January 13, 1999

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland gymnastics team is currently rated eighth in the nation, the highest ranking in school history, by GymInfo, the official NCAA national rankings. The Terps posted their highest-ever first meet total on Jan. 9 against Radford with a 192.375. In fact, their 49.325 on the balance beam is the best score in the nation. Also, Maryland is nationally ranked seventh on vault (48.475), No. 15 on floor (47.725) and No. 18 on bars (46.850).

Individually, freshman Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe) holds the fourth-highest all-around score of the season after tying the school record with a 39.150 against Radford. She won three of the four events, including the balance beam, with a school record of 9.950, and the vault, recording the second-highest mark in school history of 9.800.

Junior co-captain Rachel Dolbin (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) and freshman Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) tied for 15th in the country for the all-around with a score of 38.525. They tied for second behind Cote in the Radford meet.

The next Maryland event will be at the George Washington Invitational on Jan. 24 beginning at noon.

Top 10 Women's National Ranking

1.      Georgia           194.587
2.      Penn State        195.075
--      Alabama           195.075
4.      UCLA              192.325
5.      Michigan          193.300
6.      Stanford          192.450
7.      Minnesota         192.400
8.      Maryland          192.375
9.      Illinois-Chicago  191.725
10.     Bowling Green     189.750