Nov. 18, 2009

Signees Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Four recruits officially signed National Letters of Intent to attend and compete for the Maryland gymnastics program head coach Brett Nelligan announced today. Karen Tang (Agawam, Mass.), Ebony Walters (Silver Spring, Md.), Katy Dodds (Gaithersburg, Md.), and Elizabethe Manzi (Fair Lawn, N.J.) will all compete as Terrapins in the 2010-11 year.

In his first year at the helm of the Terrapin program, Nelligan has signed one of the most successful and largest classes in program history. The four signees include two current Junior Olympic National event champions and multiple regional and state title holders.

"I am very excited to welcome Karen, Ebony, Katy and Elizabethe to campus next fall," Nelligan said. "This is easily one of our best recruiting classes ever."

Tang, who trains at Tim Daggett's Gold Medal Gymnastics in Agawam, Mass., won the floor exercise at the 2009 national championships. She also finished sixth on vault and tied for 14th place in the all-around. Hailing from Region 6, Tang has won her Regional Championships four out of the last five years.

"Karen Tang is an incredibly talented gymnast and an immediate all-around threat. She has an extremely high degree of difficulty on all four events," Nelligan said. "Karen was highly recruited and is regarded as one of the top recruits in the nation."

Walters hails from the D.C.-metro area and trains at Apollo Gymnastics in Woodbridge, Va. Named The Washington Post's 2007-08 Gymnast of the Year, the 12-year gymnast was balance beam champion at the 2009 regional championships. High placings in vault (4th) and uneven bars 6th) helped her finish top-five in the all-around. At the 2009 nationals, Walters finished sixth on the vault. In high school competition, she was named an Elite All-American in all four events and her Bethesda-Chevy Chase high school team has been undefeated since 2006.

"We are extremely excited to have her on board for the 2010-2011 season," Nelligan said. "Ebony is another top notch all-arounder with explosive power on all four events."

Dodds, who trains at the nearby Hill's Gymnastic Training Center, won 2009 state championship titles on vault and balance beam, and also earned top three finishes on floor exercise and uneven bars. Her score helped her finish second in the all-around. In regional competition, she finished second on vault and fourth in the all-around. At nationals, Dodds finished top ten in vault.

"Katy is a powerful gymnast and one of the top vaulters in the country. She comes from one of the best club gyms on the east coast and has learned under a true legend in women's gymnastics, Kelli Hill. Katy will make an immediate impact on vault, bars, and floor exercise."

Manzi, a top student in the classroom, trains at North Stars Gymnastics Academy in Boonton, N.J. She is the reigning national balance beam champion, a title she recently won at the 2009 Junior olympic national championships in Seattle. At the 2006 nationals, she finished second on the uneven bars and third in the all-around.

"Elizabethe has a grace and beauty on beam and floor that is unlike anything I've ever seen," Nelligan said. "My staff and I were in awe as we witnessed Elizabethe claim the national beam title this past year."

The 2009-2010 Terrapins are currently preparing for their annual Red vs. Black Intrasquad meet, which will be held on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Comcast Pavilion. The first competition for this year's Terps is Jan. 8 at Louisiana State, who finished fifth at last year's National Championships.