February 8, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With an 8-4 record, the Terrapins will compete in their first home meet of the 1999 season against No. 20 West Virginia and Temple this weekend. Maryland has compiled an all-time record of 11-22 against EAGL rival and perenially ranked West Virginia. The Terps lost their one regular season meeting against the then No. 10 Mountaineers last season and also suffered a defeat in the EAGL Championships. The last time that Maryland picked up a regular season win against West Virginia was in 1989 when the Terps defeated the Mountaineers, 186.950 - 185.350. The Terps, however, have fared far better against Temple and have compiled an 18-10 all-time record against the Owls. The Terps defeated them twice during the 1998 regular season and have won the last seven regular season meetings between the two teams dating back to 1995.

TERPS PLACE THIRD AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S CUP Maryland scored a season-high 193.200, including season highs on vault (48.575), bars (48.525) and floor (47.925), to finish third at the Fourth Annual Governoris Cup. Host NC State won the event with a 193.550, North Carolina placed second with a score of 193.325, and Towson finished fourth with a 192.875. The meet, which featured four East Atlantic Gymnastics League teams, marked the first time that the state of North Carolina (NC State and North Carolina) defeated the state of Maryland (Maryland and Towson).

TERPS AND JOHNSON eVAULTINGi THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS The Maryland Terrapins have used a combination of gymnasts to achieve success this season in each event, but by far their best event has been the vault. Maryland is currently ranked 17th in the nation, fourth in the Southeast Region, and second in the EAGL on vault, and freshman Kit Johnson (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) has played a large role in that. At the Governoris Cup this past weekend, Johnson recorded a team season-high score of 9.825 to win the vault competition. The score was the second highest in Maryland history and the second time in four meets that Johnson has recorded a score of 9.8 or better on vault. It was also the second time in four meets that Johnson has won the vault competition. She captured the vault title at the George Washington Invitational on Jan. 24.

FABULOUS FRESHMEN Even though the 1999 season is just four meets old, the Terrapin freshmen have already made a dramatic impact. Season-highs in every event are held by a freshman, including Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe) holding the high mark on beam, floor, and in all-around and sharing the top spot with Lisa Mealey (Bensalem, Pa./Villa Jospeh Marie) on bars. In four meets this season, Cote has scored a 38.0 or better in the all-around, including a 39.15 in her first career meet, which tied the Maryland all-time high. Mealey, a bars specialist, recorded a career-high 9.75 in her first career meet, the George Washington Invitational, to win the bars competition and scored a 9.725 at the Governoris Cup to tie for sixth place. Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) has also made her presence felt this season. Moon has twice recorded a career-high 9.75 on floor and has scored a 9.7 or higher on floor in all four Terrapin meets this season. She also recorded a 9.9 on beam in her first career meet against Radford, the second best score in Maryland history next to Coteis 9.95, which was also scored against Radford.

DOLBIN RETURNING TO TOP FORM IN '99 After seeing reduced competition time last season, junior co-captain Rachel Dolbin (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) is returning to the form that won her EAGL Outstanding Rookie Gymnast in 1997. In the first meet of 1999, Dolbin scored a 38.525 in the all-around, earning her second place overall, and recorded a career-high tying 9.85 on beam, which tied her for third place. At the Governoris Cup, she recorded season-highs of 9.725 on both bars and floor, placing her third and 10th, respectively.

NEXT TERPS MEET... vs. No. 20 West Virginia and Temple; Sat. Feb. 13, 2:00 p.m. College Park, Md. - Ritchie Coliseum

TERPS ON THE INTERNET: Complete Maryland gymnastics results, statisitcs and news can be accessed at: www.umterps.com

TERP CONTACT: Matthew Levy in the Terps media relations office at 301-314-7064

TOP 1999 PERFORMANCES

All-Around
1. Gillian Cote   39.150   1/9

Vault
1. Kit Johnson    9.825    2/7

Bars
1. Gillian Cote   9.750    1/31
2. Gillian Cote   9.750    2/7
3. Lisa Mealey    9.750    1/23

Beam
1. Gillian Cote   9.95     1/9

Floor
1. Gillian Cote   9.85     1/23