COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The Maryland gymnastics team (0-2, 0-0 B1G) fought hard, but was ultimately edged by West Virginia and George Washington in the inaugural Beauty and the Beast meet Friday evening. Despite individual wins on floor and beam, the Terps could not get past the Mountaineers and Colonials. George Washington triumphed with a final score of 194.325. West Virginia was second with a 193.500 and the Terrapins closely behind with a 193.025.
“Overall I think we are a very good team, we just made a few mistakes,” head coach Brett Nelligan said after the meet, “We had some first-meet nerves, but we got them out of our system. We are going to prepare and come in aggressive next week against Minnesota.”
Friday's competition marked the return of Katy Dodds and Leah Slobodin to the lineup from season-ending injuries in 2014. Freshmen Dominiquea Trotter and Abbie Epperson also made their debut in the Maryland lineup. Friday's loss marks the first home defeat for the GymTerps since February 2012.
The Terps started strong on vault, earning a meet-high team score of 48.975. Kathy Tang registered a second-place individual finish with a 9.825 and Shannonon Skochko and Katy Dodds tied for third on vault with a 9.800.
Maryland uncharacteristically struggled on beam and bars, registering multiple falls, but senior Stephanie Giameo racked up a first-place individual finish on beam with a 9.875. The team finished strong on floor posting a meet-high of 49.100. Kathy Tang, Ebony Walters and George Washington's Chelsea Raineri tied for first on floor with a score of 9.850.
In front of a crowd of 2,091, the GymTerps competed alongside the wrestling team in the inaugural Beauty and the Beast event. Maryland wrestling defeated Harvard 21-18.
“It was an amazing event,” Nelligan said. “Everyone really went above and beyond and it really meant a lot to the student-athletes on both teams.”
The GymTerps return to competition and open their Big Ten slate next Thursday, January 15th at 7 p.m. against #17 Minnesota at the XFINITY Center. Admission is free to the public.
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