Freshman Maddie Komoroski hopped onto the balance beam, configured into a lovely chin stand, and executed a perfect one-arm back handspring step out to layout step out. Her score, 9.900, was her highest score of her young collegiate career.
Maryland gymnastics coach Brett Nelligan picked up his 210th win as the No. 25 Terps (4-2, 2-2 Big Ten) downed the Scarlet Knights (5-11, 0-5 Big Ten) in Piscataway on Saturday, 196.875-196.325. The score marked a new high score for Maryland this season.
The Terps kicked off the meet on the uneven bars, earning 49.300, their second-highest bars score of the season. Sierra Kondo tied her season high 9.900, after striking flawless cast handstands and a perfectly-rotated double back layout.
Reese McClure and Alexsis Rubio led Maryland’s vault performance, each scoring 9.825.
After the second rotation, Maryland led 98.325- 97.850.
Komoroski competed in her collegiate floor debut, after competing in the exhibition spot all season. Poise and composure to compete on the road led her to a 9.850.
[Maryland gymnastics drops second straight meet, falls to No. 15 Ohio State, 197.575-196.475]
“I was more nervous than I had been before,” Komoroski said. “I wanted to be in those lineups.”
“She really took control of her performance,” Nelligan said. “She was ready and hit a big number for us.”
Taylor Rech and Rhea LeBlanc hit career-highs on floor. Rech scored a 9.825 and LeBlanc a 9.875, uplifting the floor unit to a 49.375, another season-high.
“We’re excited about constantly working our way up [the rankings],” Komoroski said. “We’re on the climb right now.”
The high scores from floor, however, came from Silberman and Rothenbuescher. Silberman’s first pass to a high-flying straddle jump sent her to the fourth rotation with a 9.900. Rothenbuescher’s strength and power across her passes gave her the highest scoring floor routine of the Terps’ season so far at 9.925.
[Despite loss to No. 12 Michigan State, Maryland gymnastics flashed potential]
Silberman, in the all-around position once again, scored 38.750. As Maryland’s only all-around gymnast, Nelligan counts on her to consistently show up for her team.
“Emma has one of the six best routines on every event,” Nelligan said. “That just tells you how deep we are as a team.”
After hitting a 9.900 on beam versus Ohio State, Josephine Kogler scored a new career-high 9.925.
Nelligan’s squad has been on the road for four of its five meets this season. While away from College Park, coach Nelligan has seen great intensity, execution, and teamwork from his squad, he said.
But now, the Terps will return home to host Southern Connecticut State at the “Beauty and the Beast” Meet in conjunction with Maryland wrestling Friday.
“What a great opportunity to come home after another big road win,” Nelligan said. “It should be a really fun event. I think the atmosphere is going to be incredible.”
