Oct. 2, 2008
2009 Maryland Gymnastics Schedule
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- Preparing for his 31st and final season at the helm of the University of Maryland gymnastics program, head coach Bob Nelligan announced his team's 2009 schedule Thursday.
The Terps are slated to play host to six home meets during the 2009 campaign, including a regular season finale quad meet on March 14 versus Yale, Penn State and Arizona - the latter two of whom finished among the top-25 in the final 2008 national rankings.
In all, Maryland will participate in a dozen challenging meets prior to the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championships scheduled for March 21 at NC State.
"I am speaking for the staff and athletes when I say that we have a challenging schedule and believe that we will be up to the task this season," coach Nelligan said.
Following the annual `Red vs. Black' intra-squad meet near the end of the 2008 calendar year, the Terps kick off the upcoming season with a home meet against Kent State on Jan. 9 before taking to the road to face nationally-ranked Ohio State on Jan. 17.
A home meet with fellow EAGL member NC State and Denver on Jan. 23 precedes a quad meet on Jan. 31 hosted by reigning EAGL champion West Virginia.
The 14th annual Governor's Cup, which pits Maryland and Towson against NC State and North Carolina in a battle for state bragging rights, will be held Feb. 7 in Raleigh, N.C. That meet begins a stretch in which the Terps participate in three road meets in a span of nine days, also competing against Pittsburgh, Kent State and Central Michigan during that span.
Maryland returns to College Park for a meet against New Hampshire on Feb. 20 before traveling westward to face Iowa on Feb. 28. Home meets with Temple and league opponents North Carolina and Pittsburgh are on tap before the Terps wrap up their regular season with the highly-anticipated March 14 home quad meet.
The Terps, who return eight letterwinners from last season, finished fifth at the 2008 EAGL Championships after posting season-high event scores on vault and floor exercise. Current juniors Michele Brenner, Allison Dama, Brandi George and Talia Tossone each qualified for the 2008 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
The Terrapins, whose lone senior on the 2009 squad is Kelsey Nelligan, are currently conducting preseason practices in preparation for the upcoming season.
