Jan. 6, 2003
The 2003 season is all about new changes for the University of Maryland women's gymnastics program. Moving into the new Comcast Center from the Ritchie Coliseum, the Terps bring with them a new team, and a new attitude. Entering his 25th season as head coach, Bob Nelligan is presented with every coach's dream. His 2003 squad is beaming with talent and skill, comprised of solid veterans and what has been heralded to be "the best recruiting class in the history of the women's gymnastics program." Expectations are high for the Terps this season and their goals are clear-cut. Maryland looks to win the EAGL Championships and reach the NCAA Championships as a team.
The Terps have regrouped after losing five seniors to graduation, including all-around All-American Gillian Cote and NCAA alternate qualifier, Lisa Mealey. Maryland's roster is loaded with depth with nine veterans and six new faces.
Leading the Terps this season will be co-captains, senior Stacey Celenski and junior Katherine Schroeder. Celenski is coming off a successful 2002 season, where she notched a career-high 9.800 on the beam at the EAGL Championships in Towson. Additionally, she is solid in the vault, posting a career-high 9.625 her freshman year. Schroeder is expected to step up big for the Terps this season.
"Kat is healthy and sporting a new 10.0 vault along with a Tkatchev on bars. This team co-captain means business," Nelligan said. Schroeder, a 2002 Academic All-American, had a breakout season last spring, posting career-highs of 9.725 and 9.800 on the vault and uneven bars, respectively.
Senior Catherine Gardner returns to the lineup as well, giving the Terps consistency in all events. This three-time Academic All-American's work ethic is apparent to both her coaches and teammates. "One word to describe Cat would be solid. Day in and out, we can always count on her to post good scores. The team has gotten accustomed to depend on her to pull out consistent scores, a role she has grown into nicely," Nelligan said.
Juniors Sarah Hoenig, a 2002 NCAA Regional participant, and Rachel Sibert round out the upperclassmen troupe. In addition to being Maryland's strongest beam competitors, Hoenig is also among the nation's top beam walkers. At the NCAA Southeast Regional meet, Hoenig placed seventh on the beam with a 9.875 and also earned All-EAGL first team honors in 2002. Her career-high on beam is 9.900, a mark she has posted with consistency both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Hoenig brings grace to the floor competition as well, where she received a season-high 9.750 last spring. Sibert will re-join the Terps this year after redshirting 2002 with a shoulder injury. "It was tough last year without Rachel because she is great on the vault as well as the bars. We are glad to get her back," Nelligan said.
Sophomore Leah Brill returns as well for the Terps. Brill had a picture perfect rookie year, winning the EAGL Rookie of the Year award and earning a berth to the NCAA Southeast Regional meet. She was Maryland's lone freshman to compete in the all-around in 2002. Joining her will be sophomores Ashley Oberdorff and Lequita Williams. Both Oberdorff and Williams found success on the bars in 2002, earning career-highs of, 9.575 and 9.725, respectively. Williams' 9.725 came at the EAGL Championships, proving her toughness under pressure. After redshirting 2002 with an ankle injury, sophomore Mandy Pascual will earn her first chance to adorn the Maryland red and white this season.
Entering this mix of experienced veterans are six incoming freshmen. "The season is going to be interesting for the freshmen," Nelligan said. "They are young and are used to a different approach on the junior level."
Leading the list of newcomers to watch is Rachel Martinez. Martinez's decorated junior career includes the 2002 Junior Olympic National vault title. Martinez earned All-American honors and was a national elite vault and floor champion. Freshman Alexandria Gatch will add her artistic flair to the floor program and can be counted on to deliver solid beam routines. Gatch placed third at the USAIGC nationals on beam. Local Rebecca Rupert, the strongest athlete on the team, was a two-year Junior Olympic competitior, as well as a 2002 Washington Post All-Met selection. Ruppert's achievements also include a Level 10 vault title. Freshmen Kristi Skowronski and Cameron Logan also bring depth to the squad. Skowronski, an elite level and Level 10 competitor, won first place on vault at the 2000 regionals. She also captured first place on bars at the New Jersey State AA in 2001 and on the floor at the 2001 regionals. Logan was the 2002 Florida State floor champion and a two-time Level 10 national competitor. Newcomer Ginny Scott will be sidelined in 2002 due to injury, but is expected to make a difference when healthy. Scott is a four-time Junior Olympics national competitor.
As for the lineup for specific events, Nelligan is posed with the difficult task of picking out the sweetest pear from a field of ripe fruit. "I could, for instance, name some who are going to be strong competitors in beam but then in practice, someone will step up big and make me re-structure my game plan," Nelligan said. "That is what is great about this team; there is so much depth with this squad that it will come down to the percentages of hit routines we see from each athlete to determine her place on the team."
Fall practices and the December intrasquad has allowed Maryland to assess its strengths and weaknesses. The Terps are going to be stronger on the vault in terms of depth and higher skill level. Martinez will be sporting a 10.0 full twisting Yurchenko vault. All three, Schroeder, Hoenig and Sibert will incorporate the half-twist Yurchenko. The uneven bars will be the biggest improvement area for Maryland this season with every Terp having a major release skill. Sibert will be sporting a Geinger release while Martinez, Gatch, Skowronski, Pascual, Schroeder and Logan have mastered the Tkatchev release. The beam and floor have always been Maryland's stronger events, anchored by Hoenig and Gardner.
Maryland's 2003 schedule features home meets against EAGL opponents West Virginia, Towson and Rutgers. As for their new facility, the Comcast Center, Nelligan is looking forward to starting a new era in the team's new home.
"Ritchie [Coliseum] was small and intimate. Comcast is more user-friendly because of the location of the training room, the locker room and the media. We can't wait for the fans to fill the gym up and cheer us on."
