Senior Karen Tang competes on bars during the Terps’ meet against West Virginia on Jan. 17, 2014.
Early in the Terrapins gymnastic team’s season, untimely falls often put pressure on the final gymnasts in each rotation, and they would fall short with the meet on the line. In their quad meet Monday, the Terps halted that trend, by hitting all 24 routines on their way to posting a season-best score of 195.225.
In Saturday’s tri-meet, however, the Terps reverted to their previous struggles. They posted two low scores after stumbles, forcing four gymnasts to compete under the pressure they have contended with all season.
But this time, the Terps responded with key routines to overcome those issues and earn their fourth and fifth straight wins with a score of 194.675, defeating Bowling Green (193.875) and Yale (188.525).
“I thought we did a great job tonight recovering on both bars and beam,” coach Brett Nelligan said.
The Terps took a 0.525 lead over Bowling Green into the uneven bars, but freshman Nikki Chung fell on her dismount. That meant freshman Sarah Faller, junior Stephanie Giameo and senior Karen Tang needed to deliver solid scores to keep the Terps afloat.
All three gymnasts did exactly that, allowing the Terps’ lead to grow to 1.175 over Bowling Green as they went to the beam.
The Terps put up a season-best score Monday by staying on the beam for the first time this season, but senior Elizabethe Manzi fell on her routine Saturday. With the pressure on, junior Shannon Skochko scored a 9.700 and Giameo posted a season-high 9.875 to supplement 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.”
Nelligan has praised Giameo for her leadership after senior captain Katy Dodds’ tore her Achilles, and she steadied the Terps yet again Saturday.
“It’s a little bit of pressure,” Giameo said. “But you have to stay in your zone, stay focused. You can’t worry about anybody else. You just have to worry about the routine you are going to do.”
Giameo posted one of her best meets of the season on her way to winning the all-around for the second straight meet. She edged out teammate Karen Tang with a total of 39.125 for the victory.
Tang competed in all four events for the first time this season. She finished second on the bars and tied for first with a 9.875 on her floor routine.
“Karen feels like she can make a difference,” Nelligan said. “And she is stepping up and helping us score where we need scores.”
A leg injury prevented her from competing on beam in competition earlier this season, but after a week with a couple of days off, she got her first chance. She missed a connection during her beam routine, dropping her to 9.525, but she is capable of providing a big boost on the Terps’ worst event this season.
The only lineup change Nelligan made this week was inserting Tang in on the beam over junior Dani Kram. It was the first time this season the team has only made one change entering a meet.
The consistent lineup paid off for the Terps, who were finally able to overcome early falls to earn two key wins.
“Ultimately, there is a little pressure,” Tang said. “But it helps drive you to do a better routine.”
