Panthers Travel to Nashville for Inaugural Kidney Care Championships

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team (6-8-0. 1-5-0 ACC) is heading down to Nashville, TN to compete in the inaugural Teen Choice Awards Presents: Kidney Care Gymnastics Championships on Saturday afternoon at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

HOW TO FOLLOW

For more information on the event, check out the Championship Information Page.
Live scoring will be available through roadtonationals.com.
Fans can follow along with live updates on X (Twitter) by following @Pitt_GYM.

THE MATCHUP

This will be Nashville's first major collegiate gymnastics event in over 15 years.
The Panthers will compete in session one of the competitions – going up against Iowa, Georgia, Maryland and Talladega.
This five-team matchup is set to start at 1:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

Pitt crushed the Bowling Green Falcons on Senior Night, Friday evening in the Fitzgerald Field House.
The Panthers posted their third highest team score of the season with their 195.800.
Fifth year Shruthi Anand posted Pitt's highest score on vault – earning a new career-high 9.875. Ciara Ward was not far behind with her 9.850.
Pitt continued the momentum to bars – securing a 49.975. The Panthers saw four gymnasts secure a 9.800 or higher on the event. Faith Lerro secured a career-high 9.850 to tie for first on the event. Jordyn Ewing also put her name on the first place title with her 9.850 routine. Freshman Emily Todd was not far behind with her 9.825. Jah'Liyah Bedminster rounded out the rotation with her 9.800 routine.
Pitt saw three Panthers secure scores of 9.825 or higher on beam. Freshman Todd posted a new career high for her routine – earning a 9.900. This score secured her the first place title overall on the event. Hallie Copperwheat and Duke tied the second place title with their 9.825 routines.
The Panthers posted their strongest rotation on floor – earning a 49.275 team score. Four Panthers posted scores of 9.825 or higher with their routines. Ewing secured the first place title overall with her career-high matching 9.925 routine. Bedminster was right behind her with another career-high matching score of 9.900. Senior Ward posted a strong 9.850 while freshman Kaylee Larson secured a 9.825.
Duke rounded out her all-around journey with a 9.775 on floor to post a 39.025 overall. Her all-around score earned her the first place podium title.

SCOUTING THE GYMDOGS

This will be the third time in program history that the Panthers have met the GymDogs. Georgia currently holds a 2-0 lead to Pitt.
GymDog Stats:
- Season High Score: 197.550
- Season Record: 2-8-0

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES

Pitt has met Iowa three times in program history with the Hawkeyes holding a 3-0 edge to the Panthers.
Hawkeye Stats:
- Season High Score: 196.450
- Season Record: 6-7-0

SCOUTING TERPRAPIN

Saturday's meet will be the 61^st time the two programs will meet. Maryland currently holds a 40-20 lead on the Panthers.
Terps Stats:
- Season High Score: 197.300
- Season Record: 13-7

SCOUTING TORNADOES

This will be the first time the two programs will have met. Talladega is currently in their inaugural season as a member of the HBCU.
Talladega became the second Historically Black College and University in the nation to sponsor collegiate gymnastics behind Fisk.
Tornado Stats:
- Season High Score: 192.200
- Season Record: 6-13-0

ARAYAH SUNSHINE

Simons posted a strong performance on Friday night against Clemson. Simons earned a 9.825 or higher across the three events she competed in. Kicking off the evening strong, the fifth year posted a 9.850 on vault. Continuing her momentum, she secured a 9.825 for her routine on bars. The fifth year completed the evening with a strong performance on beam – earning a 9.850 for her routine.

THE TERRIFIC TODD

Freshman Todd who secured the first-ever ACC Newcomer of the Week honor (1/9) posted the highest score Pitt has seen thus far this season on Friday evening. She earned a 9.900 for her routine on bars.
The Bristol, England native tied for the first place title on bars against Clemson (1/21) with her 9.825.
The freshman posted a 9.725 for her routine on beam – earning a career high against Clemson (2/9).
Todd secured a career high on vault with her 9.750 as well as on floor after earning a 9.875 for her routine at North Carolina (2/16).
She posted a new career-high beam routine against Bowling Green with her 9.900 on 3/8.

NOTHING BETTER THAN BEDMINSTER

Senior Bedminster secured Pitt's first-ever ACC Gymnast of the Week honor (1/15) for her performance against the Kent State Golden Flashes.
The Loganville, GA native posted a season-high on vault with her 9.825 against the Wolfpack.
In the meet at NC State (1/26), Bedminster secured a career-high 9.875 with her floor routine.
Senior Jah'Liyah Bedminster posted a career-high 9.950 – securing a perfect score for her vault (2/2). The Panthers haven't seen a 9.950 on vault since Alyse Zeffiro in 2004.
Her efforts against North Carolina (2/2) secured her the ACC Specialist of the Week honor.
Bedminster matched her career high score of 9.900 on floor against North Carolina (2/16).

SHE'S JUST KEN

Sophomore Duke posted a career-high score on floor against the Wolfpack – posting a 9.825.
She earned a career-high score on beam against the Tar Heels with her 9.800 (2/16).

YAY FOR KAY