N.C. State at North Carolina

Recap

The Big Storyline: The beginning-of-the-season floor landings and beam wobbles hurt both teams, but North Carolina was able to improve on its beam performance and landings on bars enough to eclipse the 196 mark. N.C. State made its season debut with Shepard in the all-around and Negrete back, showing good things to come for the Wolfpack.

Implications: North Carolina will still be behind on average for now after a 194 in its first meet of the season, but the Tar Heels now have the top score in the EAGL so far and a first win over the Wolfpack.

Records: Multiple records were broken in Chapel Hill. North Carolina posted its highest home opening score, N.C. State posted its highest season opening score, and Tar Heel Lali Dekanoidze’s 9.975 was a program record, too.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 31 N.C. State at No. 27 North Carolina

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels finished off last season as the top two teams in the EAGL. This first meeting between these two teams will be a great way to see how they stack up against each other in 2023.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Chloe Negrete will be making her return for the Wolfpack after missing last season with an Achilles tear, so watch out for her on her three signature events: vault, beam and floor. Other notables for N.C State include Emily Shephard on both bars and beam and Alexis Ortega on beam with her fan favorite back handspring to
Onodi acrobatic series. North Carolina starts 2023 with a double header after competing at the Super 16 in Las Vegas on Friday. Be sure to watch out for Kaya Forbes on vault and both Elizabeth Culton and Julia Knower on beam. North Carolina looks poised to make the jump in the rankings this season, and to do so, beating N.C. State here is a good first step.