Jan. 10, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Less than one point separated all three teams Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, where a close gymnastics competition between No. 23 Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Maryland marked the beginning of the Terps' season. Although the Terps ended up in third, the team scored its second-best opening total ever, displaying the great potential the young team possesses.

Sophomore Rachel Martinez, the reigning EAGL individual champion, started off the season with a bang by taking the all-around title with a score of 39.300. In second was Pittsburgh's Diandra O'Connor with a 38.925, with Ohio State's Jill Weber in third after posting a 38.125.

Another impressive finish for the Terps was set by junior Mandy Pascual, who took first on the uneven bars with a score of 9.850. Maryland had an excellent night on the apparatus, with two other gymnasts landing in the top five. Martinez tied for second behind Pascual with a 9.825, and sophomore Kristi Skowronski posted a 9.800 to tie for fourth.

Martinez headlined the floor exercise, tying the Buckeyes' Tiffanie Janke for first with a 9.850. A score of 9.825 put Ohio State's Weber and Elizabeth Meaney and Pittsburgh's Erika Golberg tied for third. Terps' redshirt-freshman Ginny Scott, coming off an injury that sidelined her last season, was the next-best finisher for Maryland, tying for sixth with a 9.775.

Four Terps scored a 9.7 or above on the vault, leading to a team score of 48.825, which tied the 10th-best mark in team history. Terp Newcomer Rachel Colon stepped up for the team on the vault, tying Martinez for fourth overall with a 9.850. Sophomore Rebecca Ruppert finished right behind, tied for seventh by posting a 9.750, and senior Katherine Schroeder scored a 9.7 to tie for 10th.

Maryland's balance beam performance was led by Martinez and senior Sarah Hoenig, EAGL co-champions in the event. Martinez put up a 9.775 that was good enough to tie for fourth, and sophomore Cameron Logan scored a 9.750 to take sixth. Hoenig's mark of 9.700 was shared by Colon for eighth place.

Led by Tiffanie Janke, the Buckeyes took first in the meet with a total team score of 193.775. Just 0.325 back were the Panthers, with a 193.450, followed by the Terps, who combined for a 192.825. The No. 23 Buckeyes had the luxury of beginning their season with two home meets, and have accrued a 3-0 start to the year after downing Kentucky in their season opener.

The young Terp team will be challenged with two more meets on the road before its first home competition on Jan. 31. The next challenge lies just one week away, on Jan. 17, when the squad will face the Denver Pioneers.