COLLEGE PARK, MD — In the 2023-24 season, Maryland gymnastics will celebrate its 50th year of competition, as the GymTerps hope to continue building momentum for the program into the future.
 
"This year marks an incredible milestone in the history of our program and stands as a testament to the progress we have made for women in sport. Our women achieve incredible success in the gym and the classroom and have gone on to be national and global leaders. Maryland has always been a champion in its support for women's athletics and I can't wait to see what we accomplish in the next 50!"
 
From the early years in the 1970s until the present day, the brand of Maryland gymnastics has steadily grown into being a consistent qualifier for NCAA Regionals, where the Terps have qualified for postseason competition in the last five seasons.
 
The team's first year of action came in 1973-74, when head coach Patricia Long assembled a roster of seven student-athletes to practice in the annex gym of Cole Field House. Four head coaches and 49 years later, the Terps fielded a roster of 22 gymnasts that competed on the XFINITY Center court during the 2022-23 season.
 
"I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to be a Division I female athlete at a Big Ten school," senior Alexa Rothenbuescher said. "So much history has been made by women in sports, and it's essential to acknowledge and appreciate what those have done before us. And all the women across the world, including myself, are also continuing the growth of women in sports and inspiring young girls to get involved and push past adversity and stereotypes, and that is something that fuels my competitive drive and allows me to have confidence out on the competition floor."
 
Last season, Maryland put together one of its best seasons in program history. In 2023, the Terps recorded three of the team's top-10 scores of all time, topping out with the team's sixth-ever score above 197.000 with a 197.100 at the Maryland Five Meet on March 12. The season concluded with Maryland's highest-ever NCAA Regional score, finishing with a 196.675 at the NCAA Pittsburgh Regional.
 
The 2023-24 season will serve as a celebration of the progress the program has made since its inception, and the current gymnasts are grateful for the pioneers who established Maryland gymnastics 50 years ago.
 
"This celebration shows huge growth and a step in the right direction for gender equality within sports," senior Olivia Weir said. "Since Title IX, women in sports have had the opportunity to help female athletes of the future defy all gender stereotypes and create representation to inspire up-and-coming female athletes of future generations. I want to be able to do that and inspire young girls to have the confidence to dream big and to never give up."