Jan. 6, 2008

The Maryland gymnastics team enters 2008 with confidence that the disappointments and struggles of last season are behind them. Injuries played a huge role in 2007, which resulted in a lack of depth in the team's line-ups. This season, the fourteen Terps are strong, relatively healthy and deep on all events.

The 2008 season is also head coach Bob Nelligan's thirtieth at the helm of the gymnastics program. "We have the depth and leadership to go far this season," said Nelligan. "Athletic department support and expectations are at an all-time high and we couldn't foresee a better situation then what we currently have. What an opportunity to make our mark. The time is now; the athletes know it and the coaches feel the excitement." The 2008 squad is comprised of two seniors, one junior, six sophomores, and five freshmen. Tri-captains Gretchen Kittelberger, Lindsey Bonomo and Kelsey Nelligan are poised to lead this young team back to a Regional birth. "As captains and the only upper classmen on a relatively young team, we are really focusing on setting a standard of excellence this year for the team to live up to. With the talent we have, we expect to have a very successful season culminating in a strong showing at Regionals that puts us in contention for the National Championships," said Kittelberger.

Kittelberger, a senior and the 2007 EAGL Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was named most improved at last season's team banquet as she emerged as an all-around competitor once again. Bonomo, a senior, competed on the vault in eleven meets and also saw action on the floor exercise as a junior. She will contend for a spot on the balance beam line-up this season. Nelligan, a junior, did not see action last year but trained vault and received "Team Mom" award at team banquet for taking good care of the six freshmen. She will likely compete vault in the exhibition spot.

The sophomore class gained much experience last year as freshmen by turning in over fifty percent of the counting scores at all meets. Reigning EAGL Rookie of the Year, Brandi George had a stellar freshman season. She qualified individually to the 2007 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in the all-around, was named to first team All-EAGL in the balance beam, floor exercise and all-around and also earned second team All-EAGL honors on the vault. In addition, George was selected as the EAGL Rookie of the Week twice. Talia Tossone qualified to the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship on the balance beam last season as well as receiving second team All-EAGL honors on the balance beam. She saw action in several meets on floor and will contend for a line-up spot on the event this season. Allison Dama earned second team All-EAGL on the uneven bars and competed in the anchor position at all meets. She scored a 9.725 or better eight times. She is expected to see action on other events this season. Candice King scored the Terps' only 9.900 of the season on Feb. 8 against George Washington competing on the vault. She was named EAGL Specialist of the Week once and competed on vault and uneven bars in all meets. King is training hard to be considered for the balance beam line-up. Michele Brenner competed on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise in all 12 meets. Her highest score on the season was a 9.825 on the beam. Margaux Meeks competed on the vault and uneven bars in the first seven meets before suffering an injury. Meeks recovered well during the preseason and should be ready to compete on uneven bars and balance beam.

Maryland's freshman class consists of Abigail Adams (Spring, Texas), Kaitlin Joseph (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Kelsey McDermid (Woodbine, Md.), Alyssa Valbert (Naperville, Ill.), red-shirt freshman transfer Lisa Reifschneider (Monrovia, Md.). Adams, a two-year U.S. International Elite competitor, and Joseph, a four-time Junior Olympic National qualifier, both will contend to compete in the all-around. McDermid, coached by Olympic coach Kelli Hill, hopes to action on all events during the season. Valbert, a two-time Junior Olympic national qualifier, will likely make line-up on vault, uneven bars and floor. Reifschneider, a transfer, was a top recruit for Maryland in 2006, but elected to go to Denver. She looks to see action on uneven bars and floor exercise.

Nelligan's assistants balance out the team. "Vicki and Brett are both great technicians and are important to the success of this program." Assistant coach Vicki Chliszczyk returns for her third season after directing the Terps on beam last season. In addition to primarily coaching beam, Vicki assists on all events as well as routine construction. Brett Nelligan returns for his fifth season as an assistant coach and second as recruiting coordinator. Nelligan's main duties, include coaching vault and tumbling.

Maryland will begin the 2008 season with two meets at home. The Terps will host Ohio State on January 11 and West Virginia on January 18. After their home-openers, the team hits the road for six of the next seven meets. On January 27, Maryland travels to Texas Woman's University for a quad meet joined by Denver and Air Force. Maryland next travels to Towson to compete in the thirteenth annual Governor's Cup on February 1. This competition between schools from Maryland and North Carolina features Maryland, Towson, North Carolina and NC State. The state of North Carolina has a 7-5 lead in the series. The Terps then travel to Michigan State on February 9 before returning home on February 15 to host local rival George Washington. This is the "Think Pink Meet" and is dedicated to raising donations and understanding for breast cancer research. The Terps go back on the road to New Hampshire on February 24. The ladies travel to the University of North Carolina for a quad meet on March 1 with William and Mary and the University of New Hampshire. On March 9, Maryland travels to George Washington for a quad meet with West Virginia and Kent State. Maryland's final home meet will be a quad meet with Michigan, Pittsburgh and Temple. March 15 will be alumni and senior recognition night as well. The regular season ends at Penn State in a quad meet with Nebraska and Rutgers on March 21. Following the completion of the regular season, Maryland will travel to West Virginia for the EAGL Championships on March 29.

Then Terps look to compete at one of the six NCAA Regional Championship sites on April 12 for the first time since 2004. Qualification to the NCAA Regional meet will be a straight formula for the Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) counting the top six scores, with at least three of those from away meets, dropping the highest score and averaging the remaining five. When the RQS is determined the top 36 teams will qualify to the NCAA Regional meets with the top 18 seeded into the six sites. The NCAA National Championships will feature the top two teams from each of the Regional meets, the top two individual all-arounders, who are not part of an advancing team, and any individual Regional event winners who are not part of a team or an all-around qualifier. The 2008 NCAA Championship will be held from April 24 -26 at the University of Georgia.