With a smile across her face and teammates cheering her name, Maryland gymnastics sophomore Alecia Farina completed the last jump of her beam routine.
Despite battling a shoulder injury, which makes performing on beam difficult, Farina still hit her routine and remained one of three Terps to compete in the All-Around, posting a 39.025 mark highlighted by a 9.85 on floor in Thursday’s 196.00-195.35 loss to Iowa.
“I didn’t think I was going to compete beam,” Farina said, “because my shoulder has really been bothering me.”
Farina explained that after her jumps on beam, there are many “small connections” that she needs to make. Because of her lack of strength in her shoulder, she didn’t think she would be able to land those moves.
She wasn’t flawless on beam but still earned a 9.7 — strong enough to erase a 9.675 the judges gave to freshman Collea Burgess earlier in the rotation.
Farina expressed enthusiasm for just completing the event, which her teammates also celebrated as she hit her dismount. The Broadview Heights, Ohio, native said she has been working harder in practice and also credited the support system of her teammates, coaches and the Xfinity Center crowd with aiding her.
“It makes gymnastics more exciting when they are cheering you on,” she said.
During her freshman campaign, Farina posted impressive season highs of 9.925 on floor, 9.9 on bars and 9.85 on vault.
To continue last year’s success, Farina explained that she is trying to focus on the “little stuff” that tends to lower her scores.
“It’s still the beginning of the season,” Farina said. “For the most part, we are really happy with how we’re doing.”
Farina’s impressive performance against the Hawkeyes showed strength and durability that the Terps will continue to rely on as they attempt to qualify as a team in the NCAA tournament for the first time in three years.
“Even though my shoulder hurts,” Farina said, “I know I can do it.”
