March 29, 2010

University Park Regional central

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland gymnastics team earned the No. 4-seed in the University Park region of the 2010 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships. The Terrapins will compete Saturday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at Penn State University.

The Terps will compete in the NCAA Regionals for the 16th time in school history. Maryland is returning to the NCAA Regionals for the second consecutive year. The Terrapins last made back-to-back appearances in 2003 and 2004.

"We're excited to be selected to the NCAA Regionals. It's a well-deserved opportunity to showcase the talents and strengths of this team amongst post-season competition," head coach Brett Nelligan said. "The team has competed hard all season, putting us into the position we're in now. All we need to do is focus on the details and walk into the meet feeling confident."

The other teams in Maryland's region include No. 1-seed Oklahoma, No. 2-seed, Louisiana State, No. 3-seed Penn State, No. 5-seed Ohio State, as well as the Terrapins' East Atlantic Gymnastics League opponent New Hampshire who will compete as the No. 6 seed.

"Earning a No. 4-seed is a great reflection of the hard work this team has put in all year," Nelligan said.

Five of the eight EAGL teams were included in the spread of 36 in the team competition, including North Carolina, West Virginia and North Carolina State. Pittsburgh and George Washington will be represented by individual competitors.

The Terrapins are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in recent team history. They achieved their highest team score in six years, 195.825, two weeks ago in a home quad meet against No. 16 Auburn, Yale and George Washington.

In the EAGL championships last weekend, junior Abigail Adams claimed a share of the all-around title with her score of 39.325.

Maryland placed athletes on nine of the ten EAGL first and second teams and freshman Kesley Cofsky was named the league's Rookie of the Year along with Pittsburgh's Meaghan Biros. Assistant coach Vicki Chliszczyk was named the league's Assistant Coach of the Year, along with New Hampshire's Ed Datti.

MARYLAND CLAIMS 14 SPOTS ON EAGL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS

The Maryland gymnastics team earned 14 spots on the 10 East Atlantic Gymnastics League All-Tournament teams. The Terps were represented on eight of the 10 teams.

Junior Abigail Adams was named to all five first teams - vault, uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise and the all-around. Adams earned a share of the EAGL all-around crown in a three-way tie with North Carolina's Kara Wright and N.C. State's Taylor Seaman.

Freshman Kesley Cofsky made the first team on bars and second team on vault and floor exercise. Junior Kaitlin Joseph was named to the league's first team on uneven bars, as she tied her career-high 9.850 in Saturday's meet. Freshman Ally Krikorian earned a spot on vault's second team.

Seniors Michele Brenner and Brandi George were named to the beam's first team, while fellow senior Talia Tossone was named to the second team. George was also named to the EAGL second team in the all-around.