March 20, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. - Six University of Maryland gymnasts were honored with a dozen awards by the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) at the annual league championships banquet Friday evening.

Junior Brandi George (uneven bars, balance beam and all-around), sophomore Abbey Adams (uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around) received three All-EAGL first-team nominations apiece. Juniors Michele Brenner (floor exercise) and Talia Tossone (balance beam) and freshman Kyra Phillips (vault) also were named to the league's first team in their respective top events.

The Terrapins' All-EAGL second team recipients included Adams (vault), George (floor exercise) and sophomore Kaitlin Joseph, who received the first league honor of her career for her performance on uneven bars during 12 regular season meets.

George and Adams have served as catalysts for the Terps' success all season. The duo combined for 20 individual event titles this season and ranks third (39.115 RQS) and tied for sixth (38.930), respectively, in the EAGL on all-around.

Phillips, a first-year gymnast from Murrieta, Calif., ranks tied for eighth in the league on vault (9.830 RQS). Tossone stands ninth in the EAGL on balance beam (9.800), and Brenner ranks 10th on floor exercise (9.810)

Joseph led the team on bars twice during the regular season and finished second in the event during a dual meet with Kent State on Jan. 9. She scored 9.750 or higher six times during her last seven meets.

"These league honors are a testament to our hard work and dedication before and during the season," head coach Bob Nelligan said. "I'm very proud of our entire team, and especially these six gymnasts."

For George, it marks the third consecutive season she has garnered first-team honors on balance beam and all-around. Tossone and Brenner both became repeat recipients of first-team awards with their 2009 nominations.

The first-team nominations were awarded on the basis of accumulating one of the top Regional Qualifying Scores (RQS) in the EAGL in a particular event. Second-team honors were voted on by the head coach of each EAGL squad.

Seeking its first National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championships berth in five years, Maryland (13-9, 8-3 EAGL) competes in the 14th annual East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championships at 3 p.m. Saturday in NC State's Reynolds Coliseum. The eight-team league meet also consists of No. 20 West Virginia, host NC State, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Pittsburgh, George Washington and Rutgers.