Kathy Tang
After posting a 47.400 in the final rotation of its Feb. 1 loss at New Hampshire, the Terrapins gymnastics team had an extended week of practice before a Monday night quad meet.
The Terps displayed the benefits of the extra practice time when they posted a season-high total of 195.225, well more than a point higher than their previous best.
But the rare Monday night meet and a Thursday snowstorm prevented the Terps (4-3) from holding a full week of practice as they prepare to take on Bowling Green (5-4) and Yale (1-7) in tomorrow’s tri meet.
The Terps had Tuesday off after the meet, leaving Wednesday and Friday as the only days they could practice to hone their performances for their next competition.
“At this point, it is the middle of the season,” senior Karen Tang said. “I think it might be a good thing we [had Thursday] off to rest our bodies a bit.”
In a season riddled with injuries, a week with two rest days could be exactly what the team needs, even after a season-best performance. The Terps showed they have the ability to compete at a high level Monday night, and the extra rest could help get everyone healthy for the second half of their schedule.
Senior All-American Katy Dodds is out for the season, and sophomore Kathy Tang is doubtful for tomorrow’s meet, but the rest of the Terps have proven capable of keeping the team competitive.
“It was only a matter of time,” coach Brett Nelligan said. “I knew we had enough talent and that everything was going to fall into place.”
The Terps received a much-needed boost from their senior class last meet, and that boost has the team excited for the rest of the season. Senior Jessie Black saw her first competition of the season and stuck her dismount for a 9.700 on bars in Kathy Tang’s absence.
Senior captain Ebony Walters had her best meet of the season, posting a 9.700 on beam and tying a career-high 9.900 on floor to finish off the comeback victory. Karen Tang continued her impressive season with three more solid scores, including a 9.875 on floor.
“When the older girls, the more experienced girls, are able to have a great meet,” junior captain Stephanie Giameo said, “it just sets a really great example for the lowerclassmen.”
With the seniors stepping up and the rest of the team following their lead, the Terps are now looking to keep their momentum rolling with another high score at Comcast Center — all four of the Terps’ wins have come at home this season.
The Terps hit all 24 routines last meet, but Nelligan said there are opportunities to improve their score.
“We can still take a few less wobbles on beam,” Nelligan said. “Hit a few more handstands on bars and I think that will push us even further.”
The Terps didn’t start the season the way they wanted to after Dodds’ injury, but the last meet proved they can still reach the potential they hoped to reach entering the season.
After a couple rest days and a couple practices, the Terps are anxious to get back out and compete in front of their home crowd.
“We had a rough start,” Giameo said. “But we were able to turn it around. So now we need to keep this momentum going.”
