COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After posting the team's highest NCAA finish in 14 years in 2015, the Maryland gymnastics team is ready to continue its success with a challenging 2016 schedule, as announced by head coach Brett Nelligan Thursday.

“We had a great first season in the Big Ten, and we're looking to continue improving,” Nelligan said. “We have a lot of exciting meets coming up in 2016, especially in College Park, and we're excited to start competing.”

Six of Maryland's opponents finished the 2014 season ranked by GymInfo, including No. 6 Michigan, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 13 Penn State, No. 14 Illinois, No. 17 Minnesota, No. 19 Arkansas, T-No. 23 Iowa and No. 25 New Hampshire.

The Terps open the season with the annual Red vs. Black intrasquad scrimmage on Dec. 12. Maryland is on the road for the first two weekends of the season, taking on Pittsburgh, Towson and Eastern Michigan on Jan. 10 before opening conference competition at Minnesota on Jan. 16.

The Terps host Penn State in their home opener on Jan. 24 and will take on Iowa in College Park on Jan. 31. After a tri-meet at Michigan against the Wolverines and Eastern Michigan, Maryland returns to XFINITY for the second annual Beauty and the Beast meet on Feb. 14 against Rutgers.

The Terps host Arkansas on Feb. 19 before taking on New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., on Feb. 26. Maryland closes the nonconference schedule against Texas Women's, Pitt, Yale and George Washington on March 6 in College Park.

Maryland finishes the regular season in Columbus, Ohio, for a B1G Five meet on March 12.

The Big Ten Championship will be hosted in Lincoln, Neb., on March 19. The 2016 NCAA Regionals will take place on April 1. The NCAA Championship finals will be held in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 15-17.

The Terps finished 2015 with a 14-5-1 record in their first season in the Big Ten. In Maryland's inaugural Big Ten meet, the Terps upset No. 11 Minnesota, 194.325-193.350. The team finished the season by placing third at the NCAA Gymnastics Regional Championships in Auburn, Ala., Maryland's highest NCAA finish since 2001.

-Maryland-