By Eli Davis, Maryland Media Relations
Before becoming one of the most recognizable females in sports journalism, Bonnie Bernstein was competing for the Maryland gymnastics team under the leadership of then-head coach Bob Nelligan.
More than 20 years later, it is Nelligan's son, Brett, who is leading the program as Bernstein took in the second annual Beauty and the Beast – a unique showcase featuring the gymnastics and wrestling teams competing simultaneously on the XFINITY Center floor.
“It's amazing to see how far some of the Olympic sports at Maryland have come in terms of really getting engaged with the community, making a concerted effort to market some of the Olympic sports, so that is really nice to see,” Bernstein said.
Coming back to College Park is not only a pleasure for Bernstein, but also a tremendous learning opportunity for the current team.
“She is one of our favorite alumna. She has done so much,” Nelligan said. “She has been such a great supporter since she has graduated from here. It means so much for us to have her come back and be a part of the event. We hope we are making her proud out here.”
Proud would be an understatement for how the four-time academic All-American feels about her alma mater.
“Whether it is the athletics department and specifically with gymnastics, or the journalism program,” Bernstein said. “For me, the giving back portion of my life is really now. I think about how influential my time here at Maryland was on ultimately where I went career wise, so that has always been important me. I have always taken pride in Maryland.”
Like Bernstein, Nelligan is always looking to the future on how he can leave his own mark following his father's 31-year stint.
“When I took over the program seven years ago, our average attendance was 500 fans,” he said. “Now we are averaging 1,500. Today is over 2,000. The vision that I see, filling up this building, making some ticket revenue, that can really take us to the next level.”
The 2,191 fans in attendance were treated to a pair of great performances. The wrestling team defeated George Mason 31-9 in a match that saw the Terps capture eight consecutive victories.
Despite falling to Rutgers, the gymnastics team posted a team score of 194.425, their second-highest total of the season.
“It is so unique to see two different sports going at the same time. It is a blast,” Nelligan said. “It is great for the fans and it is for the athletes, too, because they are friends, they know each other. It is cool to come out here and compete together.”
