Maryland
TOWSON, UNIVERSITY OF PENN
Maryland Defeats Penn and Towson in Season Opener
1/13/2007 7:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 13, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland gymnastics team defeated the University of Pennsylvania Quakers and the Towson Tigers in their season opener at home by scoring a 191.750. Towson placed second, scoring a 189.325; Penn turned in a 181.825 to finish third.
The Terps' impressive total team score of is almost two and a half points higher their 2006 season-opening score of 189.300. The team's success was due in large to the freshmen's contribution; 12 of the 20 counting scores were turned in by this class.
To hear more about the meet, read sophomore Kim Loew's edition of Terps Tumble Talk
Maryland will face two East Atlantic Gymnastics League members when they travel to the University of Pittsburgh next Friday, January 19th, to compete in a quad meet with Pitt, Michigan State and West Virginia.
Vault
The Terps'vault was affected by injuries as they were not able to put up their ideal line-up with all 10.0 start value vaults. However, their final two competitors, Angela Ferg and Brandi George competed strong full-twisting Yurchenko vaults. Ferg led the team on vault by scoring a 9.825, tying Towson's Christina Ghani for first place. George turned in Maryland's second highest vault score with a 9.750.
Uneven Bars
The uneven bars was Maryland's strongest event of the evening with an event score of 48.275. Freshman Margaux Meeks set the team by nailing her routine and scoring a 9.775. Meeks' routine included a Schaposchnikova, higgins to a straddle back handstand and back giant with a full turn to a double tuck dismount. Michele Brenner turned in a clean routine (9.450) that included a cast to handstand hop, front giant with a half turn to a Pak salto. Candice King slightly struggled on bars, hitting the bar with her foot on her Tkatchev. Rachel Colon finished third with a 9.800; her routine included an uprise handstand with a half turn to a giant with a half turn to a Geinger. Brandi George suffered two falls on bars. One of the night's highlight routine for the Terps came from freshman Allison Dama. Recovering from surgery that had rod inserted into her shin, Dama nailed her routine of a giant full, Tkatchev, straddle back to handstand to toe-shoot to the high bar. She dismounted with a half in- half out and placed second with a 9.825.
Beam
Despite tight judging, the Terps freshman Brandi George and Talia Tossone were outstanding on beam; they both nailed highly difficult routines. Freshman Brandi George won beam (9.650) by nailing a highly difficult routine that included the George I (gainer front aerial) and the George II (gainer side somi); back handspring layout stepout and a round off double back dismount. Tossone displayed a very solid routine of a punch front; back handspring layout step-out; front aerial, a switch leap - one-arm back handspring - tuck jump full combination. Junior Gretchen Kittelberger tied Tossone for second with a 9.500. Unfortunately the team suffered a falls from both senior co-captains, Ferg and Colon.
Floor
Just like on the balance beam, Maryland swept the top three positions on floor. Morgan Fishbein scored a 9.725 for first. Fishbein tumbled a two and half twist; whip half to front full; double tuck dismount. Angela Ferg finished second with a 9.700 and Brandi George turned in a 9.650. George mounted with a double pike and dismounted with a double tuck. The Terps' floor total was a 48.175.
