Performing a routine after a fall is one of the most nerve-racking positions in gymnastics. Senior Rhea LeBlanc makes it look easy.

In Maryland gymnastics’ best performance of the year, LeBlanc was once again a top performer in three events. She posted a 9.750 on vault, then scored a 9.825 on floor.

But it was on bars where she delivered under the most pressure.

Alexa Rothenbuescher, Maryland’s most experienced gymnast and the team’s lone graduate student, grabbed the bar and began her first routine of the day. Not long into it, she positioned herself too far from the high bar and lost her grip, falling onto the mat.

Coach Brett Nelligan called it an “anomaly” — an uncharacteristic mistake by one of the team’s most talented gymnasts. Last year, Rothenbuescher was Maryland’s second-best performer on bars by average score at 9.809 and had a season-low score of 9.675.

Rothenbuescher’s score dropped to 8.100 following the miscue. Knowing she had to make up for the dropped score, LeBlanc grabbed the apparatus.

[Maryland gymnastics falls short in 196.325-195.950 loss to Nebraska]

“That’s the toughest thing to do,” Nelligan said. “When you follow a fall, you know you’ve gotta have a strong routine because we’ve gotta drop that one.”

LeBlanc promptly delivered a 9.775 performance, the third-best in the lineup. The Waltham, Massachusetts native rescued another potential poor Maryland performance after its 47.675 on beam last week.

“All the credit to [LeBlanc], because I put her in difficult situations in the gym and practice to try to mimic exactly that scenario,” Nelligan said. “Like, ‘Hey, you’ve had a fall in front of you, you have to hit this routine the team needs it.’”

As one of the few gymnasts who competes in at least three events, LeBlanc has heavy expectations every meet. She’s met them routinely.

The senior scored at least a 9.825 on all three of her events against UCLA on Jan. 18.. LeBlanc is the only Maryland gymnast whose average scores rank in the top three of three different events — Rothenbuescher, the team’s sole all-arounder, hasn’t matched that feat.

[No. 23 Maryland gymnastics falls to No. 11 UCLA in home opener, 197.550-194.850]

But LeBlanc wasn’t always the three-event staple she is now.

In her freshman year, she was recovering from an injury and competed in one event at most meets. She consistently competed in two events as a sophomore, when she felt her situation started to improve.

By her junior season, LeBlanc established herself as an integral member of the Terps, ranking in the team’s top four on bars and floor. That’s because of her offseason training.

“Junior year during the offseason and preseason is where we focused on … learning how to clean [skills] up and grow your confidence and really work on the strength during summer,” LeBlanc said. “Having the strength and coming in here ready has helped me.”

LeBlanc is held to lofty standards this season. She views that more as a privilege than a burden.

“It’s definitely a lot of pressure, but it’s something I get to do,” LeBlanc said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I’m very lucky to have a team that supports me and trusts me.”