Preview: Maryland gymnastics looks to remain hot against Towson

Maryland gymnastics is on a roll. 

Last week, the Terps (12-7) competed in two quad meets in a three-day span, coming out victorious in both. The squad put up a score of 197.300 in the latter — the Yale Quad on March 3 — their highest in each of the last two seasons. 

This week features another two-meet test for Maryland. The Terps already conquered the first, coming in first in the Temple Quad on Thursday. They finished once again above the 197 threshold (197.050), just the eighth time in program history where that feat has been accomplished. Freshman Natalie Martin recorded a 9.950 on beam in the meet — she became the second freshman in program history to earn that score, which is tied for the program’s record. 

Maryland now turns its attention to in-state foe Towson, as the Terps head down the Beltway to compete with the Tigers on Sunday. It will be the final regular season meet for Maryland, who hopes to continue its hot stretch.

The Tigers (17-8) are currently ranked No. 32 in the country, just ahead of the Terps at No. 36. Towson boasts the No. 15 vault rotation in the country, with its floor rotation close to a top-25 bid at No. 27. The Tigers currently hold a 4-0 conference record in the East Atlantics Gymnastics League (EAGL) and are coming off a first place finish in a quad meet against West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Western Michigan. 

Towson is led by junior Elise Tisler, whose 2023 season was cut short due to injury. This season, the Virginia native has set new records for herself multiple times on both vault and floor, scoring a 9.975 on the former on March 1 and earning the same score on the latter on February 23 — both scores rank second in program history in their respective rotations. She ranks 21st in the NCAA and first in the EAGL on vault. 

Sophomore Isabella Minervini has also been impressive for the Tigers. She was an instant impact freshman in 2023 and has continued her momentum into this season, ranking 6th in the nation on bars with a high score of 9.975 and an average score of 9.925. 

Towson has earned at least one EAGL weekly award in the past five consecutive weeks. Tisler was the latest to do so, being named Specialist of the Week in the conference on March 6, her third time earning the award this season. 

The Tigers boast a 5-0 record at home. But the Terps have dominated the all-time series, which they lead 14-1 since 2013 — all three meets between the Terps and the Tigers in Baltimore have resulted in a Terp victory. Maryland also won the latest meeting, which took place at the Xfinity Center on March 12 last year. 

The Terps have been on a hot streak, and are looking to carry that momentum as they enter tournament play for the final few weeks of the season. Sunday’s meet will start at 1 p.m.