Dec. 19, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

The Maryland gymnastics team is looking to start 2006 as strongly as it finished the 2005 season. Although the Terps did not qualify for NCAA Regionals, they ended the season on a high-note, finishing second at EAGL Championships and scoring season-highs in several events.

Coach Nelligan knows his team will be motivated to return to Regionals. "The prevailing attitude was that we should have been there and the team is willing to put in the effort to assure success in 2006. We have had a great summer training and all of the athletes came back in very good shape," Nelligan said.

This year's squad is comprised of four seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. Seniors Alex Gatch, Rachel Martinez and Rebecca Ruppert are the tri-captains who will lead this team. Fifth-year senior Mandy Pascual will also provide leadership to the team. Martinez is the team's top all-around performer and holds the EAGL Championship record in that event. Martinez will finish an outstanding career and holds school records on vault, bars (tied) and all-around. Gatch will lead the squad on beam. She was an individual qualifier for NCAA Regionals on that event last season. Gatch broke into the uneven bar lineup last season at Penn State and competed on that event in nine meets. Ruppert is the team's vault specialist who also competed on floor exercise in several meets. Pascual is the squad's specialist on the uneven bars. She has received EAGL honors twice on bars and shares the school record in that event with current teammate, Rachel Martinez.

The Junior class will help provide veteran leadership and much-needed depth to the team. Rachel Colon notched her personal best and team-high on beam at the Maui Invite (9.875). She earned EAGL Specialist of the Week and earned 2nd team EAGL honors on balance beam. Colon also was a pivotal part of the Terps' bar lineup and entered the vault lineup when Gretchen Kittelberger had a season-ending injury. Angela Ferg was the biggest surprise for Maryland last season as she broke into the lineup on vault, balance beam and floor exercise. Having seen some action on vault at the end of the 2004 season, Ferg was one the Terps' most consistent vaulters, scoring a 9.825 in her last two meets and finishing in the top-five six times. Ashley LeVine competed regularly for the Terps on beam and will look to be strong on that event this season. Ginny Scott emerged last season as the team's most consistent performer on the floor exercise and was an individual qualifier on that event at NCAA Regionals. Scott will also be a pivotal part of the squad's bar lineup this season. Marisa St. Louis is coming off an excellent performance at EAGL Championships, scoring a 9.825 (career-high) on vault and a 9.80 on Floor exercise (both season-highs).

The sophomore class should provide excitement to the squad. Lindsey Bonomo competed on vault in every meet in 2005 and was named EAGL Rookie of the Week (Jan. 20) for her efforts at Ohio State on vault (9.80). Gretchen Kittelberger competed on vault, uneven bars and floor and performed all-around in two meets. She was named EAGL Rookie of the Week (Feb. 2) for her performance at Penn State. Kittelberger suffered a season-ending knee injury at George Washington but is ready to return to help the squad on several events. Morgan Fishbein rounds out the sophomore class and will look to break into a lineup this season.

Maryland has three new faces this season, Kim Loew (Allentown, Pa.), Lindsey Willner (Holbrook, NY) and Kelsey Nelligan (College Park, Md.). Loew had wrist surgery in December but is poised to make an immediate impact. She could be a strong asset for the Terps on beam this season and see action on vault. Willner looks good on floor exercise and according to coach Nelligan, "has the tricks to potentially break into the bar lineup." Kelsey Nelligan trained with the prestigious Hill Gymnastics club and will bring valuable experience to the squad.

As the newest addition to the coaching staff, Vicki Chliszczyk brings international coaching experience to this Terp squad. Chliszczyk was the Gymnastics Program Director at the prestigious Woodward Gymnastics camp for two years and has been part of the staff since 2001. She trained within the Canadian National Coaching Certificate Program which is an in-depth training system for coaches. She managed a gymnastics coaching staff of 30 coaches and over 200 gymnasts, including many on the elite level. Her spotting abilities will be a tremendous asset to coach Nelligan and his staff.

Brett Nelligan returns for his third 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. Nelligan's main duties include coaching vault and floor exercise which was Maryland's most consistent event last season. He is relied on for spotting and recently added recruiting to his responsibilities as he hit the road this summer in search of the Terps 2006-07 freshmen class.

Maryland will begin the 2006 season at home where they will host James Madsion and Bridgeport on January 7. The Terps then face the defending National Champions, Georgia Bulldogs on the road on January 14. Maryland hopes to begin the season in Athens and return there for the NCAA Regionals. Coach Nelligan knows this will be a challenge for his squad. "The Georgia program is a benchmark for excellence. It will show how much progress we have made and whether our juniors and seniors have the leadership and skills necessary to compete against the best".

The Terps travel to Illinois to take on the fighting Illini on January 21. It is only the second time these teams have faced each other. Maryland travels to EAGL champion North Carolina on Jan. 29 for a quad meet with the Tarheels, Kentucky Wildcats and James Madison Dukes.

The 11th annual Governor's Cup will return to Maryland on Feb. 4 when the Terps and Towson team up to take on North Carolina and North Carolina State. The state of Maryland will be looking to avenge the state of North Carolina's victory in 2005. The squad will travel to Pittsburgh for a quad meet with Ohio State and SUNY Brockport on Feb. 11. They will then host Pittsburgh the following week on Feb. 17. The Terps travel to Washington, D.C. on February 21, to take on the George Washington Colonials who are in their second season in the EAGL Conference. The Terps split with the Colonials in regular seasom meets last year and will face them four times in 2006.

Maryland will get a good look at three EAGL opponents when it heads to Raleigh, North Carolina for a quad meet with NC State, New Hampshire and George Washington on March 17. It will be the final tune-up before the Terps compete at EAGL Championships at Rutgers University on March 25. The Terps look to return to NCAA Southeast Regionals which will be held on April 8 at the University of Georgia and then on to the NCAA championships at Oregon State University.