March 23, 2009

Season Stats

INDIANAPOLIS - The University of Maryland gymnastics team has secured a berth in the 2009 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championships, the NCAA announced Monday.

The No. 35 Terrapins represent one of six teams who will compete in the Northeast Regional at 7 p.m. EST April 4 in the University of Alabama's Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. No. 3 Alabama, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 15 Missouri, No. 32 Central Michigan and No. 35 New Hampshire also earned bids to compete as full-teams in the Northeast Regional, as did nine individual qualifiers from other teams on the basis of their Regional Qualifying Scores (RQS).

Maryland (15-14) currently ranks tied for No. 35 with New Hampshire in the Troester National Poll with a team RQS of 194.625. The top 36 teams in the nation qualified for regional competition. The Terps have advanced to regionals for the 19th time under head coach Bob Nelligan and the first time since 2004.

The announcement extends Nelligan's coaching career by at least one meet. Nelligan, who garnered East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Coach of the Year honors at last Saturday's EAGL Championships, intends to retire following the conclusion of the 2009 season after a memorable 31-year career that has featured 493 victories and 19 winning seasons. He will be replaced by his son, associate head coach Brett Nelligan.

"It goes without saying that I am extremely proud of our team," Bob Nelligan said. "We have persevered all season long and shown a lot of heart, and we have earned the right to compete at the next level. This is certainly the best retirement gift I could ever ask for."

During the 2009 season, the Terps claimed their first top-25 national ranking since 2005, as well as their best overall score (195.100) in nearly four years. Maryland's team mark of 194.525 in last Saturday's EAGL Championships represents the squad's best in the annual league meet since 2005. That score boosted Maryland's team RQS by three-hundredths of a point, enabling the team to qualify for regional competition.

Following a span of 13 meets in the last 11 weeks, the Terrapins now have nearly two weeks to prepare for the 28th Annual National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships.

2009 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championships - April 4

West Region - in Seattle, Washington (University of Washington, host)
1. Utah
2. Auburn
3. Illinois
4. Boise State
5. Washington
6. San Jose State

North Central Region - in Iowa City, Iowa (University of Iowa, host)
1. Florida
2. UCLA
3. Minnesota
4. Denver
5. Iowa State
6. Iowa

South Central Region - in Fayetteville, Arkansas (University of Arkansas, host)
1. Stanford
2. Arkansas
3. Michigan
4. Arizona
5. Arizona State
6. Southern Utah

Central Region - in Columbus, Ohio (The Ohio State University, host)
1. LSU
2. Oregon State
3. Ohio State
4. Kent State
5. Kentucky
6. Michigan State

Northeast Region - in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (University of Alabama, host)
1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Missouri
4. Central Michigan
5. New Hampshire
6. Maryland

Southeast Region - in Raleigh, North Carolina (North Carolina State University, host)
1. Georgia
2. Penn State
3. Nebraska
4. West Virginia
5. North Carolina State
6. North Carolina