Some judges were unable to make it to the Terrapins gymnastics team’s tri-meet last night in Washington, and it put the Terps in an unusual position. There weren’t enough judges to watch each event, so instead of competing simultaneously with George Washington and New Hampshire, the Terps were forced to watch some of their opponents’ rotations.
And after the Terps posted a season-best score of 195.425, they were forced to sit and watch as the Colonials and Wildcats do their final rotations, while hoping their score held up.
But both teams had scores better than 49.000 in their final events, and the Terps fell to 1-7 on the road as New Hampshire scored 195.925 and George Washington scored 195.650.
“We were watching, knowing that we shouldn’t be watching at all because had we done our job it wouldn’t have mattered what they had done,” coach Brett Nelligan said. “We literally had the chance to close the door and make it impossible for them to catch us, and we just didn’t.”
The Terps headed to beam to close out the night with a chance at 196.000, a mark they haven’t come close to this season. Multiple falls, however, doomed the Terps again on the road.
Freshman Sarah Faller led off with a 9.800, but senior Karen Tang followed with a fall. After a solid routine from senior captain Ebony Walters, senior Elizabethe Manzi fell off the beam, meaning the Terps would have to count at least one fall.
Junior Shannon Skochko posted a 9.675, and junior captain Stephanie Giameo closed with a tie for the best score of the night on beam with a 9.875.
“When Steph hit, it gave us hope that we could still beat one of the two teams,” Nelligan said. “But at the end of the day, it should be about what we do, not what they do.”
The Terps started the night on vault led by season highs from Faller and Giameo. Faller’s 9.800 and Giameo’s 9.850 put the Terps at 48.850, just short of a season best.
Carrying the momentum from a solid first score, the Terps headed to the uneven bars. Manzi got the team going with a career-high 9.850. Senior Jessie Black, who has led the team since joining the lineup, continued her solid season with a 9.825.
After stuck landings by Giameo and Faller, sophomore Kathy Tang tied her career high with a 9.850. Karen Tang anchored with the best routine of all, posting a 9.875 for a season-high bar score of 49.225.
“We got off to a good start on vault and then bars we just blew the doors wide open,” Nelligan said. “We were sharp on all our handstands and stuck a ton of dismounts.”
Returning three days after a fall that kept her out of vault, freshman Emily Brauckmuller posted a 9.725 on floor. After a solid routine by junior Dani Kram, sophomore Allie Zimmermann tied her career high with a 9.825.
“I told [Brauckmuller] I was really proud of her because I know she was in a ton of pain,” Nelligan said. “She knew the team needed a floor routine and she did a great job.”
Giameo stumbled during her routine, but Tang responded with a 9.875. As always, Walters finished floor for the Terps. The senior tied her career high with a 9.900, tying her for first in the event for the meet.
Despite plenty of season and career highs, the Terps were left watching their best season performance fall short on a wintry night in Foggy Bottom.
“We are thrilled to get our season high, especially after everything we have been through with the falls and the injuries,” Nelligan said. “But what could have been is what sticks in everybody’s head.”
