Dec. 13, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, MD- The University of Maryland gymnastics team held its first intrasquad ever at the Comcast Center. The Terps combined for a team score of 187.75, wowing fans with wild vaults and flashy floor routines. The intrasquad gave all 15 gymnasts, with the exception of injured sophomore Leah Brill (Lancaster, Pa.) and freshman Ginny Scott (Ashland, Va.), a chance to compete in one or multiple events, and to showcase the talent and skill of the 2002-2003 gymnastics squad.
The Terps began the show on the vault, scoring a team total of 47.450. Freshman Rachel Martinez (North Massapequa, N.Y.), the 2002 Junior Olympic National vault champion, posted a team high 9.70 on the vault. Junior Rachel Sibert (Austin, Texas), who sat out all of last season due to a shoulder injury came in with the second highest vault score, 9.65. Freshman Rebecca Rupert (Lakeridge, Va.) posted a 9.60.
On the uneven parallel bars, freshman Kristi Skowronski (Fairfield, NJ) swung to a Terps-best score with a 9.70. Freshman Cameron Logan (Tampa, Fla.) earned a 9.45 for her routine and Sibert came close behind with a 9.40.
Junior Sarah Hoenig (Seaford, N.Y.), a NCAA Regional Participant last season, led Maryland on the beam. Hoenig earned a team-high 9.75, followed by Logan who scored a 9.65. Sophomore Ashley Oberdorff (York, Pa.) also scored high, with a 9.50.
Martinez added a mix of personality and skill to score high on the floor exercise part of the intrasquad. The freshman scored a 9.70 for her routine. Freshman Alexandria Gatch (Winston-Salem, N.C.) scored the second highest score on the floor portion with a 9.250. Logan came in with the third highest score, a 8.95.
Co-captain, junior Katherine Schroeder (Carrollton, Texas) was one of three all-around competitors for the night. Logan and Oberdorff were the other two.
The intrasquad also enabled the Terps to practice at the small gym at the Comcast Center, the new site for all home meets. However, the Terps will open their season on the road, traveling to the Bahamas for the Bahamas Breeze Invitational, to compete against Louisiana State and Illinois.
