April 26, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A record season for the University of Maryland women's gymnastics team came to a close on Friday, April 22, as freshmen Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Md./James Monroe) and Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) finished 26th and 24th overall in the all-around competition at the NCAA Championships. Cote and Moon, the first Maryland gymnasts to qualify for the NCAA Championships since 1986, performed extremely well in the preliminary competition. Cote, the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Rookie of the Year and No. 8 all-around gymnast and No. 7 beam gymnast in the country, competed in the afternoon session on Friday and finished in 10th place in the all-around competition with a score of 38.875. She also finished in a tie for 18th on beam and a tie for 20th on bars with scores of 9.75 and 9.725, respectively. Cote added scores of 9.7 on vault and floor, placing in ties for 27th and 32nd place, respectively. Moon, the No. 15 all-around gymnast in the country, competed in the evening session on Friday and scored a 39.000 in the all-around competition, earning her a 16th place finish. Moon also finished in a tie for 16th on vault with a score of 9.75 and tied for 27th place on floor with a score of 9.775. On beam and bars, Moon tied for 28th and 30th place with scores of 9.75 and 9.725, respectively.
NO. 14 GYMNASTS FINISH 4TH AT SOUTHEAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Terrapins (29-13) concluded their season on Saturday, April 10, in Morgantown, W. Va., where they finished in fourth place at the 1999 NCAA Southeast Region Championships with a score of 194.125. Despite being Maryland's highest score and placing at a regional in 10 appearances, it was not enough to place them in the top two spots which is needed in order to qualify for the NCAA Championships. No. 2 Alabama and No. 20 West Virginia came in first and second with scores of 196.625 and 195.275, respectively. NC State took third place, scoring a 194.900, and Ohio State and Towson followed Maryland with scores of 193.050 and 192.850, respectively. The Terps' win over Ohio State marked the first ever for Maryland in six meetings with the Buckeyes and their 29 wins on the season marks the most in the program's 23-year history.
BOB NELLIGAN AND WENDY MARSHALL NAMED REGION COACH AND ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
University of Maryland women's gymnastics head coach, Bob Nelligan, and assistant coach, Wendy Marshall, were honored on Saturday, April 10, as the Southeast Region Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year, as voted on by the other region coaches. This is the second consecutive season that a Terp coach has received the assistant coach of the year award.
For Nelligan, it is the second award he has received in the past three weeks and the second award he has received in his 21-plus year career in gymnastics. Nelligan was also honored on March 28 as the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Coach of the Year. Nelligan has compiled a lifetime record of 338-305-2 (.526 winning percentage) in his 21 years at Maryland and he is only one of three current head coaches who has been at Maryland for more than 20 years.
For Marshall, the award comes in her first season coaching collegiate gymnastics. Prior to her arrival at Maryland this season, Marshall was four-year letterwinner and two-time team co-MVP with the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team. In 1996, Marshall received gymnast of the year honors.
Top 1999 Performances
All-Around
1. Gillian Cote 39.425 3/13
2. Gillian Cote 39.400 2/26
3. Laura Moon 39.350 2/17
Vault
1. Laura Moon 9.850 3/13
Laura Moon 9.850 2/17
2. Gillian Cote 9.825 3/20
Kit Johnson 9.825 2/26
Kit Johnson 9.825 2/7
Bars
1. Gillian Cote 9.900 3/13
Gillian Cote 9.900 3/6
Gillian Cote 9.900 2/28
Beam
1. Gillian Cote 9.950 1/9
2. Gillian Cote 9.925 3/27
Kit Johnson 9.925 3/27
Kit Johnson 9.925 3/6
Floor
1. Gillian Cote 9.900 2/28
Gillian Cote 9.900 2/26
2. Gillian Cote 9.875 3/27
Gillian Cote 9.875 3/20
Laura Moon 9.875 3/20
Gillian Cote 9.875 3/13
Laura Moon 9.875 2/17
1999 MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Shannon Buckley Jr. 5'2 AA
Elize Burke Jr. 5'5 AA
Gillian Cote Fr. 5'6 AA
Rachel Dolbin* Jr. 5'5 AA
Denise Driscoll Sr. 5'2 AA
Jenny Engel Sr. 5'2 AA
Karyn Fein So. 5'2 AA
Shelly Hernandez Jr. 5'8 AA
Christine Holcobme* Jr. 5'0 AA
Kit Johnson Fr. 5'5 AA
Alyssa Mealey Fr. 5'2 AA
Lisa Mealey Fr. 5'2 AA
Laura Moon Fr. 5'3 AA
Jodi Morgan So. 5'3 AA
Jenna Murphy So. 5'2 AA
Chrissy Samwell Fr. 5'6 AA
*Denotes Captains
AA Indicates All-Around
FINAL RANKINGS
(GymInfo Rankings, March 30)
NATIONALLY
No. 14 Overall
No. 5 Beam
No. 16 Vault
No. 18 Bars
SOUTHEAST REGION
No. 3 Overall
EAGL
No. 1 Overall
