No. 24 Maryland gymnastics defeats Southern Connecticut State, 196.500-193.400

The annual Beauty and the Beast competition at Xfinity Center was another success this season, as both the gymnastics team and the wrestling team topped their respective opponents.

No. 24 Maryland gymnastics started irs two meet homestand off with a win, as it defeated the Southern Connecticut State Owls Friday night, 196.500-193.400.

The Terps started the meet hot, competing in vault in the first rotation. Five out of the six competing gymnasts recorded a 9.800 or better, with the top four (sophomore Josephine Kogler, senior Reese McClure, junior Alexa Rothenbuescher and graduate student Alexsis Rubio) all recording scores of 9.850. All four were season highs, and it is also Rothenbuescher’s career high. 

In the second rotation, the Terps moved to beam. Typically, it’s junior Elizabeth Debarberie leading the Terps, but today, senior Emma Silberman led off, recording a rotation best 9.850. Debarberie had an impressive performance as well, scoring a 9.825. 

“Yeah, we wanted to give Lizzy just a little more time after warmups, putting her second I think gives her another minute to kind of breathe and focus,” coach Brett Nelligan said. “And I think it was a good move. She looked great on that second spot.”

In the third rotation, the Terps took on beam. Freshman Maddie Komoroski and Kogler led the way, as they notched phenomenal scores of 9.900 apiece. The squad this year is an interesting blend of veteran leadership and young talent, with the upperclassmen leading the way and the younger gymnasts providing impressive sparks. 

“You know, I mean, it’s a team effort and we talked about it,” Nelligan said. “Every event we’ve got to approach it as a team and everyone has to chip in and do their part. I was really proud of the back half of bars, we have a mistake then bang, two seniors at the end get the job done for us. But then on beam kind of the opposite, you’ve got a freshman and a sophomore at the end getting the job done for us. We have a really balanced effort and I think that’s what’s helping us this year.”

The Terps wrapped up the meet on floor. Four out of six competing gymnasts recorded a score of 9.800 or above, with Rothenbuescher leading the way with a 9.875. Maddie Komoroski and McClure shared a score of 9.850, which speaks to Nelligan’s emphasis on their balanced team effort. 

Emma Silberman once again led the squad in the all-around scoring, notching a 39.250. After the meet, she spoke to the media about her and McClure’s roles as senior leaders.

“Yeah, I mean, I feel like after being here for four years, it’s just what we do at this point,” Silberman said. “I feel like in the gym, we’re training super hard along with all our other teammates, and the scores are just showing.”

 The Terps turn their eyes to Sunday, as they welcome the No. 17 Minnesota Golden Gophers to town. Coach Nelligan knows of the challenge he and his team will be facing on Sunday, but wanted to keep things in perspective before Sunday.

“We haven’t allowed ourselves all week – we were really strict that we were only going to talk about Friday until Friday was over. Now that it’s over, that’s when we start to change our focus to Minnesota. And what it’s going to come down to is us being us amd not trying to do something different, and not trying to go outside our comfort zone. Us doing what we do every day in the gym, putting it all together, being consistent and confident, and that’s where it’s going to come from.” 

The Terps will take on the Golden Gophers in Xfinity Center on Sunday at 1 p.m.