Jan. 6, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - The Maryland Gymnastics team is hoping to surpass last year's fifth place finish at the NCAA regionals. In order to do so the Terps will have to face six preseason Top 25-teams. They will rely on a combination of solid veterans and several exciting newcomers.

The 2005 squad is a young but talented team that Coach Bob Nelligan thinks will be very balanced. The team is comprised of three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.

Seniors Leah Brill, Ashley Oberdorff and junior Rebecca Ruppert are the tri-captains who will lead the team. Having three captains is something Nelligan thinks will help his young team. "It will give us a better perspective on the team throughout the season," Nelligan said.

Brill will be depended on for her talents on the uneven bars, beam and floor exercise and has improved her vaulting skills. According to Nelligan, Brill has almost perfected her vault and should have a season as good as her freshman one in which she won EAGL Rookie of the Year honors. Oberdorff is eager to return to the squad after missing last season due to injury. Oberdorff's experience on the vault and uneven bars should help Maryland. Ruppert is the team's vault specialist who will be performing a new vault this season with a higher degree of difficulty. She could also be a vital part of the Terps' beam lineup. Senior Mandy Pascual is the squad's specialist on the uneven bars. She has received EAGL honors twice in the event. She shares the school record in that event with current teammate, Rachel Martinez. Pascual could also see success on beam this season.

Junior Rachel Martinez returns as the squad's top all-around performer. Martinez just missed the opportunity to be the EAGL all-around champion for the second year in a row, tying for second, but her EAGL Championship record in the all-around (39.625) still stands. Martinez set a school record last season on the vault (9.95) and tied the record on bars (9.925). She was a three-time EAGL gymnast of the week. Another Junior who will be vital to the team is Alex Gatch. Gatch had a standout performance at last season's NCAA Regionals, finishing tied for third on the balance beam (9.90).

Redshirt Sophomore Ginny Scott emerged as one of the team's best performers on the floor exercise and earned second team all-EAGL honors in that event last season. Scott's balanced talent will be need this season as she will be added to the Terps' all-around lineup. Sophomore Rachel Colon should help the squad on vault, uneven bars, and the beam. Colon was a 2001 Junior Olympic Champion in all-around, balance beam and floor. Sophomore Angie Ferg should see action this season on the vault and balance beam, where she was a four-time state champion. "Ferg's confidence has grown and her skill level has increased," according to Nelligan. Sophomore Marisa St. Louis was a strong performer in the floor exercise at the end of last season and will also contribute on vault and uneven bars. St. Louis is also training hard on beam and has improved her confidence in that event. Rounding out the sophomore class is Ashley LeVine who competed on beam last season and was a 2001 Junior Olympic qualifier.

The 2005 Freshmen are an exciting group of athletes. Gretchen Kittelberger is a strong all-around performer who was a level 9 Eastern National Champion in all-around, floor and vault. She qualified for level 10 Junior Olympic Regionals and level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals for three years. "Kittelberger has an incredible work ethic and is eager to learn," said Nelligan. "She has the potential to solidify a lineup." Morgan Fishbein was an NHIAA second place finisher in all-around, vault and bars. Fishbein was a level 10 Junior Olympic National qualifier in 2001 and 2002. Angie Watkins is a 10-time state champion in the bars and also has a strong vault. Lindsey Bonomo is a level 9 state champion in the floor exercise who could break into the lineup on vault, beam and the floor exercise.

As the Newest addition to the coaching staff, Talya Vexler brings valuable National Championship experience to this Terp squad. Vexler excelled at the University of Georgia where she was a four-year letterwinner. Vexler has made a quick impact on the team, including helping to improve several of the gymnasts' beam routines.

Brett Nelligan returns for his second season as an assistant coach. Brett's experience as a gymnast at the University of Massachusetts has helped him transition into coaching. His youth helps him serve as a link between the coaching staff and the team. One of his main responsiblities is to do much of the spotting in practices and meets.

Scott Welsh, head coach for the University of Maryland Gymkana team returns this season as a volunteer coach.

Maryland will begin the 2005 season at the Maui Invitational, where they face Arizona State which is ranked ninth in the preseason coaches poll, Boise State and Alaska-Anchorage on Jan 7. The Terps head back to the mainland where they will take on Michigan which is ranked seventh in the preseason coaches poll, Minnesota and Ohio State in Columbis, Ohio on Jan 15. The home opener will be against the Towson Tigers on Jan 22.

Maryland will face several other ranked opponents during the season. They will host the North Carolina Tarheels who are ranked 15th in the preseason coaches poll on March 5. The Terps host Arizona (preseason ranked 13th), Rhode Island and James Madison in their final home meet on March 18. This will be their final preparation before the EAGL Championships which take place in Raleigh, N.C., on March 25. The team hopes to return to the NCAA regionals which will be held in Gainesville, Fla., on April 9.