As one of two seniors on the Terrapins gymnastic team’s roster, Kyra Phillips faced a tall task this season: lead an extremely young squad featuring more freshmen than upperclassmen.
In the most injury-ridden season of her four-year career, that’s proved difficult. A knee injury in January sidelined Phillips for two weeks and left her unable to compete on floor for an additional three weeks. Without their two-time captain and second-team All-EAGL performer, the Terps struggled to find their footing.
“It was extremely hard and frustrating, and it’s still something I’m dealing with,” Phillips said. “Especially since my career is coming to an end, seeing the weeks go by was one of the hardest things I’ve had to overcome.”
Since her full return to the Terps’ ranks in late February, however, Phillips hasn’t merely overcome her injury. She’s emerged from her hiatus as a dominant force. In the five meets since straining her knee, Phillips has averaged 9.815 on vault, 9.705 on bars and 9.670 on floor, including a tremendous performance at the EAGL Championships in which she posted a 9.900 on vault and a 9.900 on floor, leading the Terps to a third-place finish in the conference.
“She’s battled injury and sickness, and for her to put it all together was great to see, but it was even more special to see her put it all together at EAGL Championships,” coach Brett Nelligan said. “That’s the dream right there.”
The Terps will head to Fayetteville, Ark., for the team’s NCAA Regional this Saturday, and despite the looming threat of the end of her gymnastics career, Phillips is positive about the opportunity.
“I’ve had such a memorable career, and to see everything come together now in the postseason and in the meets that matter is special,” she said. “I want to go out with a bang in this last meet, but you never know what can happen.”
In their program’s history, the Terps have never made it past the first stage of the 36-team championship field, which is broken into six regionals. To advance to the next round, the Terps will need to place second or better in a regional field that includes four teams ranked in the top 20 nationally.
With Phillips back and healthy, it might be possible. Her recent performances have been essential to the Terps’ late-season success, and Nelligan has not overlooked the effect his captain’s presence has had on his young squad.
“She’s been a leader for the team scoring,” Nelligan said, “but also inspiring her teammates, pushing her teammates in practice and then giving them the confidence during meets to believe that they can go out and break these records and do these things that people have never done before.”
popper@umdbk.com
