Photo by Rose Fernandes/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Both Maryland gymnastics and Illinois entered Sunday’s contest off season-high scores from their previous meets.
While both squads came close to matching those totals, the Terps nearly scored 49 points in almost all of their events. The result was a 196.275 – 195.725 win for Maryland over Illinois at George Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.
The Terps (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) began on bars, with a strong start and stick led by one of last season’s best performers — sophomore Sarah Saville. Her 9.825 score paved the way for New Hampshire transfer Aine Reade, who followed with a stuck dismount and a team-high of 9.900.
With Illinois (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) on vault, freshman Summer Clancy earned a 9.900, following a near-perfect Yurchenko one and a half. Despite Clancy’s high score and a season high from Illinois on vault, the Terps held a 49.075 – 48.900 advantage over the Fighting Ilini at the conclusion of the first rotation.
Maryland moved to vault for its second rotation, where graduate student Josephine Kogler scored a 9.850 for Maryland. Shortly after, Logan Buckmon’s 9.875 maintained Maryland’s scoring momentum.
But Illinois kept the meet close in the second rotation with a strong performance on the uneven bars. The Fighting Illini scored a match-best 49.150 in the event, which was highlighted by sophomore Chloe Cho.
The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year had dominated on bars last season, and Sunday’s performance was no different. Cho posted a match-high 9.925 — just 0.025 short of a career best set last season. The strong performance cut into Maryland’s lead, giving the Terps a slim 98.150 – 98.025 lead entering the third rotation
Maryland took to the floor in its third rotation, following a program-record team floor score of 49.575 last weekend against Penn State. Reade would lead in the event for the Terps with a 9.900. Kogler and senior Taylor Rech closely followed, with each gymnast earning a 9.850.
Despite ranking third in the conference on floor and scoring a career-high 9.975 against Penn State last weekend, senior Madeline Komoroski appeared to have an off-day, only scoring a 9.750 on Sunday.
But her score did not impact the Terps. Five other Terps posted higher scores, allowing Maryland to finish with a team total of 49.150 in the event.
As Illinois took to the floor, Maryland rotated to the beam for the fourth rotation. Kogler’s stuck dismount earned her a 9.875, while freshman Emily DeFrees led the Terps with a 9.900.
Illinois stayed consistent throughout the final rotation, scoring an average score of 9.708 on floor. Cho’s 9.900 and sophomore Eden King’s 9.850 kept Illinois close in competition with Maryland. Despite the high scores, it was not enough to overcome Maryland’s lead, resulting in a 196.275 – 195.725 win for the Terps.
The Terps will now return to College Park on Feb. 6 to compete against Rutgers at 6 p.m.
