March 25, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Three Maryland Gymnasts received awards at the 2006 East Atlantic Gymnastics League awards dinner, held Friday night at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Piscataway, N.J.

Rachel Martinez received five conference awards, including first team All-EAGL on floor exercise and all-around and second team All-EAGL on vault, uneven bars and balance beam. Rachel Colon was named first team All-EAGL on balance beam and surpassed last year's second team honor. She was also named second team All-EAGL honors in all-around. Angie Ferg earned conference honors for the first time in her career, with an All-EAGL second team award on vault.

The 11 Terps named to the EAGL All-Academic team were also honored at the banquet, including five-time winner Mandy Pascual and four-time winner Rebecca Ruppert. Martinez was also recognized for receiving EAGL Gymnast of the Week during the season (January 10).

The EAGL Gymnast of the Year was given to North Carolina's Courtney Bumpers. Bumpers was also named Outstanding Senior gymnast. The EAGL Scholar-Athlete of the Year was given to Rutgers' Beth Fittery and West Virginia's Mehgan Morris was named EAGL Rookie of the Year.

Maryland will compete in the 2006 EAGL Conference Championships Saturday at 6 p.m. at Rutgers University. The Terps need a high team score in order to qualify for NCAA Regionals.