COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 8 Maryland gymnastics team earned 196.125 to win their home opener against Iowa. The Terrapins are now 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Big Ten.
"They're doing things we've never done before," said head coach Brett Nelligan. "Back-to-back meets to open the season, going 24 for 24 back-to-back, scoring 196 plus, and being 1-0 in the conference, you can't ask for a better start than that."
Through two meets, the Terps have earned 196.125s or higher, continuing the best start in program history.
Junior
Audrey Barber set a program-high individual score on bars earning a perfect 10 and a 9.900 from the judges to bring her final score to a 9.950. Barber also broke her own floor record earning a 9.925 landing all her passes beautifully. She took home the all-around title with a season-best 39.425.
"She has a mental toughness, she's on a whole other level this year," said Nelligan. "She knows how to be laser-focused in the toughest of situations and she has developed that in the last couple of years."
Maryland started the meet on vault with a team score of 48.725. Maryland made a strong comeback in their second rotation led off by freshman
Aleka Tsiknias who earned her career-high 9.850 in the event. Tsiknias' score was matched by fellow freshman
Emma Silberman who also notched a career-best in the event. Senior
Tiara Wright matched her season-best 9.825 while Barber anchored with her program-high 9.950. The Terrapins set a season-best 49.275 score in the event, hoisting themselves to the No. 9 bars team in the nation.
The GymTerps earned a 48.850 on beam with an impressive performance by Wright who earned a 9.825.
The Terrapins entered the final floor rotation down 146.950 - 146.850. With stunning performances from all six gymnasts. Freshmen
Reese McClure and
Aleka Tsiknias earned career-high 9.850s. Junior
Sabriyya Rouse matched her career-best 9.875 with her energy-filled number while Barber blew the judges away earning the team-high 9.925. Maryland's strong floor performance launched the Terps to first place earning a floor score of 49.275, the highest of the year.
Top Terps:
Vault: 9.775 – Barber, Rubio
Bars: Barber – 9.950
Beam: Wright – 9.825
Floor: Barber – 9.925
All-Around: Barber – 39.425
Maryland will return to action Saturday, January 25 at 4:00 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio where they will face the No. 22 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The meet will be available to stream on BTN+.
– Maryland –
