Two Terp Gymnasts Qualify for the 1999 NCAA Nationals
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
April 19, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - It was announced on April 13 that University of Maryland freshmen gymnasts Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe) and Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) have qualified as all-around competitors for the NCAA Championships on April 22-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are two of 12 individual competitors who will compete against the all-around gymnasts representing the 12 teams competing for the national title.
Moon and Cote qualified for the championships after strong performances at the 1999 Southeast Region Championships on April 10 in Morgantown, W.Va. Cote, the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Rookie of the Year, finished in sixth place in the all-around competition with a score of 38.950. Cote also tied for third place on bars, scoring a 9.825, and recorded a 9.725 on beam to tie for 14th place. Cote finished the regular season ranked No. 8 in the country for all-around and No. 7 on beam. She was a unanimous selection to first team All-EAGL for all-around and also received first team honors on bars, beam and floor. She was named to the second team for vault.
Moon placed fourth in the all-around competition at the region championships, scoring a 39.050. This included a score of 9.875 on beam, the second highest score of her career, placing her in a tie for second place. Moon also finished 12th on floor with a score of 9.825 and finished 19th on vault, scoring a 9.725. Moon closed out the season ranked No. 15 in the nation for all-around and earned first team All-EAGL honors for all-around and beam, and second team honors on bars and floor.
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. Even though they did not qualify as a team for the national championship, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 22-24, the Terps will now wait and see if any individuals will qualify.
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 39.4253/13 2. Gillian Cote 39.4002/26 3. Laura Moon 39.3502/17
Vault 1. Laura Moon 9.8503/13 Laura Moon 9.8502/17 2. Gillian Cote 9.8253/20 Kit Johnson 9.8252/26 Kit Johnson 9.8252/7
Bars 1. Gillian Cote 9.9003/13 Gillian Cote 9.9003/6 Gillian Cote 9.9002/28
Beam 1. Gillian Cote 9.951/9 2. Gillian Cote 9.9253/27 Kit Johnson 9.9253/27 Kit Johnson 9.9253/6
Floor 1. Gillian Cote 9.9002/28 Gillian Cote 9.9002/26 2. Gillian Cote 9.8753/27 Gillian Cote 9.8753/20 Laura Moon 9.8753/20 Gillian Cote 9.8753/13 Laura Moon 9.8752/17
