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Former Georgia standout Talya Vexler is the newest addition to Maryland gymnastics, joining head coach Bob Nelligan and assistant Brett Nelligan. Vexler brings valuable experience to the Terps this season.
Vexler, a four year letterwinner (1999-2002) at the University of Georgia, won a National Championship in 1999 and SEC Conference Championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001. She earned first team All-American honors in 2000 and 2002 and was a NCAA North Central Regional Co-Floor Champion in 2002. "We're very Fortunate to be able to hire a bright, young coach with a wealth of knowledge from her time at the University of Georgia," Nelligan said. "We are looking forward to learning from her knowledge of Georgia's success. She brings a different level of accomplishment to our program with her National Championship experience."
Vexler's first season at Georgia (1999) was plagued by injuries but she managed to compete on beam in seven meets. She earned a career-best 9.875 on beam vs. Auburn and Kentucky.
The 2000 season was Vexler's breakout year at Georgia. She excelled on the floor exercise, scoring a 9.9 or higher in 11 meets. She had a superb performance at the NCAA Championships, posting a first-place finish on floor (9.900) and a third-place finish on beam (9.825) during preliminary competition and a 9.8 on beam and a 9.9 on floor in the NCAA Super Six. Vexler competed in two events at the NCAA Individual Championships, finishing fourth on floor and sixth on beam. She was a 2000 Region 6 Floor Champion and served as Georgia's lead-off performer on beam. Vexler earned several postseason awards after her sophomore season. She earned first team All-America honors on both balance beam and floor exercise, was a 2000 Academic All-SEC selection and second team All-SEC selection. Vexler ended the regular season ranked number 8 on floor exercise.
During the 2001 season, Vexler emerged as one of Georgia's most consistent gymnasts on beam. She scored a 9.85 or higher on beam nine times in 2001. She also competed on the floor exercise, averaging a 9.820 on that event. She scored a 9.875 on two occasions. Vexler earned second team All-America honors on the balance beam and was a member of the SEC honor roll.
The 2002 season saw Vexler match an all-time career high 9.9 on beam at Michigan. She had a brilliant meet on senior night vs. LSU, scoring a 9.8 on bars, placing third on beam with a 9.875 and on floor with a season-high 9.9. She tied for second on floor with 9.900 at the SEC Championships, tying a season-high set at the previous meet (LSU). Vexler shared the NCAA North Central Regional Floor Title with teammate Marline Stephens, matching a season-high 9.95 on that event. She was the highest scoring floor performer for Georgia at the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Championships with a 9.9 and finished tied for fourth on floor at the Individual Event Finals. She garnered first team All-America honors on the floor exercise.
In February 2003, while finishing up her degree at Georgia, Vexler was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and has been cancer-free since August, 2003. She has been a spokesperson for breast cancer research and continues to support that cause.
Despite being treated for cancer, Vexler graduated from Georgia in 2003 with a degree in business Administration. Prior to accepting the position of Interim Assistant Coach at Maryland, she worked for the Cintas Corporation in their management training program.
Originally from Amherst, Mass., Vexler comes from a family of gymnasts. Her parents competed at the University of Massachusetts, older brother Aaron competed at Temple and her younger brother Luke is a freshman on the Temple gymnastics team. Her uncle was a member of the Penn State gymnastics team and her grandmother was an alternate to the 1948 Olympic team.
