North Carolina State University Athletics
11/13/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State Gymnastics and head coach Kim Landrus have announced the signings of three incoming freshmen to the 2027 recruiting class. Mariel Garcia, Abby Gutterman and Payton Jones are set to arrive in Raleigh ahead of the 2028 season.
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"I am thrilled to officially welcome Mariel, Abby and Payton to the Pack," said Landrus. "This trio of student-athletes is a natural complement to one another. Together they bring artistry, skill, difficulty and personality that will continue to elevate NC State Gymnastics in the ACC and on the national stage. Throughout the recruiting process, it was clear that they are passionate about excelling in the classroom and on the competition floor, and believe in the vision, culture and values of our program. I am so excited that today we get to make it official!"
Mariel Garcia - Monterrey, Mexico
Garcia will join the Wolfpack after competing at the club level with WOGA Gymnastics, bringing an accomplished résumé to Raleigh. In 2026, she finished as the runner-up on beam and placed third on vault at the Level 10 Region 3 Championships. She also earned runner-up honors on bars at the Texas State Championships. In 2025, she qualified for Level 10 DP Nationals, placing in the top ten on both bars and beam. She also finished as the all-around runner-up at the Texas State Championships, and had top three finishes on bars, beam, and floor.
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Garcia has also found success representing her home country of Mexico. She was a member of the Mexican Senior National Team in 2025 and represented Mexico at the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships, where she placed fourth on beam, and at the Central American Championships, where she finished as the all-around runner-up. From 2021-24, she was a four-time Mexican National all-around champion.
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"Mariel has an eye-catching presence," Landrus stated. "Her clean lines give her a strong foundation on every event. She has a BIG heart and cares deeply about those around her. When Mariel came on her visit, she KNEW! After spending the weekend with her and her family, it felt equally "right" for us as we were confident that her intangibles, along with her gymnastics, would be a great addition to our team. Mariel has so much more to offer as she builds on her already strong foundation, and we are excited to follow the development of her 10.0 vault and watch her flourish throughout her collegiate journey."
For Garcia, NC State stood out as a place where she could feel at home.
"I chose NC State because it felt like home," said Garcia. "I felt comfortable with the coaches and team, and I could really see myself spending the next four years there."
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Abby Gutterman - Orlando, Fla.
Gutterman comes to Raleigh from Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics with an impressive list of accomplishments from her club career. She is a two-time Level 10 National qualifier in 2023 and 2026, and a two-time Level 10 Region 8 Championships qualifier in those same years. In 2026, she was crowned the Level 10 Florida State champion on beam and finished in the top 15 on both bars and beam at the Level 10 National Championships.
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"Abby is a true scholar-athlete who places tremendous value on succeeding both academically and athletically," Landrus said. "Bars is where she shines, combining elite difficulty with near-perfect execution. On beam, she exudes beauty while pairing solid skills with polished performance. The more we got to know Abby, the more we knew that she belonged with the PACK. We feel very fortunate to have found her! Her strengths on bars and beam will be a natural fit for our line-ups when we graduate the 2027 class, and we look forward to her making her mark."
Gutterman was drawn to the Wolfpack by the program's family culture and the opportunities NC State offers its student-athletes.
"I chose NC State because of the team's family culture, the strong academics and resources, and the school's location," said Gutterman.
Payton Jones - Bowie, Md.
Jones will join the Wolfpack after a strong club career with Thrive Gymnastics. A three-time Level 10 National Qualifier and four-time Level 10 Region 7 qualifier, she placed in the top five nationally in 2026 on both beam and floor securing a runner-up finish on beam. She was crowned the 2026 Region 7 beam and all-around champion, and had runner up finishes on vault and floor. At the conclusion of the 2026 season, she was named to the Region 7 All-Star team.
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"Payton is full of character," said Landrus. "She is fun, relatable and competitive, with a deep understanding of what it takes to be a champion. A thoughtful processor, she balances the basics with her big skills, and her beam and floor exude confidence every time we watch her. During the recruitment process, we talked with Payton's family at length, and they made sure no stone was left unturned. At a GAME WATCH during her official visit, it felt as if they were already part of the PACK! Her personality will add something special to our already unique team of individuals, and we can't wait to see her captivate our fans with her confidence and energy on the competition floor!"
Jones is excited to join NC State because of the community and family atmosphere she experienced during her recruitment.
"I chose NC State because of the amazing community," Jones said. "The second I stepped onto the campus it felt like home. I love the coaches that recruited me and I love the academic aspects the school has to offer."
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"Mariel, Abby and Payton each bring their own strengths to the Pack. Together they create something even more powerful. Their passion, competitiveness and character are exactly what we look for in a signing class that will build on the culture of our program. I am thrilled to see them grow and flourish over their four-year careers as scholar-athletes and representatives of NC State. Their PACK journey is just beginning, and I can't wait to welcome them to Raleigh next fall," Landrus concluded.
