Terp Gymnasts Westward-Bound

Jan. 15, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 28 Maryland gymnastics team will compete in its second meet of the season Saturday, Jan. 17, at the University of Denver. The Pioneers will host Maryland at the Hamilton Gymnasium where the contest is set to begin at 8 p.m. The Terps look to set another high team score, after setting the second-best opening total in school history of 192.825 at Ohio State on Jan. 10.

The Pioneer Preview

A young team with six freshmen, No. 24 Denver is lead by head coach Melissa Kutcher, in her sixth term at the helm of the program. She guided the team to a record of 18-9 last year.

Denver opened its 2004 season at No. 18 in the GymInfo rankings, and was invited to compete in the prestigious Super Six Challenge at the University of Alabama on Jan. 9.

The Pioneers finished sixth behind five teams ranked higher than them, including national top-10 powers Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The Pioneers put up a score of 193.600, but Alabama won the meet with a 196.725.

Denver had strong performances from its seniors, Emily Bankhead and Ashley Sible. Bankhead finished with an all-around of 39.175, her high score of the night being a 9.85 on floor. She also helped the Pioneers on the bars when they needed a big score, coming in with a 9.725.

Sible posted a 38.975 all-around, earning a 9.8 on floor and a 9.725 on beam.

Several freshmen also chimed in with top scores. Heather Huffaker helped the Pioneers on the vault, scoring a team-high 9.85 to finish sixth, and Katie Andrews earned a 9.725 on bars to tie Bankhead for the squad's top score on that event.

Turtle Scoop

Denver is the second opponent ranked above Maryland that the Terps will face this year. The Terps hold a 1-1 record all-time against the Pioneers, with the last meeting between the two squads occurring in 2001.

In their first meet of the season, the Terps finished third in a close battle with then-No. 23 Ohio State and EAGL-rival Pittsburgh. The team combined for a 192.825, the second-highest opening score in program history.

Leading the way was sophomore Rachel Martinez, who took the all-around title with a 39.300. Martinez, ranked 14th in the nation by GymInfo, tied for first on floor with a 9.850 and earned EAGL Gymnast of the Week honors for her performance.

Other gymnasts adding to the team score were junior Mandy Pascual and sophomore Cameron Logan. Pascual highlighted the uneven bars, scoring a 9.850 to take first place in the meet and Logan chipped in with a 9.750 on beam to take sixth.

Also making her name known in the season opener was freshman Rachel Colon, who tied Martinez's vault score and posted a 9.700 on beam.

Following Denver, the Terps will have exactly one week until their next road meet, which takes place Jan. 24 at North Carolina.

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