Maryland gymnastics vies to extend season at NCAA Regional

The 50th season in Maryland Gymnastics (21-8) history has been successful to date, but has its toughest test ahead.

The Terps are set to compete against No. 5 Utah, No. 10 Michigan State, and No. 21 Towson in the NCAA Regional Competition in Gainesville, Florida on Friday. It will be the program’s sixth consecutive year of qualifying, excluding the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19. 

The program set multiple new event records this season and secured its best score in the Big Ten Championships with a 196.775. The team also posted a 196.790 team National Qualifying Score, the highest ever entering the NCAA Regionals. 

Following the conclusion of all conference championships, the top 16 teams according to NQS were assigned to four different sites. Teams 17-36 were assigned to their respective locations, determined by geographic proximity, with nine teams to compete at each location. 

The eighth and ninth seed in each regional will compete against each other. The loser is eliminated while the winner competes in one of two quad meets. The two highest scoring teams from both quad meets move to the final quad meet.

The Terps aim to carry the momentum they’ve maintained throughout the second half of the season and in the Big Ten Championships into Friday’s competition.

No. 5 Utah poses the biggest threat to Maryland’s hope. The Red Rocks have been ranked in the top five all season, reaching as high as No. 2. The team’s four rotations have all been ranked top 20 all season, all currently ranking top seven. 

Utah earned their fourth consecutive PAC-12 Championship victory, posting a score of 198. The Red Rocks attempt to advance to its 48th consecutive national championship, a record.

No. 10 Michigan State will be another tough opponent. The Terps faced off against the Spartans on Feb. 18, resulting in a Spartan victory, 197.550-195.525. The Spartans enter off their first ever Big Ten Championship. 

Michigan State earned a 197.625 NQS this season, the highest in program history. Junior Skyla Schulte has had a very impressive season, finishing as the all-around scoring leader in the Big Ten Championship, which was her seventh all-around title of the season. 

No. 21 Towson is another familiar face for the Terps. The Terps narrowly defeated the Tigers on March 10, 196.725-196.625. The Tigers gear for their fourth consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance after capturing the 2024 East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championship for the second year in a row. Akin to Maryland and Michigan State, the Tigers set a new record for NQS with a score of 196.935. 

The Terps have proved that they can compete with excellent teams. They’ll fit for the bid to keep their season going on Friday.