To stay up to date with NC State Gymnastics, follow @wolfpackgymnastics on Instagram, @pack_gymnastics on X, and @packgymnastics on TikTok.
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"I am thrilled to officially welcome Mariel, Abby and Payton to the Pack," said Landrus. "This trio of student-athletes is a natural complement to one another. Together they bring artistry, skill, difficulty and personality that will continue to elevate NC State Gymnastics in the ACC and on the national stage. Throughout the recruiting process, it was clear that they are passionate about excelling in the classroom and on the competition floor, and believe in the vision, culture and values of our program. I am so excited that today we get to make it official!"
Mariel Garcia - Monterrey, Mexico
Garcia will join the Wolfpack after competing at the club level with WOGA Gymnastics, bringing an accomplished résumé to Raleigh. In 2026, she finished as the runner-up on beam and placed third on vault at the Level 10 Region 3 Championships. She also earned runner-up honors on bars at the Texas State Championships. In 2025, she qualified for Level 10 DP Nationals, placing in the top ten on both bars and beam. She also finished as the all-around runner-up at the Texas State Championships, and had top three finishes on bars, beam, and floor.
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Garcia has also found success representing her home country of Mexico. She was a member of the Mexican Senior National Team in 2025 and represented Mexico at the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships, where she placed fourth on beam, and at the Central American Championships, where she finished as the all-around runner-up. From 2021-24, she was a four-time Mexican National all-around champion.
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"Mariel has an eye-catching presence," Landrus stated. "Her clean lines give her a strong foundation on every event. She has a BIG heart and cares deeply about those around her. When Mariel came on her visit, she KNEW! After spending the weekend with her and her family, it felt equally "right" for us as we were confident that her intangibles, along with her gymnastics, would be a great addition to our team. Mariel has so much more to offer as she builds on her already strong foundation, and we are excited to follow the development of her 10.0 vault and watch her flourish throughout her collegiate journey."
For Garcia, NC State stood out as a place where she could feel at home.
"I chose NC State because it felt like home," said Garcia. "I felt comfortable with the coaches and team, and I could really see myself spending the next four years there."
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Abby Gutterman - Orlando, Fla.
Gutterman comes to Raleigh from Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics with an impressive list of accomplishments from her club career. She is a two-time Level 10 National qualifier in 2023 and 2026, and a two-time Level 10 Region 8 Championships qualifier in those same years. In 2026, she was crowned the Level 10 Florida State champion on beam and finished in the top 15 on both bars and beam at the Level 10 National Championships.
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"Abby is a true scholar-athlete who places tremendous value on succeeding both academically and athletically," Landrus said. "Bars is where she shines, combining elite difficulty with near-perfect execution. On beam, she exudes beauty while pairing solid skills with polished performance. The more we got to know Abby, the more we knew that she belonged with the PACK. We feel very fortunate to have found her! Her strengths on bars and beam will be a natural fit for our line-ups when we graduate the 2027 class, and we look forward to her making her mark."
Gutterman was drawn to the Wolfpack by the program's family culture and the opportunities NC State offers its student-athletes.
"I chose NC State because of the team's family culture, the strong academics and resources, and the school's location," said Gutterman.
Payton Jones - Bowie, Md.
Jones will join the Wolfpack after a strong club career with Thrive Gymnastics. A three-time Level 10 National Qualifier and four-time Level 10 Region 7 qualifier, she placed in the top five nationally in 2026 on both beam and floor securing a runner-up finish on beam. She was crowned the 2026 Region 7 beam and all-around champion, and had runner up finishes on vault and floor. At the conclusion of the 2026 season, she was named to the Region 7 All-Star team.
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"Payton is full of character," said Landrus. "She is fun, relatable and competitive, with a deep understanding of what it takes to be a champion. A thoughtful processor, she balances the basics with her big skills, and her beam and floor exude confidence every time we watch her. During the recruitment process, we talked with Payton's family at length, and they made sure no stone was left unturned. At a GAME WATCH during her official visit, it felt as if they were already part of the PACK! Her personality will add something special to our already unique team of individuals, and we can't wait to see her captivate our fans with her confidence and energy on the competition floor!"
Jones is excited to join NC State because of the community and family atmosphere she experienced during her recruitment.
"I chose NC State because of the amazing community," Jones said. "The second I stepped onto the campus it felt like home. I love the coaches that recruited me and I love the academic aspects the school has to offer."
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"Mariel, Abby and Payton each bring their own strengths to the Pack. Together they create something even more powerful. Their passion, competitiveness and character are exactly what we look for in a signing class that will build on the culture of our program. I am thrilled to see them grow and flourish over their four-year careers as scholar-athletes and representatives of NC State. Their PACK journey is just beginning, and I can't wait to welcome them to Raleigh next fall," Landrus concluded.
To stay up to date with NC State Gymnastics, follow @wolfpackgymnastics on Instagram, @pack_gymnastics on X, and @packgymnastics on TikTok.
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