Feb. 11, 2004

Complete Results

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Maryland gymnastics team scored its third 195-plus team score in a row, notching a 195.400 to top George Washington at the Smith Center Wednesday night. A Terp took first place on every event, creating the first team sweep of the season. Taking the title on vault was sophomore Rachel Martinez, who set a new school record and career-high of 9.95.

Also scoring well on the vault was senior Rachel Sibert, who took third with a 9.750, and freshman Rachel Colon finished right behind with a 9.725. Colon, having her best meet of the year, also scored high on the uneven bars with a 9.775 to tie for fourth.

Leading the way on the bars once again was junior Mandy Pascual, finishing first for the second time this season with a score of 9.875. A consistent top performer, Pascual has finished in the top two on her specialty event five out of six meets this year. Martinez took second on bars with a 9.850, followed closely by sophomore Kristi Skowronski with a 9.825 to sweep the top three in the meet for the Terps.

Steadily improving throughout the season on the floor exercise, sophomore Ginny Scott took her second event title of the year by posting a 9.9. Tying for second with a 9.850 was senior Sarah Hoenig. The Terps also benefited from a 9.8 by Martinez and a clutch 9.775 from sophomore Rebecca Ruppert, who was moved into the starting lineup just minutes before the event began.

The Terps had some momentum coming off floor and onto their last event, the balance beam. Maryland notched two 9.9s on the difficult apparatus, as Hoenig and Martinez tied for first with the near-perfect score. Colon posted a 9.850 to sweep the top three for the Terps again.

In the end, Martinez took her third straight all-around title of the year with a 39.50 that ties her season-high total. Coming in second at the meet was George Washington's Erin Aiken with a 37.225. The Colonials scored high on beam for the second meet in a row, led by Meagan Wilson's 9.825. Also posting high scores on the event was Aiken, who took fifth with a 9.8 and Jess Guilbert in sixth with a 9.775.

Besting the Colonials 195.400-192.975, Maryland's score marks the second-highest team total of the year for the young squad. The Terps improve to 6-5 on the season, and face their toughest challenge yet when No. 9 Iowa comes to visit the Comcast Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14.