a 7 PM PST start time in Los Angeles, California. Washington hasn’t had much success against UCLA in gymnastics, as the Huskies are still searching for their first-ever head-to-head victory over the Bruins, having seen them to kick off 2026 in the January 3rd Quad Meet at Alaska Airlines Arena. This meet between Washington and UCLA on January 30th will be available to stream on Big Ten Plus, with the next Husky home meet coming on Saturday, February 7th, against Illinois.
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