Jan. 9, 2008
The Maryland gymnastics team will begin its 2008 season Friday at home against Ohio State at 7:00 p.m. in the Comcast Pavilion. Admission is free to the public and the team will autograph posters following the competition.
About the Terps
• The Terps return nine members from last year's team, including the 2007 EAGL Rookie of the Year Brandi George and the 2007 EAGL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Gretchen Kittelberger.
• Tri-captains senior Kittelberger, senior Lindsey Bonomo, and junior Kelsey Nelligan are poised to guide the young team that is made up of over 75 percent underclassmen.
• Five newcomers join the team, Abigail Adams (Spring, Texas), Kaitlin Joseph (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Kelsey McDermid (Woodbine, Md.), red-shirt freshman transfer Lisa Reifschneider (Monrovia, Md.), and Alyssa Valbert (Naperville, Ill.).
• During the 2008 season, Maryland will face eight teams that were ranked in the top 25 of the 2008 Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Maryland ended the 2007 season ranked 43rd in the nation and fourth in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League.
• Bob Nelligan guides the team in his 30th season as head coach, the longest tenure among all active Terrapin coaches. Nelligan is assisted by coaches Vicki Chliszczyk (3rd season) and Brett Nelligan (5th season).
About the Buckeyes
• Nine letterwinners from the 2007 squad return this season, including senior Kaylan Clevinger, who qualified for the NCAA championships on uneven bars.
• The Buckeyes are guided by a trio of captains, including Clevinger, senior Maalika Moore-Thomas, and junior Alyssa Meyer.
• The Buckeyes were ranked 20th in the 2008 Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Ohio State ended the 2007 season ranked No. 19; during the past four years the team's national ranking has risen each year.
• Head coach Carey Fagan (4th year) and assistant coach William Lorenz (4th year) lead the Buckeyes in 2008.
A Look Ahead
The Terps will remain at home for another week and face fellow EAGL member West Virginia on Friday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. The Mountaineers were ranked 22nd in the 2008 Preseason Coaches Poll.
