April 4, 2009
Complete Results
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The University of Maryland gymnastics team concluded its 2009 season and the memorable career of head coach Bob Nelligan by competing in the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championships Saturday evening in the University of Alabama's Coleman Coliseum.
The No. 35 Terrapins, who were one of only 36 teams in the nation to qualify for regional competition, posted a team score of 192.800 Saturday to finish sixth in the Northeast Region. No. 1 Alabama won with a score of 197.000 followed by No. 9 Oklahoma (196.600), No. 15 Missouri (196.000), No. 32 Central Michigan (194.925) and No. 35 New Hampshire (193.650). By virtue of their first and second-place team finishes, the Crimson Tide and Sooners advance as full squads to the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships April 16-18 in Lincoln, Neb.
As has been the case all season, all-around performers Brandi George and Abbey Adams led the way for Maryland at the 2009 NCAA Regional Championships, posting the team's top two individual scores. George, a junior from Orlando, Fla., scored a 9.800 on balance beam to finish tied for 13th out of 42 competitors, and Adams, a sophomore from Spring, Texas, notched an equivalent mark on uneven bars to place tied for 11th.
The Terps began the competition on balance beam, enjoying a strong team effort to claim an overall score of 48.525. In addition to George, junior Michele Brenner (9.750) and Adams (9.725) both eclipsed 9.700 in the team's meet-opening event, which has performed all season under the guidance of assistant coach Vicki Chliszczyk.
After a bye during the second rotation, Maryland performed on floor exercise, where Brenner paced the team with a score of 9.750 and freshman Kyra Phillips added a mark of 9.700. The ensuing vault rotation saw the Terps secure a team score of 48.500. Phillips earned a top-15 finish with a score of 9.750, while Adams (9.725), George (9.700) and junior Talia Tossone (9.675) also contributed to the team's effort.
Maryland concluded the meet on uneven bars, where Adams and George (9.750) led the team once again. The same duo competed in the all-around competition, with George posting a score 38.425 and Adams a mark of 38.075.
For Nelligan, the face of the Terrapins gymnastics program since 1979, the regional performance brings to close a remarkable coaching career at Maryland that spanned 493 victories, 31 seasons, 19 winning campaigns and 19 regional appearances. Nelligan, who is retiring, will be replaced by his son, associate head coach Brett Nelligan.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as head coach here at Maryland all these years, and I'm very proud of my team," Bob Nelligan said. "All but three of our gymnasts competing today had never experienced this level before, and this opportunity served as a great learning experience that will benefit our team in the future."
Saturday's competition also marked the end of the collegiate career for Bob Nelligan's daughter, Kelsey Nelligan, who is the team's lone senior. A team co-captain, Kelsey Nelligan garnered East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) All-Academic honors during each of her four seasons at Maryland.
Maryland's performance at the NCAA Regional Championships caps one of the most successful seasons in recent history for the program. During the 2009 regular 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 during the EAGL Championships on March 21 represents the squad's best in the annual league meet since 2005.
The future looks bright for the Maryland gymnastics program looking ahead to the 2010 season. Despite the loss of Kelsey Nelligan to graduation, the Terps will return 12 letterwinners and boast a senior class consisting of six gymnasts - Brenner, George, Tossone, Allie Dama, Candice King and Margaux Meeks.
