Photo courtesy of Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins
No. 23 Maryland gymnastics kicked off its season this weekend at the Lone Star Challenge podium meet in San Antonio, Texas, placing third with a team score of 195.400. The Terps competed against four other teams–No. 17 Auburn, No. 20 Arizona State, No. 21 Penn State, and Temple.
The Terps opened on floor in their first rotation and ended with a strong score of 49.100. Graduate student Alexa Rothenbuescher led the team with a score of 9.900. Senior Rhea LeBlanc also contributed to the team’s strong start with a score of 9.850.
During the second rotation, the Terps competed on vault, where they struggled with an overall score of 48.550, their lowest of the meet and among all four teams. Sophomore Natalie Martin recorded the team’s highest score of 9.800.
Despite a fall in their score on the vault, the Terps regained momentum on uneven bars, with an overall score of 48.900. Freshman Sarah Saville had an impressive debut, earning the team’s highest score of 9.825.
On the final rotation, the Terps performed on beam, where junior Madeline Komoroski earned the team’s highest score of 9.875. The team ended with an overall score of 48.850.
The Terps finished third with a final overall score of 195.400, behind Penn State, which scored 196.100, and Auburn, which placed first with a score of 196.775. Arizona State finished fourth, and Temple placed fifth.
The Terps will have their home opener on Saturday against No. 11 UCLA at 7:30 p.m.
