Recap: Maryland gymnastics defeats Nebraska, 195.875-195.325

Maryland gymnastics is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since the cut-short 2020 season.

The Terps bested West Virginia and Kent State with a score of 195.425 to open their 2023 campaign, the second-highest opening weekend score in program history. This past Saturday, Maryland continued its hot start to the 2023 campaign, as it defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the road, 195.875-195.325. The meet was Maryland’s first Big 10 matchup of the year. 

In the 21st meeting between the two schools, the Terps got the better of the Cornhuskers. Nebraska owns the all time record, but as of late, the Terps have flipped the script. The teams tied at the Big 10 Championships last March at 196.450 apiece, but Maryland came out on top in last year’s head-to-head matchup at home, 196.125-195.625.

Nebraska entered Saturday with a 3-1 record. It lost its opening meet to Arkansas at home Jan. 7, 196.225-195.000. However, the weekend before it traveled to the nation’s capital to take on George Washington, Cornell, and William & Mary in the Lindsey Ferris Invitational. The Cornhuskers came out on top, posting a 196.150 score over GW’s 195.300, Cornell’s 189.900 and William & Mary’s 188.575. Juniors Kinsey Davis and Sophia McClelland both claimed two event titles to help propel Nebraska to a first place finish.

The Terps started the day on bars while the Cornhuskers started on vault. At the end of the first rotation, Nebraska led by a point. Maryland saw two good showings out of sophomore Victoria Gatzendorfer and junior Elizabeth Debarberie, who both scored 9.800. For the Cornhuskers, sophomore Emma Spence put up a phenomenal score of 9.900, while junior Martina Comin put up a 9.850 and Davis earned a 9.825. 

However, Maryland rebounded during its second rotation, vault. Graduate student Alexsis Rubio and senior Emma Silberman both recorded a score of 9.875, helping propel the Terps into first as they began their floor routine. From there, the Terps never looked back. Senior Reese McClure scored a 9.875 on floor, while freshman Maddie Komoroski added the finishing touch with a 9.875 on beam. 

It was yet another impressive day for Silberman, who once again led the team in points with 39.000. She also finished as the second-highest scoring gymnast of the match, behind Nebraska’s Spence, who notched a career best score of 39.400. 

The Terps will be coming home to XFINITY for their first home meet of the season on Sunday, as they continue conference play against the Michigan State Spartans. The dual is set to start at 1 p.m.