January 15, 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).

FRESHMAN EARNS EAGL GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
Freshman Gillian Cote (Fredericksburg, Va.) was named EAGL Gymnast of the Week 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.

TERPS EXPLODE INTO 1999 SEASON WITH WIN OVER RADFORD
The Maryland gymnastics team opened its 1999 season with an impressive win over Radford University by a score of 192.375 to 185.125. Gillian Cote won the all-around competition and tied the school record with a 39.150. She took first place in three of the four individual events, including a new school record 9.950 on the beam, and also finished third on the floor exercise.

In addition, the Terps had two gymnasts tie for second place in the all-around as freshman Laura Moon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and junior co-captain Rachel Dolbin (Pottsville, Pa.) tied with a score of 38.525. In the individual events for Maryland, Moon won the floor exercise with a 9.750 and took second on the beam. Other strong finishes in the events included Dolbin, who took second on the bars, and freshman Kit Johnson (Virginia Beach, Va.), who tied for second in the vault.

TERP GYMNASTS TO FACE SOME OF THE NATION'S BEST IN 1999
Of Maryland's 20 regular season opponents, seven finished in the top 25 of the 1998 final rankings. This includes Florida (#4), West Virginia (#6), Washington (#7), Arizona State (#9), Nebraska (# 10), UCLA (#13), and NC State (#20). Maryland will face Florida, Washington, Arizona State, Nebraska, and UCLA one time each throughout the season, while it will take on EAGL rivals West Virginia and NC State on two separate occasions.

MARYLAND HEAD COACH BOB NELLIGAN
This marks the 20th season that Bob Nelligan will lead the Terrapin gymnastics program. He has compiled a lifetime record of 309-292-2 (.514 winning percentage) in that time and has only coached at Maryland. He has led the Terps to the NCAA Southeast Region Championships nine times, including six consecutive from 1983 to 89. Furthermore, prior to the Terps entrance into the Southeast Region in the 1983-84 season, the Terps competed in the East Region and qualified for the championships four of the seven seasons that they were members.

ASSISTANT COACH WENDY MARSHALL
Wendy Marshall begins her first season as an assistant coach after graduating from the University of Michigan in 1996. She brings tremendous experience, both in coaching and competition, with her and is expected to make an impact this year. She competed for four years at Michigan and was named the Gymnast of the Year in 1996.

 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