Jan. 23, 2009
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Bolstered by an impressive team effort and a pair of standout all-around performances, the University of Maryland gymnastics squad claimed its best overall score in nearly two years in defeating two highly-touted opponents in a home tri-meet Friday evening.
The Terrapins' team score of 194.450 bested 17th-ranked Denver (193.200) and fellow East Atlantic Gymnastics League member NC State (192.075), and represents the Terps' best mark since totaling a score of 194.700 in a home tri-meet on Feb. 23, 2007. Maryland (3-1) has beaten at least three of its first four opponents for the first time since the regional-qualifying 1999 squad reeled off six straight wins to start that season.
Led by a pair of individual victories by both junior Brandi George and sophomore Abbey Adams, the Terps enjoyed their best collective performance of the season on their final three events Friday in the Comcast Center Pavilion - uneven bars (48.500), balance beam (48.700) and floor exercise (48.700).
"They seem to be gelling and maturing right in front of us," head coach Bob Nelligan said of his squad after earning the 479th and 480th victories of his career. "But I think it's not just the athletes - it's the entire program from the coaching staff to the trainers on down. It goes without saying that I am extremely proud of all of them."
George (39.125) and Adams (career-high 38.775) finished first and second, respectively, in the all-around competition, with George taking the individual balance beam title (9.850) and Adams claiming victory on uneven bars (career-high 9.800) and floor exercise (9.800). Yet the Terps' dynamic duo was far from alone in registering strong performances.
Maryland, which remains undefeated at home this season (3-0), displayed remarkable consistency by hitting on all four events without having any counted falls or posting an individual score lower than 9.175. Junior Candice King opened the meet by sticking her landing on vault, and sophomore Kelsey McDermid posted a career-best score of 9.700 on uneven bars in the ensuing event.
Juniors Talia Tossone (9.825 on balance beam) and Michele Brenner (9.775 on floor exercise) finished tied for second and third in their respective top events to help secure the victory. Freshman Becca Pang (9.750 on balance beam) added the best score of her young career.
In all, nine Terrapin gymnastics notched at least one season-high score during Friday's sweep of the Pioneers and Wolfpack.
"This was an outstanding performance, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into our upcoming meets," Nelligan said.
The Terps return to action at 7 p.m. next Saturday, Jan. 31, when they commence a four-meet road trip by travelling to Morgantown, W.Va., for a quad-meet against host West Virginia, George Washington and Rutgers. Each of those three opponents is a fellow member of the EAGL.
