Kesley Cofsky

It’s been four year since Ally Krikorian and Kesley Cofsky first donned the Terrapins gymnastics team’s trademark black, red and gold leotards and stepped onto Comcast Center’s main floor. And for four years, the combo has been at the forefront of the No. 24 Terps’ transformation into a national power.

So it was only appropriate that on the night the two seniors were honored, they spearheaded a Terps’ comeback.

Down after two rotations, coach Brett Nelligan’s squad desperately needed a stellar score on beam. But junior Elizabeth Manzi’s fall put the Terps in a hole. Luckily for them, though, Cofsky and Krikorian delivered stellar back-to-back performances, notching a 9.875 and a 9.925 respectively. The Terps would go on to overcome Central Michigan, 196.025-195.575, while Yale finished in last.

“We had to hit those routines,” Nelligan said. “It was just so fitting that Kes and Ally would step up right in a row.”

As their parents sat floor-side on plush red chairs, the two seniors delivered MVP-type performances for the Terps. Krikorian notched a career-high 9.925 on beam, and Cofsky won the all-around with a score of 39.275.

“[Kesley’s] just a solid score on every single event,” Krikorian said. “I think it was awesome that she finished her home career with a win.”

The Terps started out the night on vault, their highest scoring event of the season. Their score of 49.175 was just a few ticks behind their conference-leading 49.178 season average.

Freshman Alex Zimmerman was a late scratch from the vault rotation, but the Terps delivered a stellar effort without their sixth member, as no Terp scored lower than a 9.775. Katy Dodds paced the team with a 9.925.

The Terps may have gotten a bit complacent on bars, though. Junior Karen Tang notched her lowest score in three meets with a 9.700, and no Terp scored higher than a 9.750.

Halfway through the meet, Central Michigan led the Terps 97.750-97.725. Luckily for the Terps, the two seniors delivered solid performances on the next apparatus, igniting the turnaround.

Krikorian competed on beam for the first time since Feb. 8 when she injured her left ankle. Her routine earned a perfect 10 from one of the judges, which was especially impressive considering she told Nelligan her ankle felt 50 percent during practice.

“I said, ‘Ally, I’ll take you at 50 percent than most people at 100 percent,’” Nelligan said. “She nailed it.”

Thanks to both seniors’ contributions, the Terps reclaimed the lead, 146.775-146.700. Still, Nelligan’s squad needed to deliver a noteworthy floor performance if they wanted to ensure a victory.

And they did. Dodds set a meet high with 9.900 to tally a 49.250, but the Terps didn’t even need it, as they won the meet before she even stepped to the floor with Krikorian’s 9.875.

“We had to fight for it the whole way,” Cofsky said. “The girls came out with so much heart tonight, and it worked in our favor.”

Despite the squad’s shaky performance on bars and fall on beam, the Terps eclipsed the coveted 196 total for the first time in three meets. After slipping for consecutive weeks in the national rankings, the Terps’ big score will help them maintain their lead over the conference.

“It helps us a lot rankings-wise,” Krikorian said. “It gives another boost to confidence, knowing [we can put up 196], traveling to West Virginia, then G.W. and then EAGL.”

On a night the Terps raised banners in honor of their two seniors, it was appropriate the two best friends delivered spirited performances to lead a come from behind effort.

Krikorian and Cofsky may never sprint across Comcast Center’s main floor ever again, but they can take solace in the fact that they went out on top.

“You can’t write a better script,” Nelligan said. “It’s a perfect ending to incredible careers.”

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