Terrapins gymnastics sophomore Abbie Epperson suffered two falls for the first time in her career Sunday against Iowa, but her lackluster performance paled in comparison to the diagnosis she received years earlier.
In 2009, she was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes muscle fatigue and pain. Her gymnastics career, according to doctors, was over.
“I didn’t think I would ever be in this position as a college gymnast,” Epperson said.
She beat the odds, though, recovering from the disease and earning a scholarship with the Terps. Epperson competed on bars and vault in every meet as a freshman last season and averaged above a 9.7 on both events.
So despite her missteps against the Hawkeyes, Epperson isn’t worried. Many athletes claim having a short memory is important to prevent mediocre results from becoming a trend, but it’s Epperson’s long-term memory that helps her keep perspective after a poor showing.
“Whenever I look back at old times when I did go through it,” Epperson said, “It does keep me warm-hearted in the moment where I am.”
After a strong first year, Epperson has expanded her role with the Terps this season. The Allen, Texas, native is competing in all-around, meaning she performs in all four events.
“I remember last year I would do vault and bars and be ready to keep going,” Epperson said. “But then I would go, ‘Oh wait, I’m done.’ As much hard work as it takes, it’s definitely worth it to be out there more.”
Teammates noticed Epperson has more confidence this season, too, and she said seeing this year’s freshmen helped her realize how far she has come. Coach Brett Nelligan also sees these changes and said Epperson is becoming more of a leader in her sophomore year.
“With six seniors graduating last year, we knew that people would have to step up,” Nelligan said. “I think Epperson has a sense of responsibility now. She’s filling in and doing a great job.”
While Epperson hasn’t tried to change much of the way she handles herself and tends to downplay her leadership role, she admits that she can see how she assists the freshmen.
“Having more experience makes everything easier,” Epperson said. “I see how much less experience the freshmen have taking on practices and meets and everything, so it might seem that I’m helping them out.”
Epperson will have a chance to avenge her performance against the Hawkeyes on Monday when the Terps travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face No. 3 Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
Ahead of the Terps’ matchup with the Wolverines, Epperson is more so looking forward to interacting with the opposing gymnasts, many of whom she said she knows personally, as opposed to worrying about her past falls. Thoughts of her miscues reside in the back of her head, but she remains sure of her ability.
“She’s been through so much with the dermatomyositis,” Nelligan said, “that, hey, falling down on vault’s no big deal to her.”
