Coach Brett Nelligan advised his Maryland gymnastics team to compete with focus and precision on beam, and his players responded Sunday.
Freshman Audrey Barber led the team, especially on beam with a score of 9.825. Barber set the tone for her teammates, as the Terps were in first after the first two rotations. By the end of the meet, the scoreboard changed, and West Virginia placed first (196.225), with Maryland in second (195.825) and Pittsburgh in third (195.250).
Throughout the season, the Terps worked hard to strengthen their landings and final finish on beam. Last week at their home meet, beam was their lowest-scored rotation with a score of 48.95. At today’s meet, beam was their highest-scored rotation with the same score, 48.95.
Freshman Emilie LeBlanc and sophomore Kirsten Peterman placed first for the meet on bars, with scores of 9.875. Other bars competitors, such freshman Karrie Thomas, who scored a 9.0, lost major points for the Terps, causing their final score to drop, with West Virginia pushing to get ahead.
Maryland struggled the most on vault, with an overall score of 48.8. Sophomore Alecia Farina was the only Terp to break a 9.8. These lower scores costed the Terps crucial points during the second half of the meet, forcing them to trail West Virginia.
As the Terps fell behind, the Mountaineers fought for high scores. Junior Kirah Koshinski led the scoreboard for vault and floor with respective scores of 9.9 and 9.925.
After Maryland’s victory last week at the Maryland Quad Meet, Nelligan sees the potential for more complete meets. Despite some of their lower scores at the meet Sunday, the Terps can redeem themselves at the Pink Invitation next Friday.
