March 23, 2010

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman Ally Krikorian of the Maryland gymnastics team was named the East Atlantic Gymnastics League's Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week. This is the third time this year Krikorian has earned the Rookie of the Week honor. Heading into the EAGL championships this week, she leads the conference in vault.

Tuesday, the Terrapins competed against EAGL opponents North Carolina and George Washington and Saturday, they hosted a quad meet of No. 17 Auburn, Yale and George Washington. In the team's two meets last week, Krikorian won the vault competition in both with scores of 9.900 and tied for first in the floor exercise competition in the meet against George Washington, Yale and Auburn.

"Earning Rookie of the Week honors for the third time is a great accomplishment. Ally has been very focused on her goals in the gym and it's really starting to pay off," head coach Brett Nelligan said.

Krikorian has become one of the Terps' vault specialists over the course of the season, and is averaging 9.839 over the season. In the event, she has earned seven scores of 9.800 or higher in Maryland's 11 meets. She has earned scores of 9.900 in the Terrapins' last three meets.

She has competed in floor exercise in the last four meets, as well as the first meet of the year, and averages 9.625 in the event. Last weekend, in the quad meet, Krikorian earned a career high 9.850.

This is the sixth time this season a Terrapin rookie has been honored with the conference's weekly award. Kesley Cofsky has been honored three times as well.

"Winning Rookie of the Week six times this season really shows the strength of our freshman class. The future is bright for the Terps," Nelligan said.

The Terps head to Durham, N.H. for the EAGL championships this weekend, Saturday, March 27 at 2 p.m. As they head north, they are ranked second in the conference overall, second on vault and lead the league on beam.

"I think we are in a good place right now heading into the EAGL championships. We're coming off a great performance this past weekend and the girls' confidence is high. With a few focused practices this week we should be ready to go," Nelligan said.

Log on to umterps.com for updated information on the Terps' trip to the championships this weekend.