Junior Stephanie Giameo celebrates with coach Brett Nelligan during the Terps’ quad meet victory over George Washington, Pittsburgh, and Towson on Feb. 10, 2014.
For the first time this season, the Terrapins gymnastics team entered today’s tri meet with a lineup that had just one change from a meet ago.
The lineup that posted a season best 195.225 on Monday defended its undefeated home record Saturday, with a score of 194.75, defeating Bowling Green (193.875) and Yale (188.525). The Terps now have five wins in a row.
“It really helps our confidence level,” junior captain Stephanie Giameo said. “Just knowing that we have done it before and we can do it again.”
The Terps hit all 24 routines last meet, but today they were faced with pressure after falls by freshman Nikola Chung on bars and senior Elizabethe Manzi on the beam. It was the Terps’ inability to perform after a teammate’s mistake that cost them early in the season.
“I thought we did a great job tonight recovering on both bars and beam,” coach Brett Nelligan said.
After a solid vault performance to start the meet, the Terps headed to the uneven bars looking to improve on their .575 lead over Bowling Green. After two strong routines the Terps looked as if they were in good shape, but freshman Nikola Chung fell on her landing putting the pressure on the final three gymnasts.
“Ultimately, there is a little pressure,” Karen Tang said. “But it helps drive you to do a better routine.”
The senior scored a 9.775 after Chung fell, delivering one of the solid performances that allowed them to drop Chung’s score. After posting a 48.650, the Terps took a 1.175 lead into in the balance beam.
The Terps put up a season best score last meet by staying on the beam for the first time this season, but today senior Elizabethe Manzi fell on her routine. With the pressure on, Skochko delivered with a 9.700 and it was up to Giameo to finish it off. She posted a season-high 9.875 to build the Terps’ lead.
“I honestly thought we were going to see a 10,” Nelligan said. “I thought it was flawless, but some judges see it differently.”
The Terps took to the floor to close out the meet for two wins. A step out of bounds by junior Dani Kram was the lone mistake for the Terps. Tang led the way for the team with her second straight meet with a 9.875 to put the Terps’ total at 48.900.
Tang, competing on beam for the first time this season, finished with a 38.925 in the all-around. She finished second behind her teammate Giameo, who won with a 39.125.
“Karen feels like she can make a difference,” Nelligan said. “And she is stepping up and helping us score where we need scores.”
Tang has been one of the Terps most consistent gymnasts this season and the team finally has a lineup they are comfortable with.
“Sometimes you are going to have low scoring and sometimes you are going to have scoring,” Nelligan said. “But we also need to do our best not to open the door for deductions…I thought we left the door open and the judges certainly took advantage of that.”
