Feb. 7, 2004

TOWSON, Md. - The Maryland gymnastics team improved its record to an even 5-5 on Saturday by finishing second at the ninth-annual Governor's Cup at Towson. The Terps notched their highest team total at an away meet this year with a 195.350, led by sophomore Rachel Martinez who tied for first all-around.

The Terps finished behind the North Carolina Tar Heels, who totaled a season-high 195.975. Following Maryland was NC State in third with a 195.225 and host Towson in fourth, scoring a 193.350. Despite the Terps' efforts, the Governor's Cup went to the state of North Carolina for the second year in a row, as NC State and UNC combined for a 391.200. The Terps and the Tigers represented the state of Maryland, scoring a 388.700.

Beginning on the balance beam, Maryland was led by Martinez and freshman Rachel Colon, who tied for fourth with a 9.850. Also scoring big for the Terps was sophomore Alex Gatch with a 9.775. A difficult event to begin on, Maryland had some battling back to do as it rotated to the floor exercise.

The Terps delivered when it counted on the floor, setting the best team floor total of the day with a 49.100. Martinez topped the squad with a 9.9, tying UNC's Olivia Trusty for second in the meet. Scoring a 9.850 for Maryland was sophomore Ginny Scott, tying for fifth place. Senior Sarah Hoenig also turned in a solid performance, notching a 9.825.

The squad continued to perform well on the vault, combining for a 48.925 that ties for the fifth-best vault score in school history and matches the team's score at the Jan. 31 home meet. Martinez took first on the event with a season-high 9.9 that ties senior Rachel Sibert for the second-best score in program history. Also notching a high score for the Terps on vault was sophomore Rebecca Ruppert, who stuck her vault to post a new career-high score of 9.8. Tying her was senior Rachel Sibert, as the two finished at eighth overall.

Finishing strong on the uneven bars, the Terps led the competition with a 48.925. Again topping the Terps was Martinez with a 9.850 that put her in fourth place. Coming in next for the squad was sophomore Kristi Skowronski and junior Mandy Pascual, each with a 9.800.

In the all-around competition, Martinez tied for first with UNC's Trusty, as each scored a 39.500. The total was a season-high for Martinez, and ties for the fifth-best all-around score in school history. It also marked her third all-around title of the season. Second in the all-around was North Carolina's Christine Robella with a 39.250, followed by NC State's Leah Sabo with a 38.875.

The Terps are now 3-3 in the EAGL, with two wins versus Towson, two losses to North Carolina, a loss to Pittsburgh and a win over NC State. Next up for the team is an away meet at George Washington on Feb. 11, where it will face the Colonials for the first time this year at 7 p.m.

2004 GOVERNOR'S CUP

Team Scores:
1. North Carolina- 195.975
2. Maryland- 195.350
3. NC State- 195.225
4. Towson- 193.350

Vault:
1. Rachel Martinez (UM), 9.9; 2. Kylah Backman (NCS), 9.875; 3. Olivia Trusty (UNC), Rachel Katz (NCS), 9.850; 5. Mikel Hester (UNC), Christine Robella (UNC), Courtney Bumpers (UNC), 9.825

Bars:
1. Juliya Kovaliova (TOW), 9.95; 2. Olivia Trusty (UNC), 9.9; 3. Christine Robella (UNC), 9.875; 4. Rachel Martinez (UM), 9.850; 5. Leah Sabo (NCS), Kelley Kello (NCS), 9.825

Beam:
1. Christina Robella (UNC), 9.9; 2. Mikel Hester (UNC), Andrea Petrocelli (NCS), 9.875; 4. Rachel Colon (UM), Rachel Martinez (UM), Olivia Trusty (UNC), Maddy Curley (UNC), 9.850

Floor:
1. Courtney Bumpers (UNC), 9.975; 2. Rachel Martinez (UM), Olivia Trusty (UNC), 9.9; 4. Stacie Hogan (TOW), 9.875; 5. Ginny Scott (UM), Leah Sabo (NCS), Cori Goldstein (NCS), 9.850

All-Around:
1. Rachel Martinez (UM), Olivia Trusty (UNC), 39.5; 3. Courtney Bumpers (UNC), 39.425; 4. Christine Robella (UNC), 39.250; 5. Leah Sabo (NCS), 38.875; 6. Nicole Groccia (TOW), 38.825